This book, which comes from a highly lauded author and has received critical acclaim, unfortunately didn't resonate with me.

Firstly, the publisher misled me during the promotion, as they often do. They quoted critics, stating it was a memorable mystery, a mystery that the Agatha Christies of this world never glimpse.

However, upon careful reading between the lines, some of the critical praise is actually quite revealing. 'O'Brien knows there's no mystery as good as an unresolved one...' and 'O'Brien turns the thriller from inside out, replacing answers with plausible hypotheses...'

For me, the ultimate failure of a mystery is to conclude without a resolution. And this book takes it to the extreme. The wife has vanished in lake country, and by the end of the book, we still know she's missing. Was it murder, an accident, or suicide? We have no idea. In fact, O'Brien cleverly, or perhaps bizarrely, refrains from committing to any specific story. The book contains numerous chapters titled 'Hypothesis'. The text poses questions like, what if she took the boat for a ride, maybe stopped at an island, maybe built a small fire? But the author isn't suggesting that's what actually happened, only that it could have.

The only part of the book that engaged me were the horrific scenes of war atrocities in which the protagonist participated. Here, there are no 'what if somebody was shot' hypotheses. The overall point seems to be that the protagonist has PTSD from the horrors of war, and thus maybe, possibly, could do something untoward. But the author isn't actually saying so.

It dawned on me that this book is completely immune to plot spoilers, as the suspense of not knowing what happened at the beginning is precisely the same as not knowing at the end.

Superlative! This book is truly remarkable and will definitely make it into my all-time top 20 reads.

The story is engaging from start to finish, filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making you invest in their lives and emotions.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good read. For a more in-depth review, check out my full video review at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNn3j....

Don't miss out on this amazing book! It's one that you won't forget anytime soon.

Tim O’Brien has once again received a great deal of acclaim for this book, as he does whenever he writes about the Vietnam War. In fact, he seems to have established himself as the literary conscience of the country when it comes to that war. This is a good thing, as the Vietnam War was a massive waste of human life, both American and Vietnamese. Incidentally, the increased privatization of the military terrifies me, as there are so many wars being fought by people who are hyped up on video games and action movies and are accountable to no one but rich kids like Erik Prince.

O’Brien is a good writer, as evidenced by his book “The Things They Carried.” However, “Lake of the Woods” is a bit of a mess. The plot is simple: a failed senatorial candidate and Vietnam vet goes to a cabin with his wife, and she disappears. The problem lies in the structure of the book, which is a hodgepodge of different styles and perspectives that don’t quite come together.

For example, some chapters are told in sustained scenes, while others are full of exposition that is spattered all over the place. There are also chapters that speculate about Kathy’s fate in a really strange and aggravating third-person perspective that is both authoritative and speculative. This makes it difficult to know what is real and what is not, and it reduces Kathy to a somewhat empty character.

The oral history chapters are the strongest part of the book, as they allow O’Brien to do everything he’s trying to do in a more effective way. However, he didn’t commit to this format for the whole book, and as a result, the book feels unfocused and sloppy in places.

Overall, “Lake of the Woods” is a noble failure. O’Brien tried something new and different, but it didn’t quite work out. Still, it’s better than being lazy and not trying at all. Like so many other experiments, this one had its flaws, but it also had its moments of brilliance. Maybe books full of white heat and dark possibility just aren’t for me.

I read this book for my literature class.

Going into it, my intention was to write an essay and select the best parts to base my writing on. So, I guess this isn't really a traditional rating.

The only reason it wasn't a 5-star rating was that I didn't really like the writing style. It just didn't suit my personal taste. However, I still really enjoyed the plot and story.

The characters were well-developed and the events kept me engaged from start to finish.

Now that I've finished reading, it's time for me to sit down and write that essay.

I'm looking forward to exploring the themes and ideas presented in the book and expressing my thoughts and opinions in a well-written piece.

Overall, despite not loving the writing style, I'm glad I read this book and it will definitely make for an interesting essay topic.

"John Wade, you've just lost a big election and have been publicly shamed. What are you going to do next?"

He replied, "I'm going to a remote cabin by a lake where I can ruminate, lick my wounds, and possibly murder my wife!"

Yep, when a lady vanishes, who's the number one suspect? In this case, it just might be the husband. Through flashbacks, we learn all about John. In early November he began spying on her. He initially felt some guilt, which bothered him, but he also found satisfaction in it.

Then, there's this. He moved with determination across the surface of his life, attending to a marriage and a career. He performed the necessary tricks and dreamed the necessary dreams. However, on occasion, he'd yell in his sleep - loud, desperate, obscene things - and Kathy would reach out and ask what was wrong. Her eyes would betray visible fear as she'd say, "It wasn't even your voice. It wasn't even you."

O'Brien manages to work yet another very compelling Vietnam story into this one, but that plot line unfortunately takes a backseat to the main story. I found it interesting that, though this book predates "Gone Girl" by almost two decades, there's that similar unsettling vibe of an unlikable man who has trouble working up a public display of grief over his missing wife.

