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4.12 AVERAGE
4.12 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I was shocked by how much I liked this book. Probably because my mom said I might not like it at all. But it swept me up right away, and I didn't put it down for three days. I haven't finished a book that fast since Peace Corps, when there were entire weeks with nothing to do EXCEPT read.
With O'Brien, it's all about the story-telling. That's what distinguishes it from Caputo's A Rumor of War. That one's a captivating book in its own right, and the two have a lot in common, including the way they provide a real sense of the boredom of war and the many contradictions that apparently exist out on the front. But where Caputo stopped at what amounts to reporting (very moving reporting, but reporting nonetheless), O'Brien goes further, coming up with genuine characters and memorable story after memorable story (none more so than "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong"). I guess that's the advantage a novel has over a memoir. Like Sanders said, "What you have to do is trust [the:] story. Get the hell out of the way and let it tell itself."
With O'Brien, it's all about the story-telling. That's what distinguishes it from Caputo's A Rumor of War. That one's a captivating book in its own right, and the two have a lot in common, including the way they provide a real sense of the boredom of war and the many contradictions that apparently exist out on the front. But where Caputo stopped at what amounts to reporting (very moving reporting, but reporting nonetheless), O'Brien goes further, coming up with genuine characters and memorable story after memorable story (none more so than "Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong"). I guess that's the advantage a novel has over a memoir. Like Sanders said, "What you have to do is trust [the:] story. Get the hell out of the way and let it tell itself."
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
You already knew this was a good book. A well written book.
Already knew you would give it a 5-stars rating, even though you were not even half way through it yet.
Then, you reach that chapter. The one that starts on page 118.
You need a break. For breathing.
You have never written a review before. On anything. Not on products you bought online. Not even if you had a terrible experience with a service provided. Let alone a book review.
And you have just read great books that made you think, open your mind. Books that made you cry. Books that you could not stop reading until you finished them.
But then you read that chapter. The one that starts on page 118 and ends on 124.
After a pause for breathing, comes the thinking.
Then you are writting.
A review.
And you don't even like writing. At all.
Your first review ever.
That is how good this book is.
Already knew you would give it a 5-stars rating, even though you were not even half way through it yet.
Then, you reach that chapter. The one that starts on page 118.
You need a break. For breathing.
You have never written a review before. On anything. Not on products you bought online. Not even if you had a terrible experience with a service provided. Let alone a book review.
And you have just read great books that made you think, open your mind. Books that made you cry. Books that you could not stop reading until you finished them.
But then you read that chapter. The one that starts on page 118 and ends on 124.
After a pause for breathing, comes the thinking.
Then you are writting.
A review.
And you don't even like writing. At all.
Your first review ever.
That is how good this book is.
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a required book to read and annotate for school years ago but I remember thoroughly enjoying it so much I received extra credit for my extensive annotations. I don't remember everything very clearly as it was roughly 9 years ago but I remember being fascinated by the metaphors and symbolism. The story was gripping from beginning to end and I found the writing style pleasantly easy to read. Everything seemed to flow nicely and I don't recall having to reread sections to understand what O'Brien was conveying. Overall very well written and I might buy a second copy to reread it without my ridiculous annotations.