What's the best novel about the Vietnam war you have read?

[11 Bravo]

I just finished "Fields of Fire", by Jim Webb, and if there's a more realistic depiction of what it was like, I haven't read it. Granted, he was a Marine, and I was a soldier; but we chewed the same bush, and an AK 47 tracer round is still green no matter who it's fired at.

[BikeWriter]

1. I've read a number of them.

I'll read any written by a Brother or Sister who were there. Welcome home, and thank you for your service to America.

[11 Bravo]

2. If you haven't read "Fields", do yourself a favor and grab a copy.

Jim went on to serve as SecNav after a highly decorated tour in Nam, and even though he wore bars and I wore stripes, we saw the same war. (Disclaimer: We got to know each other pretty well 15 years after the fact, but I'm not picking up any royalties. It is, plain and simple, a great fucking book.)

[BikeWriter]

9. Thanks, I'll watch for it.

:)

[Dr.Phool]

3. Bright Shining Lie, by Niel Sheehan

But on second look, thats not a novel.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

13. But it focuses on the life of one soldier- Lt. Col. John Paul Vann

and though mainly documentary/editorial, it is every bit as good as any novel. It is considered one of the best Vietnam books of them all, if not the best.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jpvann.htm

[Worst Username Ever]

4. Anything by Tim O'brien, imho.

Going After Caciatto, The Things They Carried, etc

[cruadin]

5. "If I Die in a Combat Zone."

[Worst Username Ever]

14. Yep, thats another good one.

I love his work.

[bif]

7. "Lake of the Woods" was pretty haunting

But it wasn't exactly about Nam.

[Worst Username Ever]

15. Refresh me on that one.

Was that the one where he was mulling over whether to desert to canada??

[Schema Thing]

6. I second the above: anything by Tim O'brien

[catmandu57]

8. 1968 Joe Haldeman

It's a pretty good read, fiction and he's a science fiction writer but pretty good none the less. I read the book that Full Metal Jacket was based on but it's been so long I can't remember the title or author.

[webjamn]

10. "We Were Soldiers Once ..........and Young"

My brother fought in Vietnam and recommended this book to me. It is riveting and heartbreaking.

[Dees]

11. "Friendly Fire" ....Later became a movie

with Carol Burnett..I think. My how the Army could lie. FTA.

[Toby109]

12. "A Rumor of War"

by Philip Caputo.