Waterstones Going After Cacciato
434 ratings
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Price: £9.99
Brand: Waterstones
Description: Winner of the National Book Award, 'Going After Cacciato' captures the peculiar mixture of horror and hallucination that marked the Vietnam War, this strangest of wars. In a blend of reality and fantasy, this novel tells the story of a young soldier who one day lays down his rifle and sets off on a quixotic journey from the jungles of Indochina to the streets of Paris. In its memorable evocation of men both fleeing from and meeting the demands of battle, 'Going After Cacciato' stands as much more than just a great war novel. Ultimately it's about the forces of fear and heroism that do battle in the hearts of us all.
Category: Books
Merchant: Waterstones
Product ID: 9780006543077
Delivery cost: 2.99
ISBN: 9780006543077
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Author: PMartin
Rating: 5
Review: A classic that could only have been written by someone who experienced first hand the full spectrum of human experience and emotion from within the theatre of the Vietnam War. Cacciato, a serving US soldier goes AWOL to make his way by foot from Vietnam to Paris, the paradise in his head. Several of his company are taske to find him. Their paths cross and wane and both go on a journey that noone could ever have predicted. Superbly written, wonderful realistic dialogue and beautifully evoked authentic descriptions of landscape made it a joy to read.
Author: Ian Brawn
Rating: 4
Review: Vietnam, 1968, US soldier Cacciato decides he's had enough and leaves for Paris. His squad pursue him, at first on foot through the mountains, but soon by train to various cities, heading west. This surreal adventure provides opportunities for some thoughtful reflections on subjects such as courage and duty. However, it's knowingly fantastical, operating at two removes from reality, which reduces the emotional impact. That is provided instead by frequent flashbacks to the period before Cacciato leaves. These raw tales of mundanity and death are the real beating heart of the novel. They're reminiscent of Hemingway, both in terms of subject matter and prose style: stripped down, rhythmic, and achieving much of their impact from what is not said. One vignette in particular struck me as absolutely stunning, carrying the reader relentlessly towards a gut-punch conclusion. Even if the rest of the novel wasn't pretty good, it would be worth reading for that one chapter alone.
