This work seems a bit too clearly a rehearsal for the subsequent, more excellent books that brought O'Brien renown.

Specifically, the dialog is annoyingly repetitive. It feels as if the same conversations are being had over and over again, lacking the depth and variety that would have made it more engaging.

Perhaps this was an early attempt by O'Brien to find his voice and style, but compared to his later masterpieces, it falls short. The story may have had potential, but the execution in terms of the dialog detracts from the overall experience.

However, it's important to remember that every writer has to start somewhere, and this early work can be seen as a stepping stone towards the greatness that O'Brien would later achieve.

I truly adored The Things They Carried. I had such high hopes and firmly believed that I would thoroughly enjoy this particular piece as well. However, to my disappointment, I simply couldn't immerse myself in it.

There were certain moments when the unique writing style managed to draw me in, captivating my attention. It was as if a door had opened, inviting me into a different world. But alas, those moments were fleeting, and soon enough, that initial allure would fade away.

Despite this letdown, I'm still determined to give more of O'Brien's work a chance. I firmly believe that every writer has their off days or works that might not resonate with every reader. I'm hopeful that there are other masterpieces hidden within his body of work that will touch my heart and leave a lasting impression. This one, unfortunately, simply fell short of the high expectations I had set for it.

So far in this book, I have been extremely fascinated by how O'Brien is piecing together his entire story.

It's truly captivating to observe the way he weaves the different elements and details, creating a narrative that keeps me on the edge of my seat.

Each chapter seems to reveal a new layer, adding depth and complexity to the overall plot.

I find myself constantly eager to turn the page and discover what comes next.

While I don't want to give away too much more than that, I can say that this book has quickly become one of my favorites.

The way O'Brien constructs his story is masterful, and I can't wait to see how it all unfolds in the end.

I appreciate the intricate relationships between the characters and the precision that is disclosed in a character-driven book where the characters don't undergo significant change or growth.

I didn't have a liking for Grace. I considered her to be overly "mother-y". Yes, the absent father referred to her as "someone's mother" when she was just a college girl, and she is an elementary school teacher, and we are constantly reminded that she desires a baby. This aspect of her personality is her core, but it still grated on me. In the opening scene, I felt she treated Perry as if he was mentally challenged. Her repeated phrases like "now, let me rub you" and "poor baby" in her selfless maternal babblings were simply nauseating.

I was also frequently annoyed by the repetitions in the text. There were numerous instances in the novel where Perry's thoughts just went in circles. I found myself reading several paragraphs (multiple times throughout) that were essentially the same two sentences repeated to the point of being sickening.

The beauty of the novel lay in the perfect portrayal of calm and repetition in nature. "He could close his eyes and ski and imagine himself finally stopping and freezing and fossilizing and sprouting needled branches and joining the pines in a perfect communion. One of millions. Each the same. No cold, no hunger, no memories and no fear. An element among elements in the elements." Perry truly loses himself (and essentially discovers his backbone) during the cross-country ski trip. Although there is no real change, there is development. As he takes charge (really for the first time in his life) after Harvey gets them lost and then falls ill, Perry begins to recognize his own worth and ability to make decisions.

As Perry drags the near-death Harvey through the woods, I was reminded of Millet's How the Dead Dream (which was not a great book). In turn, that has elements of Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Ultimately, we have the same journey through nature in which the main character makes it back to civilization only to realize that real change can only come from within oneself. Unlike How the Dead Dream, Harvey comes out alive (the poor guide is not only dead but is left to the river) and unharmed from the experience. It is only Perry who sees the importance of self-reliance and realizes that change is not all bad.

When Perry finally emerges, he is unable to reach Grace by phone and realizes (much like Harvey's homecoming on the bus months earlier): "There was no answer. Outside, he retrieved his skis and wiped them off and stacked them in a dry spot by the garage. He was depressed. There ought to have been crowds. The highway should have been jammed with well-wishers. He took up the branch that he had used as a pole, gripped it hard and flung it across the highway and into the woods. A clod of wet snow slid off the roof. Inside again, he had another beer." Perry turns to alcohol in the same way that the veterans do; when reality doesn't meet expectations after a traumatic experience, it is rather clichéd to assume a fantastical perception fueled by drink.

Overall, it didn't appeal to me. Despite reading Leopold simultaneously, I'm not really a fan of "nature" books. I think the best parts of this novel are in the natural descriptions, but that was mostly lost on me. I can understand why this is a very appealing book to some (in the vein of Heller's The Dog Stars), but personally, I wasn't engaged.

There were indeed some brief moments in this book that I truly liked.

During those moments, the rhythm of the language was so captivating that it seemed to flow like a gentle stream. The existential pondering added a depth and thoughtfulness that made me stop and reflect.

Moreover, the descriptions of nature were so vivid and detailed that they painted a beautiful picture in my mind. It was as if I could see the lush green forests, the majestic mountains, and the clear blue skies.

However, unfortunately, the book overall was long and tedious. The story dragged on in some parts, and I found myself losing interest.

