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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
Author intentions were super cool - trying to take the reader to Vietnam, putting his experience on the pages as clearly and vividly as possible. A lot of it was slightly boring but I think that was the point. The best themes/parts of the book was the author himself changing over time and eventually he got court-marshaled for a murder charge (while bodycount was the only thing command cared about and "a dead Vietnamese is a dead VC, so passively promoted killing civilians), they raided a village and killed a couple of Vietnamese citizens because they all got so bloodthirsty and mentally twisted. Creepiest part was how much him and his platoon were laughing and enjoying themselves. Couldn't use the war in his defense either, it wouldn't help his case because you can't blame the war. The crux was this moment as well as raiding a village for VC and eventually losing control over their inhibitions and going full war animal kill people burn shit mode. Brutally honest with the public he really aired out his entire life in those years. Pretty extreme stuff. Was a story of himself and the war descending into unrecognizable rage, despair, exhaustion, and horror. I really like how he ended his prologue and the start of the book:
"Finally this book ought not to be regarded as a protest. Protest arises from a belief that one can change things or influence events. I am not egotistical enough to believe I can... It might, perhaps, prevent the next generation from being crucified in the next war. But I don't think so."
beginning of book: "At the age of twenty-four, I was more prepared for death then I was for life. My first experience of the world outside the classroom had been war."
Not a ton of quote-worthy things but nevertheless it is exactly what Caputo wanted it to be. Honestly very brave of him to write this, probably took a lot. Great read.
"Finally this book ought not to be regarded as a protest. Protest arises from a belief that one can change things or influence events. I am not egotistical enough to believe I can... It might, perhaps, prevent the next generation from being crucified in the next war. But I don't think so."
beginning of book: "At the age of twenty-four, I was more prepared for death then I was for life. My first experience of the world outside the classroom had been war."
Not a ton of quote-worthy things but nevertheless it is exactly what Caputo wanted it to be. Honestly very brave of him to write this, probably took a lot. Great read.
I have read a lot of books about the Vietnam war, and this is the one of finest. Like many Vietnam vets, Caputo physically came home, but part of him remained in Vietnam. To this day, I know Vietnam vets who are still working on coming home, reclaiming their lives piece by piece. To a man, they revere Phillip Caputo. So do I.