Northern Lights by tim o/brien

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

It seems that a significant number of people do not have a favorable opinion of Tim O’Brien’s 1975 debut novel, Northern Lights. However, who really cares? For I, without a doubt, have a profound love for this book.

What makes this novel so captivating is the way it transports its characters and us, the readers, deep into the enchanting Minnesota northwoods. The vivid descriptions and the immersive narrative create an atmosphere that is truly magical.

I, for one, am an easy target for that kind of atmospheric setting. The beauty and tranquility of the northwoods, as depicted in the book, have a certain allure that draws me in and makes me feel as if I am actually there, experiencing everything along with the characters.

Despite the lack of popularity among some, Northern Lights holds a special place in my heart, and I will always cherish the unique reading experience it has provided.

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Kotexawa

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I have always been a great admirer of this author's previous works. His writing style and the stories he weaves have always managed to captivate me and keep me engaged from start to finish. However, this particular book has been a complete disappointment for me.

I had high expectations when I picked up this book, but unfortunately, it failed to live up to them. The plot seemed to be going nowhere, and the characters lacked depth and development. I found myself getting bored and frustrated with the story as I read along.

In fact, I was so uninterested in this book that I actually quit reading it halfway through. This is something that I rarely do, as I usually make it a point to finish every book that I start. But in this case, I just couldn't bring myself to continue.

Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone. It is a far cry from the author's previous works and does not do justice to his talent and reputation. I hope that he will go back to the drawing board and come up with something better in the future.

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JuGuL4ToR

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Hard to tell if the old mayor was playing a great fool's game.

He was darting in and out of time as if it didn't matter or exist.

Always confusing the living with the dead and Perry with Harvey and both of them with the old man.

The trail was its own perfect logic.

My O'Brien sets up provocative oppositions between two brothers, Perry and Harvey.

The brothers are a study in contrasts.

Whether the subject is involvement in Vietnam, love for their father, or personal relationships, the brothers are seemingly only connected by a common childhood and genetics.

Harvey, upon returning from his service in Vietnam, wants the pomp and circumstance due a war hero, while Perry cancels any thoughts for a welcoming party.

The opposition causes plenty of friction and spice through the work.

In many ways, the tale is a coming-of-age story for a floundering adult.

Perry's emotional and functioning growth throughout the work is one of the intriguing aspects of the text.

One of the more interesting aspects of the text is that O'Brien tells the story from Perry's perspective.

Rather than embracing the perspective of the veteran, O'Brien breaks from his personal history and focuses upon the guilt of the brother who did not serve.

This unique approach adds depth and complexity to the narrative, making the reader empathize with Perry's inner turmoil and journey of self-discovery.

It also allows for a fresh exploration of the themes of war, family, and identity, as seen through the eyes of someone who was on the periphery of the conflict.

Overall, the story is a captivating and thought-provoking read that delves into the human psyche and the lasting impacts of war on individuals and relationships.

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2Blover3000

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

You can read my review at http://tims-reviews.blogspot.com/2017...

My review offers in-depth insights into the book "Northern Lights". It delves into the captivating plot, the well-developed characters, and the unique world-building that author has crafted. I analyze the various themes explored in the story and how they contribute to the overall narrative. Whether you're a fan of fantasy literature or simply looking for a good read, my review can help you decide if "Northern Lights" is the book for you. So, head on over to the provided link and check out my detailed review to discover more about this fascinating book.

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Cloneable

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I would rate this book three stars because I truly can't make up my mind whether I liked it or not.

At the beginning, it started in a way that made me think I was definitely going to love this book. The story seemed to have a lot of potential and it really grabbed my attention.

However, then it entered a lull stage where the plot seemed to slow down and I found myself getting a bit bored.

Thankfully, in the end, it picked up again and started to get interesting. But unfortunately, I didn't like the ending. It just didn't feel right to me and left me with a bit of a disappointed feeling.

So overall, to me it's a so-so book. It had its good moments and its bad moments, and I'm still not quite sure what to think about it.

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tounoyaboys

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I didn't get it.

I read the book from cover to cover with great enthusiasm because I simply hate to put a book down once I start. However, after thoroughly going through it, I still didn't manage to understand Mr. O'Brien's message.

It was truly a strange story. The plot seemed to twist and turn in ways that I couldn't quite follow. There were many hidden meanings and subtleties that eluded my comprehension.

I found myself constantly rereading certain passages, hoping to catch that one crucial detail that would unlock the mystery. But alas, it remained a mystery to me.

Perhaps I need to read it again with a more critical eye or do some research on the author and his works to gain a better understanding. For now, I'll just have to accept that this particular story has left me a bit confused and intrigued.

I'm curious to see if others who have read it have had the same experience or if they were able to decipher the message more easily.

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Manga_better

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I did not have an enjoyable experience while reading this book. However, I persisted in reading it because the story line appeared to hold promise. Additionally, I have this inner need to complete reading a book once I have begun. But I really struggled with the style and the repetitive nature of the sentences. Moreover, I didn't have any liking for any of the characters in the book. I rated the book at 2 stars. The only reason for this was that I felt compelled to find out what happened at the end. So, in a way, I guess that's a good thing. But unfortunately, the book seemed to just peter out at the end. There was no real climax or satisfying conclusion. It was rather disappointing considering the initial promise of the story line.

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ghostcardinal

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I was rather disappointed in this particular work.

It didn't have as profound an impact on me as Tim O'Brien's other novels.

To be fair, the writing style was still as beautiful as ever. I will always have a soft spot for his unique way of expressing thoughts and emotions through words.

However, I found myself not really caring all that much about the story.

Many of the side characters didn't sit well with me. They gave me an unsettling feeling, perhaps intentionally so, but nonetheless, I didn't take pleasure in reading about them.

The only character I truly liked was Grace, and I was intrigued by the relationship between Perry and Harvey.

Unfortunately, the story had a tendency to drag at times. It was often very repetitive, with descriptions of them skiing through the cold woods, being hungry and sick.

As a result, I couldn't easily distinguish one section from another.

I even took a break from reading it for a few days, and it took me some time to figure out where I had left off, which is not usually the case for me.

Despite all this, it's not a bad book at all.

I think, for me personally, the story just didn't have the same appeal as The Things They Carried or Going After Cacciato, both of which are truly wonderful books.

I'm fairly certain that this was O'Brien's first novel, so I'm not going to be too hard on him.

After all, he's a damn good writer, and I'm definitely going to read his other works.

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Northern Lights

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