Although A RUMOR OF WAR (a memoir) was Caputo's big book, this one was also great. I read it in 1987 and its Michigan settings probably attracted me. Also the narrator's relationship with an Ojibwa Indian, another earlier interest of mine. This also has a strong Vietnam connection and I took a course on Vietnam around this time so it was possibly assigned. It follows the character through the war and in the decades after. Did anyone really escape the horrors of that war when our mission was so murky? Caputo has written many books since but these were the only two I read. I wonder if he's escape the influence by now. Reading their synopses, they do sound grim.
3 comments:
I gather one tries to heal from battle trauma, but it's not something one ever gets over altogether. Guilt if one isn't in frontlines might run deep, too...along with everything one Could've done.
A RUMOR OF WAR is the only one I've read, though THE LONGEST ROAD does sound interesting, like several other "road trip" books I've read over the years.
The Vietnam theme and the setting in Michigan does sound very good, but it also sounds grim. I will check it out more.
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