Anyway, I found this to be quite a page-turner, but was ultimately left unsatisfied. Then there was the problem of timing. A really creepy guy who loses an election, and may or may not have murdered his pretty blond wife?

Dun-dun-duhn!

Better run, Heidi!

Facts are often complex and not as straightforward as they seem. They can be influenced by different perspectives and interpretations. In the works of Tim O'Brien, we see a unique exploration of the relationship between war and truth.

In "Going after Cacciato," O'Brien writes a novel that never happened, yet it contains elements of truth. The concept was initially hard to grasp, but as the reader delves deeper, O'Brien's magic becomes apparent. The idea of a "true war story" is further developed in "The Things They Carried," where O'Brien plays with the boundaries of fact and fiction. He shows that a story can be true even if it never occurred in the literal sense.

Similarly, in "In the Lake of the Woods," O'Brien presents a mystery filled with true stories that never happened. The disappearance of Kathy Wade adds to the intrigue, and the multiple possible solutions keep the reader guessing. The intrusive narrator reminds us that evidence is not the same as truth and that we must look beyond the pages for answers.

O'Brien's war stories are not just about the violence and destruction of war; they are about love, memory, and sorrow. They explore the human experience and the impact of war on individuals. In a post-Vietnam society, where history can be effaced and the truth can be hidden, O'Brien's works serve as a reminder of the importance of remembering and understanding the past.

As we continue to wait for answers and grapple with the complexity of truth, O'Brien's stories offer us a unique perspective on war and its aftermath. They challenge us to question our assumptions and to look beyond the surface to find the real truth.

A truly powerful book.

For once, the blurbs on the covers accurately capture the essence of this remarkable work, and I wholeheartedly concur with them. The Wall Street Journal's description of it as "gracefully written" couldn't be more spot-on. The author's prose flows with elegance and finesse, drawing the reader in from the very first page.

And it's not just the writing style that makes this book so captivating. It's also "gripping," as the Journal aptly puts it. The story is filled with intense and emotional moments that keep you on the edge of your seat, eager to turn the page and find out what happens next.

I'll be pondering over this book for a long time to come. One reason for this is that I was almost old enough to have been sent to Vietnam. I can only imagine the difficult and harrowing situations that soldiers faced over there, and I don't know how I would have coped.

This book offers a poignant and thought-provoking look at a war that had a profound impact on so many lives. It's a must-read for anyone interested in history, war, or the human experience.

When I first laid eyes on this book, its vibrant cover colour and intriguing title immediately piqued my interest. Lake of the Woods? Seriously? I was born and raised in a community on the northern shore of The Lake of the Woods, so I was naturally curious to see if this story was set in that very same wilderness. And lo and behold, it was! The subject matter, however, was not something I would typically gravitate towards. But how could I resist reading a book that was set in my hometown?

Once I started reading, I was hooked. The story was a whirlwind of action and mystery, packed into a mere 300 pages. I devoured it in a record 36 hours! The unique presentation of the mystery, with its abundance of clues, hints, theories, and hypotheses, but no clear answers, kept me on the edge of my seat. It was a wild and exhilarating ride for both my mind and my senses.

The story is a deeply personal one, following the life of a Vietnam War veteran who decides to enter politics after the war. But for me, it was much more than that. It transported me back to my own "homeland" and to the years when the Vietnam War was raging, but had yet to directly impact our small community. We were geographically isolated from much of Canada, but ironically, we were just a stone's throw away from the American border. The novel made me see those years from a different perspective, and it encouraged me to ask broader questions about politics, the motivation and methods of politicians, the experiences of soldiers during the My Lai massacre, the psychological impact of military training and active duty, and the effect on the spouse of a partner's political and military service.

This story really hit home for me, and the setting was by far the most impactful aspect. I had lived near The Lake of the Woods during the time when this fictional story took place, and it made me wonder if something similar could have actually happened. Maybe there were dramatic tales unfolding right under our noses, while we lived out our ordinary lives in ignorance and rural bliss. What other secrets do the lakes and forests of Northwestern Ontario hold? I'm left with a sense of wonder and a desire to explore this region further.

On the surface, this book appears to be about the wife, Kathy Ward, of a politician, John Ward, who mysteriously goes missing. However, In the Lake of the Woods delves much deeper into the complex issue of PTSD.

It commences with John Wade's election loss and the subsequent disappearance of Kathy. As the story unfolds, it is like puzzle pieces gradually coming together to form a complete picture. We are taken back to John's childhood, his meeting and dating of Kathy, his experiences fighting in the Vietnam War, and their political life. Interspersed throughout are sections of quotes from interviews, trials, and books, adding depth and authenticity to the narrative.

Anyone who has read Tim O’Brien’s The Things They Carried, one of my all-time favorite books, is aware of his remarkable talent for vividly describing the Vietnam War. He writes about it with great passion and profound understanding, not shying away from the shocking violence and brutal atrocities that occurred. In this particular work, the Mỹ Lai Massacre takes center stage in his recounting of the war, highlighting the war crimes that would horrify anyone with a conscience.

