I began reading this book with the assumption that it was centered around Moses leading his people. However, to my surprise, it was not.

Wolff has done an outstanding job of juxtaposing monumental moments with those that might seem insignificant at first glance. He weaves his stories together masterfully, creating a memoir that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

The way he strings his shorts is truly remarkable. It is a great memoir that offers a unique perspective on life. I highly recommend it as a great read for anyone interested in personal stories and the power of reflection.

Whether you are looking for inspiration or simply a good book to pass the time, this memoir is sure to deliver. Wolff's writing style is engaging and accessible, making it easy for readers of all backgrounds to connect with his experiences.

In conclusion, this is a must-read memoir that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for the small moments in life and the power of storytelling.

I have been a great admirer of everything that Tobias Wolf has penned. This book is no exception.

In it, he peels back the layers of his life a little more, this time focusing on his young adult years. After graduating from high school and setting foot on the college campus, he finds himself adrift, lacking both motivation and a clear sense of direction.

Ultimately, he makes the decision to enlist in the U.S. Army and serves a twelve-month tour in Vietnam. I must admit that this particular part of the book held my attention the most. However, his experiences leading up to the tour and his reflections on his post-Army days were equally captivating.

Wolf is approximately 5 years older than me, so his encounters with the selective service system and the military draft were distinct from my own. Nevertheless, I continue to find it fascinating to observe how others of my generation navigated through this highly unpopular war.

It offers a unique perspective and enriches my understanding of that tumultuous era.

It was extremely difficult for me to engage with this book after having read remarkable works like The Things They Carried. I firmly believed that The Things They Carried was an outstanding portrayal of the Vietnam War, while Wolff seemed to have fallen short with this particular piece.

Perhaps if he had given it a different title and made it abundantly clear that it was a continuation of This Boy's Life and intended solely as a memoir, then my expectations might not have been so high.

Nonetheless, Wolff does possess a great writing style, which is very conversational in nature. The book truly enables the reader to get to know him on what feels like an intimate, personal level.

Admittedly, it was a little slower-paced than I would have preferred, but overall, it was a comfortable read. It had its merits and drawbacks, and while it didn't quite meet the standards set by some other war-related literature, it still offered some valuable insights and a unique perspective through Wolff's personal narrative.

Ask any Baby Boomer what they remember about the Vietnam War and they will tell you that it was a very bad time.

Unlike the wars that their parents served in, those who served in Vietnam did so in vain. We all had friends and loved ones that went, some that didn't return.

Reading Tobias Wolff's "In Pharaoh's Army" brought back a flood of memories for me. My brother began his 12 months just as Wolff was leaving. His time there was spent in Da Nang, not the best place to be.

It was a very difficult year for my family. We were always watching the news and reading the newspaper with the war always the headline. It was also my senior year in high school which is supposed to be a good time.

But it really was a time that changed everything. Everything was about or because of or against the war. It changed the way we thought about things, it changed music, it even changed the way we dressed.

What could be more anti-military than long hair, colorful clothes, bare feet and flowers everywhere? It seems funny to me now seeing these styles being worn by people without a clue to the history of it all. Do they even have a full chapter in today's US history books about Vietnam?

What Wolff drove home was the need to survive. Not to be a statistic. That's how they ticked off the days.

It wasn't all bad. There was R&R. My brother went to Sydney, Australia. He also made it to Hong Kong and got one of those fabulous $30 tailor-made suits. He also learned to surf at China Beach.

We just wanted him home.

My brother and Tobias Wolff were two of the lucky ones.

Like everything Wolff writes, this memoir is exquisite.

I breezed through the essays quickly, and what emerged was a powerful sense of the confusion and frustration that characterized his time in and around wartime Vietnam.

The narratives are presented with unwavering honesty, devoid of any sentimentality or bravado. Moreover, they are arranged in an unconventional order, which appears to be a trademark of his finest work. This unique ability to reorder events serves to maximize the reader's engagement.

It is a lovely piece of writing, both true and sad, that offers a profound glimpse into a tumultuous period of history and the experiences of one individual within it.

Wolff's memoir is a testament to his skill as a writer and his willingness to explore the complex emotions and realities of war.

It is a work that will resonate with readers long after they have turned the final page.

I have an unwavering love for This Boy's Life by Tobias Wolff. Therefore, when it came to reading his memoir about his time in Vietnam, it was an absolute no-brainer for me.

The memoir is exquisitely written. Wolff presents the events of Vietnam in a succinct and almost detached manner, which paradoxically maximizes the palpable horror of the situation. In particular, his description of the impact of the Tet Offensive is so vivid and haunting that it will surely linger in my mind until my dying day, much like Michael Herr's description of Hue.

Throughout the book, Wolff comes across less as a soldier and more as a writer. You can't help but wonder how he found himself in that war-torn land. In many respects, the book delves into the search for self and manhood, highlighting all the wrong places where such searches can lead. Interspersed within the narrative are stories of his family, including his parolee father and his brother, Gregory Wolff, who is an academician and writer. Wolff has an innate talent for relating the tiniest of details, which then set off a chain reaction of other details, seamlessly weaving together to form a captivating story before you even realize it. This memoir is not only worth reading for a deeper understanding of the Vietnam War but also serves as a remarkable example of excellent memoir writing.

