The 13th Valley

Rating:
Summary: One of the great Viet Nam books
Review: If one were compiling a list of great novels dealing with the Viet Nam War, I believe that John M. Del Vecchio's harsh and gripping novel of infantry combat, The 13th Valley, would have a high place on that list. It is one of those novels that seems so realistic, both in its presentation of character and in the action (which literally wears the reader down just as it does the soldiers who are at the heart of the story). Unlike the view of Viet Nam taken in such books as Stone's Dog Soldiers and the movie "Apocalypse Now", this story doesn't dwell on the fringe craziness of drugs, secret missions or exaggerated characters for the sake of social commentary. It focuses on the lives of grunts in the bush and how they are transformed by the harsh reality of repeatedly facing and delivering death as their daily job. The universal questions don't have to be asked. They are implicit in the life or death struggle that Del Vecchio recounts so well. This is a stunning book; harsh, gritty, realistic, touching and disturbing. I you thought there was anything romantic or "exciting" about this war, you won't after experiencing this book. I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Simply the best VietNam book I have read!
Review: If you are interested in the VietNam experience, you must read this book

Rating:
Summary: Stunning!
Review: If you want to be picked up and dropped in the jungles of Vietnam in the middle of a major operation, then read this book. It was one of the best Vietnam War books I have ever read. Written with both detail and compassion for all involved, it is a brilliant portrayal of the soldiers who fought in the "boonies" during that horrible war. Unlike many Vietnam novels that concentrate heavily on the psychological effects of fighting an invisible enemy, this novel is also about the military aspects of the war, and makes the often-overlooked point that our military had some brilliant successes brought about by the heroic actions of the thousands of valiant soldiers who fought the battles. I highly recommend this dramatic and finely written novel.

Rating:
Summary: Stunning!
Review: If you want to be picked up and dropped in the jungles of Vietnam in the middle of a major operation, then read this book. It was one of the best Vietnam War books I have ever read. Written with both detail and compassion for all involved, it is a brilliant portrayal of the soldiers who fought in the "boonies" during that horrible war. Unlike many Vietnam novels that concentrate heavily on the psychological effects of fighting an invisible enemy, this novel is also about the military aspects of the war, and makes the often-overlooked point that our military had some brilliant successes brought about by the heroic actions of the thousands of valiant soldiers who fought the battles. I highly recommend this dramatic and finely written novel.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely realistic account of war on the Laotian border
Review: If you want to know, feel, and smell exactly what it was like to live and fight in the mountains between Hue and the Laotian border, you cannot do better than this book. It may well be the most realistic novel about combat in the entire Vietnam War. If you were there, approach this book with care; its very realism can make it tough to handle. With kind thoughts for fellow veterans of the 101st.

Rating:
Summary: good read
Review: It's a great novel. Generally I prefer non-fiction but this was a good book. The only parts I sort-of skimmed through were dealing with the personal lives of the soldiers.

Rating:
Summary: A passionate portrayal of men at war...
Review: Not regularly, but occasionally I begin reading a book that actually excites me to the point that my pulse quickens abit, and I know that I've found something very special...LITERATURE, and not just another fine story. Most readers will say that this IS the definitive book on the Vietnam War. We know we are "there" from the very first page. For parents, spouses, lovers and others who long to know the days and nights our loved ones experienced in this still much misunderstood war, purchase this book. For the Vets who lived it, you will find truth on every page. For readers too young to have been apart of the Vietnam era, learn about this relatively recent yet still hotly disputed period in our history. Finely crafted, poignant, and brutally true, "The 13th Valley" has a place on the bookshelf of every American.

Rating:
Summary: A QUIET CLASSIC--A GREAT STORY AND AN EVEN-GREATER LESSON
Review: Okay... so there's probably an infinite number of reasons that books go out of print. Well, there's only ONE reason a book is brought back into print: BECAUSE IT IS TOO DARN GOOD TO BE KEPT FROM THOSE WHO TRULY APPRECIATE GREAT, GREAT WRITING! As a former Marine who served in Desert Storm, I will tell you from my heart that I do not believe that a person--military or otherwise--can truly understand, or appreciate, the Viet Nam War as a whole--and the individuals who were there--unless they first read this fine novel.

Rating:
Summary: Pay Greg No Mind
Review: Perhaps I expected too much given the gushing reviews here. I anticipated a book comparable to a Tom Clancy novel, fictional yet very believable and entertaining. Instead, I found a book that attempted to create far too many characters that were poorly developed and not believable, frequently acting completely out of character. Instead of focusing on what I hoped would be the experience of jungle warfare, this book wastes inordinate time on philosophical discussions about the war and on character's love lives (usually quite awkwardly). Although starting off fairly well, it became a burden to read. I generally read every word of even poor books, but found myself skimming through the last half of this book. The ending was illogical and most disappointing. This book should remain out of print. I regret having tracked down a used copy.

Rating:
Summary: Hugely disappointing
Review: Perhaps I expected too much given the gushing reviews here. I anticipated a book comparable to a Tom Clancy novel, fictional yet very believable and entertaining. Instead, I found a book that attempted to create far too many characters that were poorly developed and not believable, frequently acting completely out of character. Instead of focusing on what I hoped would be the experience of jungle warfare, this book wastes inordinate time on philosophical discussions about the war and on character's love lives (usually quite awkwardly). Although starting off fairly well, it became a burden to read. I generally read every word of even poor books, but found myself skimming through the last half of this book. The ending was illogical and most disappointing. This book should remain out of print. I regret having tracked down a used copy.