The pacing was slow, and it felt like it took forever to get to the point. Additionally, the ending was rather unsatisfying. It left me with a sense of incompleteness and disappointment.

Despite the few亮点, the book as a whole failed to live up to my expectations.

3.5 stars

It is the year 1970, and Harvey has just returned home after serving in the Vietnam War. He reunites with his brother, Paul, and Paul's wife, Grace. One day, Harvey suggests that he and Paul go skiing in the woods for a few days. However, as they embark on this adventure, things take a turn for the worse.

The story was quite good. I found that the best part of the book was when they were in the woods, which didn't occur until approximately halfway through. The descriptions of the forest and the skiing scenes were vivid and engaging. However, I must admit that I didn't particularly like any of the characters. They all seemed a bit one-dimensional and lacking in depth. Despite this, the overall plot and the setting of the story were interesting enough to keep me reading until the end.

Overall, I would rate this book a 3.5 out of 5 stars. It had its strengths and weaknesses, but it was an enjoyable read nonetheless.

The author has a rather interesting take on people in general. The main character, Perry, spends a significant portion of his time in a state of depression. It isn't until his brother Harvey convinces him to go snow skiing 50 miles home that things start to change. However, Harvey gets them lost, and then falls deathly ill with pneumonia, leaving Perry to take over.

By the end of the book, Perry has managed to take charge of many things and is slowly coming out of his depression. On the other hand, his bother Harry, who has returned from Vietnam, never stops talking and repeats himself continuously. Perry's wife, Grace, is extremely meek and almost seems like a non-character. While Perry does take charge at the end, many other story lines remain undeveloped. For example, Addie, Harvey's girlfriend, is always teasing but turns down Harvey's marriage proposal. This is justly discussed in December when we next meet. Overall, the story has its strengths and weaknesses, with some aspects being well-developed and others leaving room for improvement.

The writing style of this particular book simply didn't resonate with me.

From the very beginning, I found it difficult to engage with the words on the page.

The author's choice of language, the way the story was structured, and the overall tone just didn't appeal to my personal preferences.

As a result, I struggled to get through the initial chapters and eventually decided that it wasn't worth my time to continue.

I didn't finish it, and while I'm sure there are many people who would enjoy this book, it just wasn't the right fit for me.

Perhaps in the future, I'll come across a book with a writing style that captures my attention and keeps me turning the pages from start to finish.

Northern Lights by Tim O'Brien is a captivating story that centers around two brothers. The younger one has just come back from Vietnam, wounded and deeply scarred by the horrors of war. When the two embark on a skiing trip, they unfortunately find themselves caught in a fierce blizzard. The elements push them to their absolute limits as they struggle for survival.

This book is truly a remarkable character study of the two brothers. It shows how siblings, who grow up together in the same environment, can turn out to be vastly different individuals as adults. Parry and Harv seem to have nothing in common on the surface. However, there is an underlying bond that persists through all their differences. It's a complex exploration of the relationship between two brothers, their past, and how their present circumstances are testing their connection. The story keeps the readers on the edge of their seats, wondering if they will make it out alive and what will become of their relationship in the end.

This book was okay.

It is entirely centered around character development rather than a strong plotline.

The author seems to focus more on fleshing out the personalities and inner workings of the characters, which can be interesting in some cases.

However, for me, it didn't quite hold my attention.

I made it about 100 pages into the novel before deciding I wasn't intrigued enough to continue.

The lack of a driving plot made it feel a bit slow-paced and meandering.

While the character development was well-done, it wasn't enough to keep me engaged throughout the entire story.

Perhaps if the plot had been more developed and had some more exciting twists and turns, I would have been more inclined to keep reading.

Overall, it was an okay read, but not one that I would highly recommend.

Nothing much exciting occurs in this story. Although it is somewhat interesting to track all the thoughts that these characters possess, they are truly rather unlikeable characters. As a result, I wasn't overly engaged. The narrative seems to lack a certain spark that would have made it more captivating. The characters' unlikability makes it difficult to form a connection with them and become fully invested in their story. I found myself constantly waiting for something more significant to happen.

Hopefully, the next work by Tim O'Brien will be better. Maybe he will introduce more engaging characters and a more thrilling plot. I have high expectations for his future writing, as he has shown promise in the past. I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next and hope that it will be a more enjoyable read.

I’ve not read anything else by Tim O’Brien, and yet I still hold the hope of getting to The Things They Carried. However, after reading Northern Lights, I’ll approach it with some trepidation.

This book is filled with characters about whom I couldn’t care less. They communicate in a language that is unfamiliar to the English-speaking world. There are indeed moments of solid writing within its pages. The story was compelling enough to overcome my initial instinct to simply put the book back on the shelf.

Nonetheless, it’s not a book that I would ever recommend. In many ways, this book is like the literary equivalent of the films of Terrence Malick. It’s brooding and self-indulgent. The characters are inaccessible. But, and this is a big but, there are still moments of beauty.

With all of the great books in the world, why waste precious reading time on this dud? It’s just not worth it. There are so many other wonderful literary works out there waiting to be discovered and enjoyed.