A bit misleading by the synopses, the blizzard-wrecked ski trip is only a part of the story. However, O'Brien does a good job expressing character drama in a seemingly dull setting and you're left entranced and hoping for change and growth that may or may not come. I'm learning I really enjoy Tim O'Briens writing style.

This book at its heart is about empathy. O'Brien lasting out a harsh blizzard to connect the reader to the main character while using this to connect the main character to his brother's experience of Vietnam, and all of this is connected by an ignorant public opinion that has no empathy for struggle.

I love Tim O'Brien's writing. This story is of two brothers, one who went to Viet Nam and one who stayed home. They decide to go on a lake trip during the winter in Minnesota's north woods. A book of discovery about each other and themselves. Gripping.

Northern Lights by Tim O'Brien follows two brothers, the younger of which has just returned from Vietnam wounded and damaged by war. When the two brothers are caught in a blizzard while on a skiing trip, they are pushed to their limits by the elements as they fight for survival.
The book is very much a character study of the two brothers and how siblings can grow up together but become vastly different people as adults. Parry and Harv have nothing in common, and yet there is a bond that persists.

This book is worth it just for the skiing adventure at its core.

You can read my review at http://tims-reviews.blogspot.com/2017...

My favorite parts were those about the nature and history of NE Minnesota, rather than those about the characters. Tim O'Brien definitely got better over the years.

I had to check this book out from the library 4 times just to finish it. Plot dragged and dialogue was repetitive. I really like "The Things They Carried." This book, however, did not live up to my expectations.

Tim O'Brien is one of my favorite authors and although I enjoyed this book, it is not one of my favorites amongst his works. The writing is incredible, as his always is, and the dynamic relationship that he portrays between two brothers is very interesting to examine. However, at times the plot seemed to move a little too slowly for me, which is why I think that I have enjoyed some of his other books a bit more. I would say that this book is worth reading since the writing is so good. O'Brien's crushing and thought provoking descriptions are enough of a reason to read this!

Just couldn't get into it.

I did not enjoy reading this book but persisted because the story line looked promising and I feel the need to complete reading a book once I have started. I struggled with the style and repetitive nature of the sentences and I didn't like any of the characters. I rated the book at 2 stars as I felt compelled to find out what happened at the end .... so I guess that's good. But the book seemed to peter out at the end.

Three stars because I just can’t decide if I liked it or not. It started in way that I thought I am going to love this book, then it had a lull stage. In the end it picked up again and then I didn’t like the ending. So to me it’s a so so book!