This is a deceptively angry book.

On the surface, it may seem ordinary and unassuming, perhaps even a bit dull. However, once you delve into its pages, you'll discover a slow-burning, seething rage that gradually consumes you.

I simply couldn't put it down or tear my eyes away. I finished it in a mere 36 hours. This weekend, all I did was immerse myself in this book and let its fury burn within me.

The writing is beautiful, yet bitterly frustrating, angry, and completely unexpected.

The theme of "you can't ever go home again" pervades the story, infuriatingly driving home the point that in this narrative, going home is truly impossible.

Normally, I despise fiction that leaves the reader without closure or a proper ending. Why read books that mimic real life when there's already an abundance of it in our own lives? That's always been my reason for avoiding contemporary fiction.

But this book is different. Its open ending, lack of closure, and lack of subtlety all work in its favor, perhaps because it's Tim O'Brien. His writing has a sharpness that speaks directly to me. It's as if I truly understand him and what he's trying to convey.

No one writes about memory and pain quite like Tim O'Brien, and no one captures the experience of being lost in the wilderness of post-traumatic stress as effectively as he does.

This book found me at the perfect time and in the right state of mind to appreciate its infuriating complexity. In a different mood or at a different time, I would have undoubtedly stopped reading around page 20.

But there was something about this past weekend that made this book call out to me. Every word, every line, made sense in a way that contemporary fiction rarely does for me.

Maybe it's Tim O'Brien's genius. Or perhaps it's something simpler, like my desire to get lost in a lake in the woods (preferably one accessible only by helicopter).

Cross-posted at https://covers2covers.wordpress.com/2...

O'Brien presents you with various options for an ending. It's up to you to decide. Whichever one you select, after closing this book, you'll be glad that you've read it. It's truly extraordinary. Among the 400+ novels that I've read so far, there's nothing quite like it.

An ex-Vietnam War army veteran turned politician, John Wade, has lost his bid for the Senate. He and his wife, Kathy, are drowning in debt. Married for almost two decades, 38-year-old Kathy has been longing for a baby. However, John, who is preoccupied with his career, believes that it's not the right time. Maybe there's a deeper reason: his unhappy childhood or the secret of what transpired in Vietnam. One day, John wakes up only to find that Kathy is gone.

When we get married, do we disclose all the stories of our past to our spouse? If the answer is no, how do we decide which ones to share and which ones to keep to ourselves? Now that we're married, how much of our lives do we share with our partner? When we return home at night, do we reveal every single detail of our day? How do we choose which ones to tell and which ones to conceal?

"Kill Jesus!" is what John shouts in his dream. Be careful, guys! Your secret can surface while you're dreaming, and your wife might be right beside you, wondering what those nightmares signify. So, even if you don't share everything, if it stinks, she'll find out sooner or later.

This book was recommended to me by three of my friends here on Goodreads. Three wonderful ladies. Maybe they thought that I would learn a lesson from what happened to John and Kathy *chuckle*. Just kidding. O'Brien's writing style is exceptional. At least five stories run parallel (the present, Vietnam, college days, John's childhood, and what could have potentially happened) plus those chapters on "exhibits" which consist of excerpts from interviews related to the investigation of Kathy's disappearance or John's war criminal case, and even related literatures (quotes from Dostoevsky's Notes from the Underground, for example). Normally, with this kind of storytelling approach, I would be confused and it would take me a long time to finish the book, like The Known World by Edward P. Jones, which I recently read. But here, reading was a breeze and completely enjoyable because of its fresh perspective and it gives you the freedom to think: interpret the story and choose the ending that you want to believe occurred.

Thanks J, S, and T. Keep on recommending! :)

A book that is truly depressing, it tells the story of two unhappy individuals. Their marriage has been gradually falling apart day by day, mainly because of the psychological issues they both suffer from. The PTSD resulting from the Vietnam war's My Lai massacre seems to be the culprit for the downward trend in the couple's lives. However, it is obvious that this is not the sole cause, as both of them have other psychological problems as well.

The way this book is written is rather unique. It consists of chapters of vignettes and quotations from acquaintances and family members, which are interspersed with third-person subjective narration. Unfortunately, this style makes the reading process very slow and rather boring. The writing is more of a literary nature, far from being a thriller. At the end of the book, the reader is left without any sense of closure.