I feel it is important to note, perhaps already understood by some, that in O’Brien’s writing in this book, the experiences and events of the Vietnam War are presented from an American perspective. While reading the descriptions of massacres, it is crucial to remember that no matter how horrified the characters may be, they are still the perpetrators. It should also be pointed out that O’Brien was not yet engaged in combat during the Mỹ Lai Massacre; he was in the division that housed the unit responsible for the massacre a year before his arrival. Reading the footnotes, such as on page 199, reveals O’Brien's candor.

Although I will never fully comprehend the PTSD caused by combat in the Vietnam War, I believe I came as close as possible while reading this book. O’Brien's ability to make this complex and often overlooked issue accessible without sugarcoating it is truly remarkable. The parts of this book set during the war and those that describe John's condition and Kathy's observations are incredibly visceral. As a reader, you are not required to like or dislike any of the characters, nor are you asked to forgive or pity them. Additionally, you are not provided with straightforward answers, leaving you to grapple with the complex themes and emotions presented in the story.

I have an intense love for this book. The very first time I delved into its pages, I was immediately captivated. And now, having just completed my second reading, that love has only deepened. In fact, I find myself so drawn to it that I could effortlessly return to the beginning and embark on a third reading right this moment.

This book is not for the faint of heart. It's not for those who demand everything to be neatly packaged and resolved. Instead, it's a powerful exploration that showcases the shattering of a psyche that was already fragile from the start. It tells the story of a man who is lost within himself, desperately seeking a sense of self through the eyes of others and their responses to him.

The vehicle that Tim O'Brien employs to convey this profound narrative is the Vietnam War, a subject he knows intimately from his own first-hand experiences. Within this framework lies the horror of the My Lai massacre, a event that serves to further emphasize the complex and often brutal nature of war.

If the reader is of the "my country right or wrong" persuasion, then this book is bound to shatter many illusions about war and country. However, if the reader is someone who relishes the exploration of relationships, psyches, souls, and the forces that can damage these aspects of life, then this book is an absolute must-read. I would give it six stars if I had the option, for I love it that much.

If all is supposition, if ending is air, then why not happiness?

I am still in awe of the construction of this book. The multiple evidence and hypothesis chapters are truly original and yet not gimmicky at all. The quotes, which may seem random and distracting initially, actually make a point on their own. We have to construct this point ourselves, about war, sanity, disappearance, mystery, and the nature of truth in biography.

I will skip the obligatory Tim-O'Brien-as-Vietnam-chronicler praise. I have known this to be true since I first read "The Things They Carried," and nothing of his has ever changed my mind on that.

There are indeed some slow places in this novel. His elegant prose sometimes runs away from my attention, but it's just a paragraph here and there. It wouldn't have been bothersome at all, except that the book's driving force was so strong that I just wanted it to keep going.

The things that people seem to dislike, I liked. His parents not being fully formed characters? Well, think about how dull and pointless over-developing them would have been. He repeats some passages? I just keep thinking about how different they feel the second or third time.

I know someone who is annoyed by the hint-dropping he does early in the book, referencing Kathy being missing, the flies, and a few other things. To me, these seemed a natural part of the book, but I understand how someone could see them as contrivances.

It isn't a perfect book, of course, but it is a good one. I read this in a day, and it's not an easy book to read sometimes. There are several shudder-inducing pages, and some things that I can't get out of my head. I also think it's important to know before starting the book (as I did, from reading the back) that the fate of Kathy remains unknown. We aren't being driven through the book by our desire to know where she ended up. There are other driving forces, unlikely ones, character-based, nuanced ones.

The next time someone tells me they hate books with indeterminate endings, I'm going to give her a copy of this and see if this can change her mind.

While Denis Johnson's 'Tree of Smoke' may be regarded as the single best American novel about the Vietnam war, Tim O'Brien, who has turned writing about the Vietnam stories into a sort of cottage industry, has produced three outstanding books. Taken as a whole, these books achieve something far more captivating and significant. The first one, 'The Things They Carried,' offers an extremely personal perspective on the dehumanization and commodification of the war. It is told with a faux-bureaucratic detachment in the form of a series of inventory lists. The second, 'Going after Cacciato,' is a surreal black farce, comparable to the 'Catch-22' of its generation. 'In the Lake of the Woods,' on the other hand, is set decades after the war and deals with its irreversible aftereffects. In a worst-case scenario of PTSD, a seemingly successful veteran suddenly and spectacularly breaks down in a tragedy of epic proportions. This ostensible war hero, an up-and-coming politician, was involved in some particularly horrendous wartime carnage. Twenty years of denial has only managed to boil his guilt into a corrosive, explosive concentrate. Unlike Johnson, O'Brien is a Vietnam veteran, and this fact is evident - not in the portrayal of the details of the wartime experience, which Johnson captures just as accurately, or even in the moral ambiguities of war, but rather in the very specific ways that war annihilates the moral compass and drives men to madness.