Over the years, I have delved into a plethora of books regarding Vietnam. However, Wolff's account as a first lieutenant offers a refreshing perspective that I thoroughly enjoyed.

His candor in more or less characterizing himself as a coward when confronted with danger, along with his meticulous attention to detail in描绘 his year in My Tho within the Mekong Delta during the Tet Offensive, makes this a captivating read. It doesn't matter how much or how little one knows about the Vietnam-U.S. war; this book has its own allure.

Although Wolff is best recognized as a short story writer, I am now eagerly anticipating reading his memoir, A Boy's Life. I'm intrigued to see what other insights and experiences he will share in this work, further expanding my understanding of his life and the events that have shaped him.

I have a feeling that it will be just as engaging and thought-provoking as his account of his time in Vietnam.

No one writes liars as well as Tobias Wolff. His works are a masterclass in exploring the complex and often murky world of deception. Wolff has an uncanny ability to create characters who lie not just to others but also to themselves, blurring the lines between truth and falsehood.

In his stories, liars come in all shapes and sizes. There are the compulsive liars who can't seem to help themselves, the strategic liars who use falsehoods to get what they want, and the self-deluded liars who believe their own lies. Wolff delves deep into the psyches of these characters, revealing the motives and insecurities that drive them to deceive.

What makes Wolff's portrayal of liars so powerful is his attention to detail. He shows us the small lies that build up over time, the half-truths that are told to avoid the truth, and the blatant falsehoods that are used to protect oneself or others. Through his vivid descriptions and nuanced characterizations, we are able to see the world through the eyes of the liar and understand the consequences of their actions.

The author's interesting biography narrates his journey through Vietnam.

It's quite brief and doesn't dwell much on each place, so I haven't fully grasped the thread yet. However, it has made me eager to read more about the area and the period.

As a plus point, I must say that the last chapter really appealed to me, especially the endings.

It makes me curious to explore further and discover more about the author's experiences and the rich history and culture of Vietnam.

Perhaps in future works, the author will expand on these aspects and provide a more in-depth and detailed account.

I look forward to reading more from this author and learning more about this fascinating country.

Newsweek proclaims, “A hell of a writer.” I would like to add, “A hell of a book.”

I have always been a great admirer of Tobias Wolff’s writing. His work has a certain charm and authenticity that makes this Vietnam memoir truly precious.

When reading this book, you not only get a vivid sense of the young American soldier’s experience during the war, but you also encounter beautifully crafted language that is a joy to read. Additionally, Wolff brings an academic’s introspection to the table, which adds depth and complexity to the narrative.

The chapter titled “Close Calls” is particularly remarkable. It would make an excellent reading for a unit on American wars or specifically on Vietnam. This chapter really highlights the arbitrary aspects of survival in a war-torn environment. It makes you realize how luck and chance can play a significant role in determining who lives and who dies.

Overall, Tobias Wolff’s memoir is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the Vietnam War or simply in enjoying a well-written piece of literature.

Wolff drifted into the army at the age of 18 in 1965. After dropping out of school and deserting from the merchant marine following an attempt on his life, he had given little real thought to the war.

During basic training, he discovered that he was physically suited for it and became an idealistic recruit. However, when he was recommended for officer's training school, he soon realized that he was not suited for the rank. Nevertheless, the US Army advanced him.

Wolff graduated as a Lieutenant in the Special Forces and spent a year learning Vietnamese before being posted abroad as a military liaison to the South Vietnamese Army. He quickly realized that his posting was less dangerous than that of his fellow boot-camp companions in the north of the country. He had a few close calls, but his main enemy was boredom.

The book is written with a non-linear narrative and consists of thirteen chapters that read like short stories. The prose is concise, yet Wolff manages to capture the arbitrary nature of life during a war. So why didn't I enjoy it more?

The simple truth is that I felt the events could have occurred anywhere in the world at any time, and I didn't really get a sense of the Vietnam War. Similarly, I didn't really view Wolff as a naive, inexperienced youth about to embark on a life-altering experience. It was an okay read, but I'm certain there are far better Vietnam War books available.

I am an avid enthusiast of Wolff's short stories and have been on the hunt for his second memoir for quite some time.

For some inexplicable reason, his books are rather elusive in Canada. The Chapters monopoly only stocks his most recent work (a tangent, perhaps).

Nonetheless, the chapters within the memoir read remarkably like his stories. They appear to be meandering and contemplative, yet all the threads neatly converge at precisely the most opportune moment.

Moreover, each chapter functions independently as well. They delve into Wolff's experiences during his time in Vietnam, but the text is equally intrigued by his life during that specific period from 1967 to 1969. He meticulously examines his relationships with his brother, his father, his fiancé, and also his role within the military.

It is truly a captivating read that offers a unique insight into Wolff's life and thoughts during a significant era.