I would not have chosen to read this book if it hadn't been selected as the Book of the Month (BOTM) for October in the Goodreads Psychological Thrillers Group. It is indeed psychological, but it is definitely not a thriller! I would not recommend reading it unless you have absolutely nothing better to read or you want to gain a better appreciation for the normal life that you are lucky enough to lead.

Whoa!

This book is incredibly deep. It truly deserves all the awards it has received.

I have no idea what it is specifically about O'Brien's novels, but they have a unique way of communicating with me, reaching right into my core.

This book had precisely the same impact.

It is truly a disturbing story on numerous levels.

It is a story that delves into the human condition and the complex and messy bundle of experiences that come along with living and dying.

It makes you think about the fragility of life, the choices we make, and the consequences that follow.

It's a book that stays with you long after you've turned the last page, making you reflect on the deeper meaning of our existence.

O'Brien has a remarkable talent for creating stories that are both thought-provoking and emotionally engaging.

This book is a prime example of his literary prowess.

I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a book that will challenge their perspectives and touch their hearts.

Whoever undertakes to write a biography binds himself to lying, to concealment, to flummery... Truth is not accessible.



Sigmund Freud, as cited by Alfred Kazin, "The Self as History: Reflections on Autobiography".




This book is a five-star read for sure. It's gripping and amazing, yet not a fun one. Some parts are just too intense to be enjoyable. O'Brien, the consummate unreliable third-person narrator, is at his most unreliable when he seems the most reliable. There are footnotes everywhere, many referencing real books about atrocities, like The Court Martial of William Calley, Four Hours in My Lai, and Report of the Department of the Army, Review of the Preliminary Investigations into the My Lai Incident. There are also many references to personal interviews the narrator conducted. But is it really so?



The writing of My Lai is vivid and disturbing. Sorcerer witnesses the horror: burning hootches, people engaged in murder, corpses of all ages. The noise is fierce, and no one is dying quietly. It's not madness but sin, and Sorcerer feels it in his own arteries. The story goes on and on.



Some of the notes are first-person ruminations, almost confessional, about the author's experiences in Vietnam, his memories, and his fading memories. The novel is a romance, a love story of John and Kathy Wade. But are they really in love? The narrator speculates and delves into their thoughts and memories. Here, perhaps, he is being the most reliable. Remember his insistence in The Things They Carried that the most true war stories are ones which never happened? It's kind of the same here. Did the remembered things really happen? Does it matter? What are we learning about the human psyche, memory, love, emotion, fright, and the attempt to forget?



One reliable topic is the Lake of the Woods. Lying in Minnesota and partially in two Canadian provinces, it's described in O'Brien's inimitable prose. Someone is lost in the lake, realizing they've missed a channel. The wilderness is vast and featureless, with no signs, cabins, or other boats. The description is both beautiful and eerie.



This is not an easy read, but it's impossible to put down. It's a thought-provoking exploration of war, love, memory, and the human condition.

In The Lake of the Woods holds a truly special place in my memory. It was about sixteen years ago when I first delved into its pages in a stifling, un-air-conditioned, and overcrowded classroom. Back then, with all my 90s angst, I was ripe for it to seep deep into my being. It was a moment of revelation for me, realizing that there were books out there that were not just about the surface story. After reading Lake, I actively sought out different books, expecting more from them. Looking back at my age, gender, and disposition, perhaps it should have been Esther Greenwood who first spoke to me - that would have been a more comforting stereotype. But as it turned out, for better or for worse, it was John Wade.

