While its not literally about vietnam, the author was a soldier in that war. Shortlisted for canadas prestigious giller prize, this profoundly humane novel vancouver sun, wrings suspense and humor out of the everyday choices we make, revealing the delicate balance between sacrifice and selfinterest, doing good and being good. There have been a number of excellent books about vietnam. This book, easily one of the best pieces of war fiction, is definitely one of the best books written by vietnam war veterans. One of my favourites from this list is the beauty of humanity movement, it might be an oldie but it is a great book that tells an interesting story about key characters and their lives in old vietnam. A novel of the vietnam war is a novel by american author and decorated marine karl marlantes. In addition to susan bertolinos excellent answer, there are a number of other novels with characters suffering from ptsd, often triggered by a war. All titles are located in the juvenile fiction section. Feb 05, 2008 a rumor of war, philip caputo to call it the best book about vietnam is to trivialise it. Vietnam war books vietnam war fiction war novels by war cold war novels vietnam war in popular culture novels set in vietnam. While all the other novels in this list take place during an actual war, nineteen eightyfour portrays a dystopian, perpetual war, with no signs of.
Dog soldiers won the 1975 national book award for fiction, the first vietnam war novel to do so. The necessary war, michael lind if you only read one book on the vietnam war, this is it. Vietnam war literature is a prolific canon of literature that consists primarily of works by american authors, but it is global in scope in its inclusion of texts from writers of other nationalities like australia, france, japan, korea, and vietnam. But while vietnam equipped numerous fictional characters with the skills to combat the mafia, terrorists or various other threats, few books in the late 1960s and 70s focused on the war and its consequences as anything more than a background or reason for why a character was as confuseddamagedhomicidal as they were. Next on your list of vietnam war books is one written from the perspective of the viet cong. Ehrhart, left, in october 1967 near quang tri, vietnam, and today. In this post, you will find a list of the best vietnam books to read in 2020. Termed the vietnam war by americans and the american war by the vietnamese, americas longest war, which spanned a twentyfiveyear period between the 1950 and 1975, has spawned a prolific body of literature. Matterhorn by karl marlantes, the things they carried by tim obrien, the th valley by john m. I love to read a few novels or autobiographies before i visit a place. These include winners of national book awards and pulitzer prizes, both fiction and nonfiction. Among the most positive is an abundance of topnotch books, many written by veterans of the conflict.
You may also request these titles online through our opac. Ten vietnam war novels to read council on foreign relations. Tell me about the first book on your list, a rumor of war 1977. A rumor of war, philip caputo to call it the best book about vietnam is to trivialise it.
Now that ken burns pbs documentary has concluded, were rereading the classics of the vietnam wars literary canon. Winner of the 2016 pulitzer prize for fiction, this debut novel could fit into half a dozen genres of vietnam war books from war narrative to. Bestselling, awardwinning author val mcdermid delivers her most stunning story yet in the distant echoan intricate, thoughtprovoking tale of murder and revengefour in the morning, middecember, and snow blankets st. Mar 06, 2015 dog soldiers won the 1975 national book award for fiction, the first vietnam war novel to do so. In the fiction section, you will find the best books on vietnam war, other vietnam bestseller novels as well as novels set in vietnam. Nonfiction updated december 2006 a war story is good, but sometimes nonfiction can be more interesting, as in these true vietnam war stories, compiled by reader advisor paul mathews. The th valley by john del vecchio there have been a number of excellent books about vietnam. Readers weighed in on the best books about the vietnam war. What struck me about it is the similarity of the feeling between people who just by the grace of god, by luck, were on. What are some fictional books featuring characters who have. This is a great piece of writing and the guy is obviously a talented writer. World war i 20 books, world war ii 27 books, korean war 3.
