Military training as a helicopter pilot evokes the warrior spirit in a young soldier, but in combat that warrior spirit comes into conflict with the mechanized soldier.
Assessment:
Plot: This poignant memoir discusses what was lost, tangibly and emotionally, during a soldier's wartime experience in Vietnam, and how the soldier embarks on a journey to recover his internal strength. This book is built on a strong conceptual foundation, and it will resonate with readers of all ages.
Prose: One of the main strengths of this book is the author's prose, which is vivid and evocative from beginning to end. The sentence flow is smooth and admirable.
Originality: Memoirs about war are not uncommon, but this story of a combat unit member in Vietnam finding a way to heal from his dark, internal wounds is unique and riveting.
Character Development: The characters are composed vividly. The voice of the protagonist is strong, clear, and appealing. The reader will want to take this journey with him, no matter how challenging the subject matter is.
Date Submitted: August 22, 2018
"...the author offers a highly intellectual Vietnam War memoir that's more poetic than most pain-wracked soldier stories. His ruminations on mythologies, metaphysics, and human sexuality--both classical and modern--have one foot on the battlefield and the other in New Age philosophy...A genre-blending mission report from an atypical disillusioned Vietnam vet." Kirkus Reviews