The imagery in the book, like the scene where John wants to kill everyone at the funeral and pictures his father lost in a dark alley, really stuck with me. At first, when the class erupted into snickers, I joined in. But later, it left me with a vivid picture of an awkward, hurting boy. John Wade's desperate seeking transformed from an amusing image to a sad and lonely one. After that, all the books I read had to have a touch of that sadness and loneliness.
What O'Brien has created with Lake is a blurry, unfocused story that mimics the blurry, unfocused nature of life. The narrative skitters around dreamily, with everything presented in snippets and suggestions. Everything in John Wade's life seems distorted, like it's been filtered through a funhouse mirror. His father was an abusive alcoholic who appeared wonderful to others. His mother, like his wife Kathy later, survives through denial and justification. John performs magic tricks throughout his childhood, controlling and performing. In Vietnam, the events are covered up and half-real, like a contorted magic trick for the public. After the war, in politics, everything is choreographed to alter reality. It's all an illusion.
Denial is a powerful tool that sustains people for decades. John's denial, Kathy's, and everyone's. We tell ourselves things will get better, just hold on. But what if we had made different decisions? How much did we really mean to that one person who never tells us? This is not a mystery novel where we're supposed to figure out what happened to Kathy. It's a book of questions, not answers. We should be asking why we send the mentally ill to war, why we condemn what we don't understand, how reliable our memories are, and if we'll ever be free of our demons. Mystery finally claims us.

iiiiinteresting. It truly took me ages to actually finish this book. In fact, I read several other books in between. However, despite the long time it took, I still found it enjoyable in all aspects.

The story within the book had its own unique charm that kept pulling me back, even when I was temporarily distracted by other reads. Each time I picked it up again, I was able to immerse myself in its world and follow the characters' adventures.

Although the reading process was a bit interrupted, it didn't diminish the overall pleasure I derived from this book. It was like a long and winding journey that I was glad to have taken, filled with interesting moments and unexpected twists.

In conclusion, even though it took me a while to complete, this book was definitely worth the read and I would recommend it to others who are looking for an engaging and enjoyable literary experience.

I preface this review by acknowledging that this star rating is probably unfair, based on my lack of homework pre-read. I read this solely based on another author's recommendation and the fact that Tim O'Brien was well-esteemed. I read two blurbs on the back, knew it was a mystery of sorts, and off I went.

The writing was good and the story did not feel dated for being published in 1994. There are no cell phones and there is mention of a landline, but that is obviously par for the course. John Wade has fallen from grace, losing a US Senate election by a 3:1 landslide. He and his wife take a breather for a few weeks in a little cabin, as you guessed it, in the Lake of the Woods. They are secluded in Minnesota and unwinding, taking stock of their lives and what the future will hold. A few days into this depressing trip, Kathy disappears, along with a rowboat in the shed.

The novel then unfolds as a series of evidence snippets, John's remembrances of the events leading up to her disappearance, chapters hypothesizing how it could have happened, and investigative reports. Things are vague throughout, including the sections highlighting John's sketchy behaviors.

John has struggled with finding love and attention throughout his life. He had a troubled relationship with his father, who teased him for his weight, took to magic for attention as a child, seemed to be crying out for recognition as he joined the Vietnam war efforts, and sought the ultimate affirmation in his run for political elections.

MAJOR DISLIKE: The long and profoundly disturbing sections detailing war atrocities, specifically mutilation of women and children. I knew he was struggling with PTSD and I'm not trying to downplay that. I appreciate that O'Brien showed the way soldiers, especially in this case, have to assimilate back into civilian life. The issue is the placement in the book and how long and detailed it was. If I wanted to read about the Vietnam War (and I think a reader should be prepared for that type of thing), I would just read The Things They Carried. It truly felt like a really exploitative way to add to the mystery of this lady and I really had a problem with it. Also, these highly graphic details are placed in the middle, so you are already invested in the story and do want to see where it pans out. Basically, it felt like the wrong medium to place such extreme content.

I realize this opinion may be controversial, but the mystery was diluted in quite a disturbing way. Just not for me.

This literary thriller leans more towards the literary side rather than being a typical thriller. However, I can assure you that you will still be pondering over it for a considerable period after you have finished reading it.

In a concise summary, a candidate who failed in the US Senate race withdraws to a lakeside cabin with his wife. He does this to escape from the scandal that doomed his campaign, which involves the details of atrocities committed during his time in Vietnam. Additionally, he aims to figure out his next steps.

The book follows multiple timelines, providing the reader with insights into various aspects. These include what transpired during the war, his relationship with his wife from the moment they met until the present, his political aspirations, and a few days into this retreat when his wife vanishes along with the boat.