To say that the forever war is the best science fiction war novel ever written is to damn it with faint praise. In this post i have collected together the best books about vietnam. Chaplain newby became the only chaplain to receive a cib during the vietnam war. Dec, 2017 in this post, you will find a list of the best vietnam books to read in 2020. Winner of the 2016 pulitzer prize for fiction, this debut novel could fit into half a dozen genres of vietnam war books from war narrative to immigrant story, from mystery to political, from metafiction to. Philip caputo was a marine who later became a very wellknown journalist. Best fictioncreative nonfiction about the vietnam war. I have broken down the best books about vietnam into helpful sections. In january of 1973 we in the defense attache office in the american embassy, phnom penh, cambodia, found ourselves in an unusual situation. In my mind its one of the first really wellwritten books that describe the moral ambiguities and difficulties faced by a young marine officer in this particular war. Preferably not about war and if possible in native english. May 11, 2017 the 50 modern war books every man should read. Phnom penh, cambodia, found ourselves in an unusual situation. Discover the best vietnam war history in best sellers.
From his encounters with exvietnamese soldiers to interviews with victims of his own violence, broyles memoir is a reminder of how the brotherhood of man can. Tim obrien, american novelist noted for his writings about american soldiers in the vietnam war. Marvel has addressed that dilemma with its most famous vietnam war veteran, frank castle, by moving his tours of duty decades into the future, to the gulf war. The 50 modern war books every man should read insidehook. Before he penned the screenplays for jarhead and castaway, a young william broyles enlisted to serve in the vietnam war. Jul 07, 2017 three vietnam war veterans share their stories w. The 14 best military nonfiction books of alltime americas. More than a decade later, he returned to his former battlegrounds and recorded his journey in goodbye vietnam. Vietnam war in american literature oxford research. Ptsd as we currently know it was also called shellshock and afflicted thousands of men during and. The ultimate 2020 list of best vietnam books to read. Sea singer after his father and brothers fail to return from a voyage to the west, finn, a twelveyearold viking, stows away on leif. Pages in category vietnam war novels the following 45 pages are in this category, out of 45 total.
Does anyone have any favorite fictional storiesbooks that are set in vietnam. With a population of nearly 100 million vietnam is one of the most popular holiday destinations in south east asia. Even the ones that are set in the war years or are more directly about the war involve such nuanced insights into vietnamese society that id still strongly recommend them. Best sellers, newest to oldest oldest to newest price low to high price high.
Fiction war short stories vietnam veterans of america. It is, for all its technoextrapolative brilliance, as fine and woundingly genuine a war story as any ive read. The best vietnam war books five books expert recommendations. Marvel comics just retconned the entire vietnam war cbr.
To order any of these titles, contact the library by email, mail or phone. A popular south east asian country for travelers vietnam is home to the beautiful ha long bay, cities of hanoi and ho chi minh and 8 unesco world heritage sites. Winner of the 2016 pulitzer prize for fiction, this debut novel could fit into half a dozen genres of vietnam war books from war narrative to immigrant story, from mystery to political, from metafiction to historical and even dark comedy. This intervention would become one of the most divisive decisions in u. In vietnam, all us forces were ordered to cease fighting and that included air assets as well as the ground troops. Vietnam rising dragon covers the story of vietnam from. The story of vietnam from ancient past to uncertain future. World war ii historical fiction, historical fiction, books. Ma van khangs novel against the flood probably belongs on this list, but that is the only omission i can think of off hand. A first checklist by tom colonnese and jerry hogan, 2 the three editions of the annotated bibliography vietnam.
Booktopia buy vietnam war fiction books online from australias leading online bookstore. Vietnam war nonfiction missouri secretary of state. Jun 25, 2018 in addition to susan bertolinos excellent answer, there are a number of other novels with characters suffering from ptsd, often triggered by a war. Greene said, this is a story and not a piece of history, but through this fictional story, greene perfectly portrays the political climate and personal feelings of war torn indochina that were so under scrutiny during this time. Marvel finally gets explicit about mystique and destinys relationship. A slew of war memoirs stand with the best writing of that genre. The top 30 vietnam war books to read this winter historynet. What are some fictional books featuring characters who.
Thought id start a thread where everyone can offer suggestions of books they have read that are set in vietnam or even about vietnam. The wars literature first emerged in the 1950s during the cold war when americans were serving as advisors to the french and the vietnamese in. Both the nonfiction and fictional tales on this list have a sense of chilling realism gleaned from firsthand experience and indepth research. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. During the vietnam war he served with the 27th youth brigade. The vietnam war has scarred, transformed and inspired countless writers and art practitioners.