
Though I've read a lot of books centered on war in other countries, I've never read a book quite like this. What made this a different reading experience was the fact that rather than focusing on the native people and their reactions when war strikes, this book was more about Americans, specifically photographers, and their experiences in the turmoil that was Vietnam. Though it was a very different kind of read for me, I found it utterly engrossing and most of the time I read with tensed muscles, experiencing the very realistic terrors and heartaches of Helen, Linh and Darrow.
In the early sections, I wondered why this group of people wanted so desperately to be in Vietnam during this period. It seemed almost suicidal that they refused to leave, and their actions in covering the war were not only dangerous, but seemed a little self-serving at times. Of course, as I read on, I came to realize that these people were addicted to the danger and fame of being in this environment and of producing something tangible out of the suffering they were witnessing. Whereas Darrow came off as a more rugged adventurer who got a charge out of taking risks, Helen seemed to be trying to recapture something in herself, trying desperately to make sense of her life by invading the lives of others. Linh was different in this respect, because due to the ties and obligations that he had within the country, he could not flee. It was a vicarious lifestyle, lived on the edge, and all of the players seemed to live in a different realm of consciousness, never realizing that they themselves were changing the face of the war just by documenting it.
There were a lot of almost surreal moments in these stories, and like the best war stories, they captured the grand horror and senselessness of combat in a style I thought was not only very realistic but also heartrending. Lush landscapes aside, there were some startling and pugnacious incidences of violence and terror, not only for the photographers, but for the soldiers they were trying to capture on film. A lot of the book brought home the futility and senselessness of the military violence that was perpetrated in this war not only from the American side but from the Vietnamese as well. As the story began to pick up pace, the danger seemed to be almost tactile at times and began to churn with a life of it's own, pushing the tale into ever-widening spirals of insanity.
There was a very involving twist of a love story here, and part of the reason it was such a passionate exploration was that it was, in essence, love in time of war, when everything was desperate and the future was so unknown and shadowed. It was as if these people were desperately trying to hang onto the conventions of normal life, and in a very real way, it was as if they were making it up as they were going along. Holding on to each other as life rafts in the melee that was the Vietnam war, these people tried to somehow cling to the semblances of normalcy, and love was a precious commodity and a valued treasure in what what otherwise was a vast wasteland being torn further and further apart. Also, I must give a nod to the perfection and haunting quality of the title of this book, for like the Lotus Eaters of the Odyssey, Helen and the other photographers find themselves having eaten the lotus of Vietnam and not ever wanting to abandon it, no matter what destruction comes their way.
The last fifty pages had me dry-mouthed in anticipation of what this story would boil down to, and believe me, I was not disappointed. In a perfect narrative arc, this book had me twisting up in the trees with the abandon that the photographers were feeling, and the despair of the absolute disillusion that befell them as the close of the war approaches. This was a magnificent read for me, and despite the fact that it made me quite uncomfortable at times, it had the true hallmarks of beauty that not many books that capture the war are able to. If you are in the mood for a walk with a group pf people who are far from average, living in some of the most desperate times and situations you would possibly be able to imagine, I urge you to give this book a try.
Great news! The publishers of this book have generously offered me one copy of the book to give away. If you'd like a chance to win it, please fill out the form below. The winner will be chosen at random on February, 5th 2011. Good Luck to all entrants!
![]() Tatjana Soli is a novelist and short story writer. Born in Salzburg, Austria, she attended Stanford University and the Warren Wilson MFA Program. Her stories have appeared in StoryQuarterly, Confrontation, Gulf Coast, Other Voices, Nimrod, Third Coast, Carolina Quarterly, Sonora Review and North Dakota Quarterly among other publications. Her work has been twice listed in the 100 Distinguished Stories in Best American Short Stories and nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She was awarded the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Prize, teh Dana Award, finalist for the Bellwether Prize, and received scholarships to the Sewanee Writers’ Conference and Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. She lives with her husband in Orange County, California, and teaches through the Gotham Writers’ Workshop. Visit Tatjana’s website HERE. |
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A warm thanks to TLC Book Tours for providing this book for me to read and review. Please continue to follow the tour by visiting these other blogs:
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This book was provided as a complimentary review copy.
21 comments:
What a brilliant review, Heather! So insightful and thought provoking. I read this book last year and absolutely loved it (my dad's getting a copy for his birthday this year). I have read quite a bit about the Vietnam War over the years, my dad being a vet, but hadn't quite read anything like this novel before. It really made an impression on me.
Great review! I wasn't so enamored of the ending - in fact, I had to email Sandy and ask what happened! :--) (but it's not the author's fault - I'm sort of notoriously dense about any bit of subtlety!). But overall, what an intense book, that I would certainly recommend to anyone!
Boy does this book sound good! I've never thought about it but I think you're right that war-time journalist are addicted to the danger of the job.
I have the book, so I'm not going to enter, but wanted to let you know that I can't see your form.
As I just texted to you, that was a damned fine review Heather. Blows my mind that this was her first go at novel-writing. I can't wait until we talk to her on Thursday!
Great review! I absolutely loved this book, and I thought it was unique among the Vietnam War books I've read. We've linked to your review on War Through the Generations.
I loved this one too! I was utterly transfixed and read it in a single day. I'm really looking forward to Soli's next novel.
Your description of this book reminds me of one of my favorite films, A Year Of Living Dangerously, especially the part about Helen is trying to recapture something in herself, and trying to make sense of her life by invading the lives of others. This idea plays out really touchingly in the movie. Sounds like a fantastic book.
This is a brilliant review of an intense book! Having read this book I also would say that there are surreal aspects to this story. Please don't enter me in this generous giveaway as I already have The Lotus Eaters, which I reviewed a while ago. The author, Tajana Soli, was very gracious to grant me an interview as well.
Geez, Heather, fantastic review! I'm thrilled that you enjoyed the book. Thank you so much for being on the tour!
Ooo forgot to mention- the cover you display is the hardcover. The giveaway is for the paperback and the cover is different. Just FYI.
i've seen this book on the shelves and have picked it up to read, then set it back down only to do the same thing over again the next time the book crossed my path....my dad served 3 tours in 'Nam and I've read so many books and seen a lot of the movies about the occupation, but this one, this one sounds special ~ the next time I come across it I will definitely pick it up to read! beautiful, amazing review!
What a great review! This was an excellent book and it still amazes me that this is Soli's first novel. It seems like she's been writing forever!
Your passion for this book jumps off the page, and that makes me want to look into it more. I have not read much either about or set in the Vietnam war, although one of the best non-fiction books I have ever read was about the war, David Maraniss' They Marched into Sunlight.
Wow, this seems like a great read. I haven't read much from this time period, and I certainly would like to explore it. I really want to read this now!
Your review makes me all the more anxious to get to my copy. Well done once again.
What an incredibly beautiful review! I am so entering the giveaway!
I know I want to read this ... I've heard nothing but good things about it (mostly from Sandy) so of course I'm going to enter your very lovely giveaway.
The second paragraph of your review has sold me - I was unsure about reading this one before. It's definitely going on my reading list now. Nice review! (And thanks for the giveaway, too!)
I've heard a lot about this book, I'm glad to see that you loved it as well!
The giveaway does not speak about restrictions!!! but if it is so you will have to delete my entry.
This was one of my fav books last year! You're so right--those last few pages were so tense I could hardly make myself keep reading; which is really saying something given that there is already so much tension in the book.
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