This book can pretty much be summed up in one word - anticlimatic.

I spent the entire time I was reading Northern Lights wondering when the "spellbinding suspense" the Chicago Times Review on the front cover raved about would occur. I eagerly turned each page, anticipation building within me. However, as I reached the end of the novel, I was disheartened to find that it never had.

I mean, the characters are likeable enough. Perry and Harvey have their charm, and the plot has potential. It seems to start off with promise, hinting at something more exciting to come. But unfortunately, it just goes nowhere.

The whole story pretty much consists of Perry and Harvey skiing and sleeping and being cold or hot or sick. There are no real events or conflicts that make anything exciting or suspenseful. It's as if the author had a great idea but failed to follow through and develop it into a truly engaging narrative.

Overall, I was left feeling disappointed with Northern Lights. It had the potential to be a great book, but it ultimately fell short.

I think this book has been a little underrated.

The style it presents is truly gorgeous. The repetition within it is clearly intentional, which is closely related to the stream of consciousness style.

It's quite funny how I don't have a great liking for Virginia Woolf, yet I find similar elements in this book to be lovely.

Previously, I also hadn't recognized the influence of Faulkner on O'Brien. Although the sentence structure is completely different, the feeling and tone are quite similar.

AND, somehow, I didn't know that this was his first book. I had thought that "Cacciato" was.

So, as far as I'm concerned, bravo! This book has many aspects that are worthy of appreciation and recognition. It may have been overlooked by some, but its unique style and the influence it shows make it a remarkable work.

I'm glad to have discovered these qualities and look forward to exploring more of O'Brien's works in the future.

The task was not completed.

It was absurdly repetitive and extremely slow, to the extent that it almost resembled a parody of a dull and uninteresting book.

The lack of progress and the tiresome nature of the content made it a rather frustrating experience.

One could not help but wonder if there was any point in continuing.

The story seemed to be going nowhere, with the same ideas and actions being repeated over and over again.

It was as if the author was deliberately trying to bore the reader to death.

Perhaps a major rewrite or a significant change in the narrative style would be needed to make this work more engaging and enjoyable.

Until then, it remains a prime example of how not to write a book.

It wasn't as good as I had initially thought it would be. This was based on his book "If I die in a Combat Zone" which I had read just weeks ago. The experience was rather anti-climatic, for sure. I had built up certain expectations from reading the book, imagining that it would translate into something equally powerful in another form. However, it seemed to fall short. There were aspects that didn't quite live up to the vivid descriptions and emotions that the book had evoked in me. It was a bit of a letdown, really. I had hoped for a more engaging and impactful experience, but unfortunately, it didn't quite deliver.

The original article: This is a simple article. It has a few sentences. The last part is the best.

Expanded article:

This is a rather simple article. It consists of just a few sentences. However, what makes it stand out is that the last part is truly the best. It contains some key points or perhaps a thought-provoking conclusion that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. While the beginning and the middle may seem somewhat ordinary, the final section elevates the entire piece. It's as if the author has been building up to this moment, and when it arrives, it hits home.

Maybe it's a powerful statement, a beautiful description, or a clever twist that makes the last part shine. It has the ability to make the reader stop and think, or perhaps even inspire them in some way. In conclusion, although this article may be simple in structure, its last part gives it a certain charm and value that makes it worth reading.

Northern Lights was published in 1975 and it marked Tim O'Brien's debut in the literary world. O'Brien, a veteran who had served in the Vietnam War and returned, has a collection of renowned works. One of them is 'The Things They Carry', which I had the opportunity to read for class and it was truly outstanding.

For those who pick up Northern Lights as their first encounter with O'Brien's writing, don't be disheartened or let down. His skills only improved with time, and he is now regarded as one of America's finest writers. Although you might find the first half of Northern Lights a bit dull or uninteresting, don't give up. I read the second half and was completely immersed in an action-adventure-survival drama. It follows two brothers who are fighting for their lives in a snow-covered northern Minnesota forest in January.

The book's style, with its bad grammar and repetition, didn't change much, but it was sufficient for me to finish the story. Now, let's take a closer look at the summary of the book. It delves into the theme of privacy, with many small conversations that reveal the private lives at home and various secret romances. It also explores the relationship between the two brothers, one who went to Vietnam and the other who stayed behind. Their father also had an impact on them, as shown by the quote, “I guess we're really brothers, aren't we? Don't know what that means, except it means that some of the same things we remember.”

However, I found the most fascinating aspect of the book to be the relationship between Paul (the brother who stayed) and his wife Grace. Their marriage seemed fine on the surface, but as the years passed, their connection appeared to fade. I think this is very interesting because it can be related to the relationship between the soldiers in Vietnam and the war itself. They initially had the goal of protecting America, as they were told. But as time wore on, they grew tired and lost sight of their purpose. Both relationships were unhealthy and failed to meet each other's needs. Paul failed to love Grace more and have a baby with her, while Grace might have been too uninteresting for Paul. The Vietnam War failed the Americans because it was an impossible war to win, and the soldiers failed in the war because they died without truly understanding why or what they were fighting for. As the book states, “Everything was such a damned nice idea when it was an idea.” This applies to both the marriage of Paul and Grace and the Vietnam War. Americans thought they were there for a good cause and just went ahead with it.

