The Best Vietnam War Book Reviews
Duke Barrett is author of the acclaimed Vietnam war novel, The Wall of Broken Dreams. Duke was kind enough to let me reprint one of his short stories here, recounting a close encounter near Bong Son, in 1966. “At approximately 3 PM on yet another hot and humid September day, the 2nd squad of [...]
To Bear Any Burden – Al Santoli, ed, 1999 This fantastic Vietnam oral history compilation brings together a collection of contemporary accounts from a total of 48 Asian and American voices. The express intent of this work is to present a more complete kaleidoscope of experience on the Vietnam War and its aftermath, and [...]
The Sorrow of War – Bao Ninh, 1994 This best-selling work of fiction from ‘the other side’ of the war follows young infantry cadre Kien through nightmarish war, bittersweet memory and longings of home. A best-seller upon its release in Hanoi, this book allows a deep understanding of the culture and suffering of America’s opponents [...]
In Pharoah’s Army, Memories of the Lost War – Tobias Wolff, 1995 In this recollection of war, the writer Tobias Wolff offers a literary perspective on his personal Vietnam journey. This book is at once a psychological study of men at war and a collection of colourful vignettes on life for American officers in-country in [...]
Vietnam, Now – David Lamb, 2002 Nam reporter David Lamb returns to Hanoi some 30 years on from the war, and discovers a country transformed. Insightful, balanced and thoughtful, this book would be a good read for first-time visitors to the country. Vietnam, Now – A Reporter Returns (affl) is a fascinating collection of incidents [...]
Last Night I Dreamed of Peace – Dang Thuy Tram, 2005 The chaos and brutality of the Vietnam War through the eyes of a young and idealistic surgeon from Hanoi. This diary has echoes of Anne Frank in its honesty, longing and heroism and is a must-read for anybody interested in the other side of [...]
Everything We Had: An Oral History of the Vietnam War – Al Santoli, 1985 This readable and varied work reached the New York Times bestsellers list upon release and presents a broad and inclusive kaleidoscope of experience in Vietnam. Everything We Had (aff) brings together the oral histories of 33 men who completed tours of [...]
Very Crazy, GI – Kregg P Jorgenson, 2001 If you’re looking for some “beaucoup dinky dau” (crazy) tales from Nam, this could be the book for you. Very Crazy, G.I. (affl) is a collection of “strange but true stories from the Vietnam war” which might prove interesting for die-hard fans of the war genre. Jorgenson [...]
When Hell Was in Session – Jeremiah A Denton, 1976 This is an interesting and different angle on the Vietnam war – a portrait of the POW’s experience – and what captured airmen in particular suffered when shot down over North Vietnam on their bombing missions. Former Rep. Senator Denton spent 8 years in captivity [...]
Born on the Fourth of July – Ron Kovic, 2005 Frank, shocking and affecting, this is the story of a disillusioned young American’s fight for survival after terrible battle trauma in Vietnam. Now recognised universally as a classic for wounded Vietnam vets, Ron Kovic’s honest, searing book will teach you about courage, survival, the depths [...]
Platoon Platoon remains one of Oliver Stone’s finest films, a powerfully directed and … [Read More]
