Tree of Smoke: A Novel
by Denis Johnson
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Book Reviews of Tree of Smoke: A Novel
Book Review: An Apt Picture of Confusion
Summary: 3 Stars
If you are looking for a stirring war-adventure narrative this ISN'T it. U.S. involvment in Vietnam was at the time, and still is, confusing and tragic. This book accuately captures the tragedy and confusion, but in a way that's difficult to take. None of the characters make you want to care about them in the slightest; The Houston brothers, one a sailor, the other a Army combat infantryman, are losers sterotypical of the 1970s Hollywood "burned out 'Nam Vet"; Dis every American come back from Vietnam a drunk and criminal? I kept waiting for Skip Sands to achieve some sort of redemption. His uncle the CIA rogue Col.Sands reminded me of a more academic Col Kurtz from 'Apocalypse Now'. I appreciate Johnsons skills as a writer, but found reading this a slog as difficult and disappointing as history shows us the whole thing really was. I found no closure in the ending.Book Review: Is there an editor in the house?
Summary: 3 Stars
Really? National Book Award? Really? Although Johnson has captivating scene followed by captivating scene, the book as a whole is bloated and over-written. I kept waiting for the corner to be turned and for there to be a tremendous payoff, but I finally ran out of steam and did something I rarely do. I gave up after 500 pages. With slightly more than 100 pages to go, I simply lost my will to care. Johnson is attempting to put together a mosaic. He goes about it in the right way -- he selects beautiful tiles, in this case, interesting scenes and brilliant dialogue. But in stepping back from this impressive tome, I'm not sure he has fully accomplished what he set out to do: to look at all the complicated and confusing aspects of the Vietnam War and put them into a cohesive narrative. It was a worthy effort, but in the end, arguably, a failed attempt.Book Review: great disappointment
Summary: 1 Stars
i was very excited when i bought this book- vietnam war, cia, espionage. plus johnson had a rep as a good writer.
but honestly this book was horrible-
i cant even finish it - im on page 500 and i STILL dont know what the point of the book is .
the characters are totally one dimensional- or as in the case of the double agent Trung.. totally unbelieveable. (wrong mind in the wrong body )
and every so often some real lame philosophical discussions take place.
very dissapointing indeed.
want to see how a great war book is done. read Mailers- the naked and the dead or Alls quiet on the western front - this book is crap
Book Review: Tell me a story, daddy
Summary: 1 Stars
I believed the fancy-a** reviewers who as good as told me that this the book of the year and then some. From beginning to end, I didn't know what was going on, and why.
Oh, yeah, I hear it. "You are one of those 'tell me a story, daddy' pre-schoolers." Yes, I am very old fshioned. Give me Jane Austen anytime.
Or Mailer's The Naked and the Dead: that platoon's experience was as bad as anything that went down in VietNam; all frontline war is hideous.
Why did the colonel do this; why did Skip do that? And who hired the German to do what? And why? But I repeat myself. Not only did I hate this book, but my wife, who is a good bit smarter, hated it too.
Book Review: A very difficult read
Summary: 1 Stars
I seldom give up on books but I had to abandon this after about 400 pages (yes - it is a long book with about 700 pages!). The author has won many awards and the book had numerous positive reviews that tempted me to buy it. But the heavy symbolism, unconnected characters, slow pace etc makes it very difficult to read. Even after 400 pages, the plot was not clear and the book became very boring.
Though the back of the book carries positive reviews from many well known sources, I would recommend prospective readers to browse through a few of the pages (just the first 2 or 3 will not do) at random and make sure they like this style, before buying it.