O'Brien also masterfully presented the tension between the brothers in layers, starting with the backdrop of the Vietnam War. As the story unfolds, he challenges the reader to think about their pasts and the futures that lie ahead. The book left me with a lot to think about long after I finished reading it. Even as I write this review, I am still considering the new implications of their relationship. Northern Lights is a deeply thoughtful book, and I hope that everyone who reads it will be able to find something to enjoy and gain from it.

Easily my least favourite Tim O'Brien book is "Northern Lights".

It comes off as disjointed and rather forgettable. I have an idea of what O'Brien was aiming for. He seemed to be exploring various aspects such as relationships and dysfunctional families. There were also themes related to childhood and fathers, disappointment and jealousy, as well as sibling relationships and personal changes or growth. However, it just didn't quite work.

The story didn't flow smoothly, and the different elements didn't come together in a cohesive way. It felt like a collection of ideas rather than a fully developed and engaging narrative. As a result, it failed to leave a lasting impression on me.

Overall, "Northern Lights" was a disappointment, especially considering O'Brien's reputation as a talented writer. I had expected more from this book, but unfortunately, it didn't deliver.

Tim O'Brien is truly one of my all-time favorite authors.

While I did have a certain level of enjoyment from this book, it doesn't quite rank among the very top of my favorites within his body of work.

The writing in this book is nothing short of incredible, just as it always is with his works. The dynamic relationship that he so skillfully portrays between the two brothers is extremely interesting to closely examine.

However, there were moments when the plot seemed to progress at a pace that was a little too sluggish for my personal taste. This is precisely why I find that I have derived a bit more enjoyment from some of his other books.

Nevertheless, I would still firmly assert that this book is most definitely worth reading. The reason for this is quite simple - the writing is just that good. O'Brien's descriptions are not only crushing but also deeply thought-provoking, and these qualities alone are more than enough of a reason to pick up and read this book!

Other than the excessive drinking, the account of being lost in the BWCA was indeed a captivating story. It was skillfully crafted, with a certain charm that held the reader's attention. However, it did have the potential to be more concise and focused. The author's use of repetition as a means to convey the effects of starvation on the brain was a rather clever device. It added an interesting layer to the narrative, making it more engaging.

Overall, the book was structured like a collection of short stories, each with its own unique qualities and merits. This format allowed for a diverse range of experiences and perspectives to be presented, enriching the overall reading experience. Despite its flaws, the story of being lost in the BWCA was still a worthwhile read, offering a glimpse into a challenging and unforgettable adventure.

Perhaps with a bit of refinement and tightening, it could have been an even more outstanding piece of literature. Nevertheless, it managed to leave a lasting impression on the reader, making them eager to follow the protagonist's journey and discover what lies ahead.

Do people really talk in such a manner? Do they restate, rephrase, and repeat with such consistency? Do they convey the same fundamental ideas over and over again? Do people duplicate their prose in the way that almost every character in Northern Lights does? What I am inquiring is, do people repeat themselves in the same way as these characters do, whether in their speech, writing, or even their internal monologues?

Perhaps. Maybe we repeat ourselves constantly without even realizing it. And perhaps we conceal our most crucial thoughts to such an extent that even an all-knowing, third-person narration of our lives would omit seemingly vital details.

Northern Lights is not terrible, but it is irritating in an interesting way. It is the kind of story that attempts to reveal something about ourselves that may not be appealing. So, what can we learn from a dull husband who routinely dismisses his dull wife and the dull wife who persists in coming back as earnest as ever? What can we learn from a clever yet tiresome veteran who pursues a clever yet tiresome girl? What can we learn from the mysterious war wound that is never explained or the climactic ski-trip disaster that ultimately changes nothing?

Do we learn that we are too hasty to dismiss ordinary people and ordinary events? Or perhaps that we are not as clever as we believe ourselves to be? Or that real life defies climax and resolution? Maybe. But perhaps it is sufficient to reflect on the sentence you just spoke (or wrote, or thought) and wonder, 'Am I repeating myself?' Am I repeating myself?

Edited 3/2/2019

I don't know precisely how much of an impact having read "The Things They Carried" had on me. This book is firmly within my top 50 of all the books I've ever read.

It is without a doubt an outstanding first novel. The way the author, Tim O'Brien, weaves together the stories of the soldiers and their experiences in Vietnam is truly masterful.

Each character is vividly brought to life, and their emotions and struggles are palpable. The book explores themes such as war, love, loss, and the power of storytelling.

It makes you think about the true cost of war and the toll it takes on those who fight. "The Things They Carried" is not just a book about war; it's a book about the human condition. It's a must-read for anyone interested in literature or history.

Slow and meandering at times, the story unfolds in a rather leisurely pace.

However, it is the monologues by the different characters that truly shine. Each character's inner thoughts and emotions are laid bare, offering a deep and intimate look into their souls.

I have not read his other novels as of yet, but this one has been good enough to hook me in completely. The author's writing style is engaging and captivating, making it difficult to put the book down.

Despite its slow start, the story gradually builds momentum and draws the reader in, leaving them eager to discover what lies ahead. I am excited to see where this journey takes me and look forward to exploring more of the author's works in the future.