It was very slow in the beginning and I had a hard time getting into it, once I did it was still slow moving. It was an interesting look into the Vietnam War, a love story it was not.

Please spare me from any book about VietNam. I just get angry all over again and life is too short for that. I could not engage with this book at all and spent nearly every attempt to get into it, throwing the book across the table. Sorry I just couldn't stand it. I NEVER would have picked this book up had it not been a Book Club pick for the month of May...Why ruin Spring. If you must read a book about Viet Nam try : "Up Country" by Nelson DeMille a very fine book that not only had an engaging story line but clearly made every attempt to make sense out of chaos.

Several of us have always avoided novels about the Vietnam War. This title did not change our opinions. It will be a very long time before I pick up another.
Soli's writing is quite lovely, and her descriptions, especially of the land and the people were wonderful. The characters were not very likeable--even the protagonist Helen wasn't anyone we would care to know. Of course there was plenty to discuss--what drove Helen and the other photojournalists to put their lives in danger? Why was the war being fought? Who were friends, and who were enemies? Why, why, why??? What a waste it was--of money, but most importantly, of young men. Very sad...