Vietnam

[Amusing Scrotum]

After recently seeing a new comrade from Vietnam say hello in the Lounge, the forum not my sitting room. I realised my knowledge on the Vietnam war is somewhat woeful. Could anyone suggest a good book on the issue. What I am particualy interested in is before the war and just after the war. I basically get the jist of what happened during the war, the American Military dropped Napalm on civilians, the Viet Cong conducted a form of guerilla warfare in the jungle. The war itself is not what I am keen on learning about, theres enough Hollywood flicks to get an idea about what the war was like. No what I really want to learn about is the people in the Viet Cong, whether it was truly revolutionary etc. I suppose I could ask people for their opinions, but, really I'd like to formulate my own opinions.

Thanks in advance.

[bunk]

Not what you're asking for but the best book describing the conflict is CHICKENHAWK

[Urban Rubble]

Chickenhawk is good, but not nearly the best. It's written from the perspective of a U.S. helicopter pilot and mostly focuses on the events around his flights and his experiences as a soldier.

Try Le Ly Hayslip's "When Heaven and Earth Changed Places". It's basically the life story of a girl who grew up in rural Vietnam during the war. At age 14 she smuggled weapons for the VC and she writes a lot about what the fighers were like and how the Communists worked and treated the civilians. She is later raped by 2 young VC cadres and was forced to move to the city.

I'm not good at summing up books, especially without giving away too much. Just read it, it's a good one.

[Amusing Scrotum]

Is this the Chickenhawk (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0552124192/qid=1126557538/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-2693871-8932608) you mean. Sounds like, from the review anyway, like a pretty horrific account.

[Amusing Scrotum]

Thanks as well Urban Rubble. "When Heaven and Earth Changed Places" sounds like a pretty horrific account too.


She is later raped by 2 young VC cadres and was forced to move to the city.

The realities of war. No matter what people are fighting for, its only a matter of time before they become inhuman and commit horrific crimes.
I feel really depressed now thinking about this. Maybe I should have just asked what everyones favourite cartoon was.

[bunk]

Yep that's what i meant, i've also read The Cage which isn't very good. Better to know the realities of war huh?

[Amusing Scrotum]

Better to know the realities of war huh?

Nope. Igorance seems a formula for happiness to me.

[Urban Rubble]

The realities of war. No matter what people are fighting for, its only a matter of time before they become inhuman and commit horrific crimes.
I feel really depressed now thinking about this. Maybe I should have just asked what everyones favourite cartoon was.

Read the book, it's really good. It's actually not that depressing, she gets out and later moves to America and becomes fairly rich. So it kind of pisses you off more than makes you sad.

[Amusing Scrotum]

Read the book, it's really good. It's actually not that depressing, she gets out and later moves to America and becomes fairly rich. So it kind of pisses you off more than makes you sad.

Now its spoilt. It would have been more fitting, and realistic, if an American bomb had killed her. Instead of her going off and living the "American Dream". If I can find it on the internet I'll print it and read it. Otherwise I ain't giving the writer a penny.

[Urban Rubble]

Now its spoilt. It would have been more fitting, and realistic, if an American bomb had killed her. Instead of her going off and living the "American Dream". If I can find it on the internet I'll print it and read it. Otherwise I ain't giving the writer a penny.

Don't be a dumbass.

The fact that this woman left poverty stricked and wartorn Vietnam to raise her children in a place where they will have food and medicine does not make her book any less worthy of being read.

True, she is no communist, but if you limit yourself to material written by class concious leftists then you are going to have a very lopsided education. You asked for a book that gives an insight as to the personalities and motivations of the Vietnamese soldiers, this is as good of an account as I've seen. It is told from the perspective of a woman who lived through it not only as a bystander, but as a participant. It is beyond ridiculous of you to ignore this book simply because the woman moved to the U.S.

And please, explain how out of two quite real and common situations (a Vietnamese woman dying from a U.S. bomb and a woman moving to the U.S. and raising her standard of living) one can be more realistic.

Oh, and dead people don't write books.

[Amusing Scrotum]

Don't be a dumbass.

Poor education is not my fault. ;)


The fact that this woman left poverty stricked and wartorn Vietnam to raise her children in a place where they will have food and medicine does not make her book any less worthy of being read.

No it does not make her book less worthy of reading, however, from the short description you gave me of the plot. I have formed an opinion. My opinion is that the ending will be unsatasfactory. Regarding the ending, you said yourself "So it kind of pisses you off more than makes you sad."
It just sounds to me that the underlying message is that America and American ways are better. However having not read the book I cannot really express an opinion, so I guess now I should read the book and then tell you what I think of it.


True, she is no communist, but if you limit yourself to material written by class concious leftists then you are going to have a very lopsided education. You asked for a book that gives an insight as to the personalities and motivations of the Vietnamese soldiers, this is as good of an account as I've seen. It is told from the perspective of a woman who lived through it not only as a bystander, but as a participant. It is beyond ridiculous of you to ignore this book simply because the woman moved to the U.S.

Who said anything about limiting my reading material. Its just my orginal question was more about whether there was a book exploring the political side of the Vietnam War and the Viet Cong. Of course for this, I would require a somewhat biased account of the war.
While I appreciate your suggestion I really don't want to read about the horrors of war, it depresses me. As somewhat of a pacifist I really don't need to read just how terrible the Vietnam War was, as like all wars, it was horrific and unjust.


And please, explain how out of two quite real and common situations (a Vietnamese woman dying from a U.S. bomb and a woman moving to the U.S. and raising her standard of living) one can be more realistic.

I would imagine a woman being killed was a far more common occurance than a woman moving to the U.S., and as I said it seems to be that in her journey from war torn Vietnam to America where she prospers. Is some kind of vindication for American policy and the American system.


Oh, and dead people don't write books.

You didn't mention that it was a biography.