Ordinarily, I prefer my mysteries or thrillers to have more conclusive endings. Nevertheless, I simply cannot overlook the excellent writing and the way the story is presented. It is exquisitely crafted.

When I was a freshman in college, I enrolled in a humanities class that delved into the complex issues surrounding the Vietnam War.

Our professor had a friendship with Tim O'Brien, which provided us with a remarkable opportunity. Immediately after reading 'The Things they Carried,' we got to meet the author in person. I vividly remember the excitement that filled me as I briefly chatted with him and obtained his autograph after his talk. However, what stands out most in my memory is the reaction of many of my classmates when O'Brien disclosed that the book was, in fact, fiction. There seemed to be an unspoken expectation that he had lived through and experienced every single excruciating detail. I thought the anger directed at him was somewhat misdirected and a bit silly, yet I understood how people felt. After all, the book read like nonfiction, even though it wasn't billed as such.

Now, almost 25 years have passed since that encounter. Astonishingly, the time elapsed is approximately the same as the gap between the actual Vietnam War and that class I took. Recently, I discovered a copy of 'In the Lake of the Woods' at the Strand bookstore in New York for just six bucks. As I delved into the novel, I soon realized that O'Brien was still up to the same tricks. This mostly terrifying and unrelentingly dark novel contains elements that give it the feel of a meticulously researched investigation into the disappearance of the wife of a disgraced politician and Vietnam Vet. The chapters titled 'Hypothesis' speculate on what might have happened after Kathy was found missing from the couple's Northern Minnesota retreat, following John's failed bid to become a Senator. Additionally, other chapters called 'Evidence' are scattered throughout the book, presenting a discombobulating mix of fictional and real-world quotes, complete with proper footnote citations. This includes testimony from those involved in the My Lai Massacre, in which John was gruesomely embroiled. A narrator then comments in footnotes-on-the-footnotes, making it difficult to remember that this narrator is not, strictly speaking, the author himself.

The structure of the novel is bound to infuriate a significant number of its readers, much like O'Brien did with so many of my freshman classmates back in 1993. You quickly gather that there will be no neat and tidy resolution by the time you reach the end. Nevertheless, the writing is so captivating and the darkness so nearly complete that you can't help but read on, hoping for a glimmer of warmth in the bitter Northern Minnesota wilderness.

This is Exhibit A for the concept of "unreliable narrator".

Rather than dropping clues along the way to revealing the answer to a mystery, in this case, why and how Kathy Wade, the wife of the recently disgraced politician John Wade, disappeared, "In the Lake of the Woods" takes a different approach.

It draws out all of the possible hypotheses for the disappearance and gives evidence to back each one up. However, it then never gives you a definite resolution.

This is a great use of literary technique as it keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, constantly trying to piece together the puzzle.

The lack of a clear answer makes the story even more compelling, as it forces the reader to grapple with the ambiguity and come up with their own theories.

Overall, "In the Lake of the Woods" is a masterful work of literature that showcases the power of the unreliable narrator and the ability of a story to engage and fascinate its readers.

Vietnam revisited - the massacre at My Lai and all its atrocities.

This tragic event gives a new and harrowing meaning to PTSD. It is a work of historical fiction that reads with such authenticity that it feels like a true story. I must admit that I had to skim through some of the descriptions of the killings as they were simply too brutal to bear.

And to think that Lieutenant Calley, who was convicted of the massacre, was released shortly after and is currently alive and well in Miami. This is truly a travesty of justice.

I came across this book while reading a review for another Minnesota book. Intrigued, I checked it out from the library. The writing was exceptional - although the subject matter was not my usual preference.

However, due to the excellent writing, I persevered and I'm glad I did. It's not often that a book offers so many possibilities for a conclusion, or even no conclusion at all.

The story follows two people in love, seeking a normal life of happiness, but are ultimately brought down by their pasts. With elements of magic, politics, war, and a beautiful Minnesota lake, it makes for a compelling tale of desperation and hope.

I vividly remember when the My Lai massacre took place and seeing all the gruesome photos. This book provides a powerful insight into why the Vietnam War was so widely despised and the devastating impact it had on the lives of thousands of young men. I highly recommend it.