Sign in with Facebook
Steven Godin's Reviews > Dispatches
Dispatches
by
Charlie.
V-C.
Gooks.
Grunts.
DMZ.
LZ.
R & R.
Pucker, motherfucker. (Alright, can't say I've ever heard of this one)
As I'd never read a single thing on the Vietnam War before - why it took me this long I've no idea, the last time I would have heard any of these mentioned was probably the last time I re-watched some of the classic Nam movies from the 80s. And that must have been almost 20 years ago.
Wow. This is simply one heck of a book. A bona fide masterpiece. I've heard others say it's arguably the greatest ever firsthand account from the front lines of the conflict, and I'm starting to wonder whether I even need to read another. I'll probably wake up in the night in a cold sweat thinking of blood and bone fragments and acid-rock whilst trying to slap imagery Mosquitos. It felt like being there, right in the heart of its horrors, more than any film. The sonic force of this book was just so immense.
It was also, probably more than anything else, genuinely sad. Sad to the point that it almost brought a tear to my eye. The fact that Herr lost friends not only in Vietnam - Sean Flynn, Errol Flynn's son being one of them, but also back home whilst he was still covering the war. On top of that, it may be the case that for a journalist the transition of re-entering the world can be more of a tough and lonely business when compared to those in battle. For a serving soldier or marine there are the medals and flag-waving parades. But what of the correspondent?
It's an easy 5/5 for me.
by
Steven Godin's review
bookshelves: non-fiction, vietnam-war, america-canada, history, journalism
Feb 16, 2022
bookshelves: non-fiction, vietnam-war, america-canada, history, journalism
Charlie.
V-C.
Gooks.
Grunts.
DMZ.
LZ.
R & R.
Pucker, motherfucker. (Alright, can't say I've ever heard of this one)
As I'd never read a single thing on the Vietnam War before - why it took me this long I've no idea, the last time I would have heard any of these mentioned was probably the last time I re-watched some of the classic Nam movies from the 80s. And that must have been almost 20 years ago.
Wow. This is simply one heck of a book. A bona fide masterpiece. I've heard others say it's arguably the greatest ever firsthand account from the front lines of the conflict, and I'm starting to wonder whether I even need to read another. I'll probably wake up in the night in a cold sweat thinking of blood and bone fragments and acid-rock whilst trying to slap imagery Mosquitos. It felt like being there, right in the heart of its horrors, more than any film. The sonic force of this book was just so immense.
It was also, probably more than anything else, genuinely sad. Sad to the point that it almost brought a tear to my eye. The fact that Herr lost friends not only in Vietnam - Sean Flynn, Errol Flynn's son being one of them, but also back home whilst he was still covering the war. On top of that, it may be the case that for a journalist the transition of re-entering the world can be more of a tough and lonely business when compared to those in battle. For a serving soldier or marine there are the medals and flag-waving parades. But what of the correspondent?
It's an easy 5/5 for me.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
Dispatches.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
January 9, 2022
– Shelved
January 9, 2022
– Shelved as:
to-read
February 13, 2022
–
Started Reading
February 13, 2022
– Shelved as:
non-fiction
February 13, 2022
– Shelved as:
vietnam-war
February 16, 2022
–
Finished Reading
May 20, 2022
– Shelved as:
america-canada
September 12, 2023
– Shelved as:
history
September 12, 2023
– Shelved as:
journalism
Comments Showing 1-5 of 5 (5 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Fede
(new)
-
rated it 4 stars
Feb 16, 2022 11:34AM
Okay, it's going to be my next nonfiction read.
reply
|
flag
Fede wrote: "Okay, it's going to be my next nonfiction read."I'm sure you'd like it. Had I read it in my younger days I would have been tempted to fill the room with pot to get that full on experience, ha!
I'll likely still look to read that Nam book you read at some point, as I've seen it pre-owned here. There is also the Denis Johnson novel Tree of Smoke that I like the sound of.
Steven,I feel like we had a similar response to this one. "Sad" is right. The image that stayed with me on my first read of it still haunted me on my second read of it: those human ears in the little bag that were initially mistaken for dried fruit. God, help us, everyone.
If you get a chance, please read Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried. You will not regret it.
Julie wrote: "Steven,I feel like we had a similar response to this one. "Sad" is right. The image that stayed with me on my first read of it still haunted me on my second read of it: those human ears in the lit..."
Thanks for pointing me in the direction of Tim O'Brien's book, Julie.
Can't say I've heard of it.
Yes, those ears. I won't be forgetting that either.
Steven,Please trust me on The Things They Carried. I promise it will be one of the most moving books you've ever read.
