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kleine_e's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bigbookbabe's review against another edition
5.0
it takes courage to be a coward (also some of you in the reviews need to learn basic reading comprehension, my god)
rerudis's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible. I loved it. Going After Cacciato is an insightful novel about a young soldier who uses his imagination to make sense of his war experiences, and it involves much more than meets the eye. A lot of really in depth content can be found beneath the book's surface, and it's great for analyzing and finding themes and patterns. I love Tim O'Brien- he has earned a place among my list of favorite authors. This novel in particular includes many wonderful quotes ideas, and truths, many of which other authors are afraid to write. Definitely recommended.
sunn_bleach's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A peace novel, not a war novel, in which the courage to be a coward does not come lightly.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gun violence, and War
Moderate: Racial slurs
Minor: Rape
tipi's review against another edition
3.0
Jenna's recommendation. A Vietnam War novel by arguably the greatest Vietnam War writer of all time, if only for his masterful collection of stories, The Things They Carried. Going After Cacciato is a much different beast, however. It starts out similarly, taking on the point-of-view of a poetic and disillusioned foot soldier named Paul Berlin. It's obvious that O'Brien loves the poetic and disillusioned soldiers, probably because he was one himself. As such, we identify with Berlin from the onset, trusting everything he says and does even though he's stuck in the third-person. So, as his squad wends their way through the jungles of Vietnam, and as he diffidently maneuvers his way through their keyed up banter, we remain circumspect through it all. We're hyperaware of the idiosyncrasies and temperaments of these young men, because we know the context: in any good Vietnam War story, there comes a moment when at least one American blows his lid and starts needlessly tormenting (and maybe even murdering) innocent Vietnamese villagers. Who will it be?
Of course, while a few American soldiers do blow their lids in Going After Cacciato, none of those moments come close to approaching the crux of the novel. Unexpectedly, this is actually a novel about love, vagrancy, and magic. To call it a Vietnam War novel doesn't seem quite right, maybe because we've been conditioned to expect only gritty realism from our war literature. This is anything but realistic. Going After Cacciato is one mystifying digression after another, the story of one squad's transcontinental march through a land of smoke and mirrors. Like Apocalypse Now, but instead of being about an AWOL colonel, it's about a whole fucking squad of AWOLs.
Of course, while a few American soldiers do blow their lids in Going After Cacciato, none of those moments come close to approaching the crux of the novel. Unexpectedly, this is actually a novel about love, vagrancy, and magic. To call it a Vietnam War novel doesn't seem quite right, maybe because we've been conditioned to expect only gritty realism from our war literature. This is anything but realistic. Going After Cacciato is one mystifying digression after another, the story of one squad's transcontinental march through a land of smoke and mirrors. Like Apocalypse Now, but instead of being about an AWOL colonel, it's about a whole fucking squad of AWOLs.
montigneyrules's review against another edition
1.0
#readingchallenge2018 (my book recommended by a stranger)
The novel has such a strong opening: Cacciato leaves, his behavior is strange, and you desire to know what happens if/when they catch up to him; what was his reasoning, was there a deeper meaning? but as the story progresses, the non-linear writing is convoluted.
The writing: I often found myself feeling lost, as I struggled to understand the timeline we were in, what the point was, and where would it go from here. The dialogue never mixed well; being too short, choppy, and resembled more two people trying to recreate a conversation they overheard instead of a real conversation.
The story: I get why they embarked on their mission, but I don’t think O’Brien maintained a focus enough to portray a good chase. Was that the point, or was it bad writing, it’s so hard to tell. And was the ending a cop out, ugh if so bleg, if not bleg, I still read to the end.
I honestly really want to read Things They Carried, I hope he is just bad at Fiction writing and I have a better shot with the other novel.
The novel has such a strong opening: Cacciato leaves, his behavior is strange, and you desire to know what happens if/when they catch up to him; what was his reasoning, was there a deeper meaning? but as the story progresses, the non-linear writing is convoluted.
The writing: I often found myself feeling lost, as I struggled to understand the timeline we were in, what the point was, and where would it go from here. The dialogue never mixed well; being too short, choppy, and resembled more two people trying to recreate a conversation they overheard instead of a real conversation.
The story: I get why they embarked on their mission, but I don’t think O’Brien maintained a focus enough to portray a good chase. Was that the point, or was it bad writing, it’s so hard to tell. And was the ending a cop out, ugh if so bleg, if not bleg, I still read to the end.
I honestly really want to read Things They Carried, I hope he is just bad at Fiction writing and I have a better shot with the other novel.
brijeanson's review against another edition
5.0
Upon further analysis this is a masterful rendition of courage, imagination and the Vietnam War. Bravo, 5*
aprilbooksandwine's review against another edition
4.0
All I can say is this is a war book and pretty much a real mind fuck. I'm still saying whaaaat?!
mikewomack's review against another edition
1.0
After reading, The Things They Carried, I immediately ran down to the library to check out O’Brien’s earlier writing, Going After Cacciato. And maybe my expectations were too high, but I was very disappointed in this writing. The Things They Carried was written in such a sophisticated manner. Going After Cacciato seemed jagged and forced. I really can’t see what was so special about this book that it was nominated for a bunch of rewards. I can only guess that there was a severe shortage of novels in 1979 when it was published. Maybe someone would tell me that I didn’t get it, that I missed the message or the symbolism. Oh no, I got the message. I just didn’t like the prose used to deliver it. One of the most unremarkable stories I’ve read in a long time.
emmainthesun's review against another edition
3.0
Very slow for the first hundred or so pages, but man, can O'Brien write.