Your thoughts on the real antagonists in the story?
- spencermack
- Posts: 596
- Joined: 06 Feb 2019, 16:37
- Favorite Book: A Loaf Of Bread
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 46
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-spencermack.html
- Latest Review: Love, Grandma by Ann Morris
- Reading Device: B00JG8GOWU
Re: Your thoughts on the real antagonists in the story?
-
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 2146
- Joined: 13 May 2013, 13:43
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 315
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-scerakor.html
- Latest Review: Gaslighting & Narcissistic Abuse Recovery: by Don Barlow
This is exactly right. There has been immense changes in the VA system since the 70's and one has to think of the massive logistical situation that had to have occurred for such a rapid influx, then subsequent "outflux" of soldiers which had likely been unprecedented since the second world war. This isn't meaning to defend VA actions by any means, but rather ground one's expectations.Juliet+1 wrote: ↑12 Nov 2019, 18:04 The VA has been completely redone since the Vietnam years, and I think it's largely because of what those veterans went through. It should never have happened. Finally the public caught on, the VA budget and services were greatly expanded, and things got better. There's still lots of room for improvement, though.
- Julius_
- In It Together VIP
- Posts: 730
- Joined: 17 May 2019, 01:15
- Favorite Book: Mythic Worlds and the One You Can Believe In
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 120
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-julius.html
- Latest Review: Dynomike: Pay It Forward by Frankie B. Rabbit
I hated them just like you, but I honestly think, most departments, especially government owned, abuse their powers. This department is just one out of many.Ferdinand_otieno wrote: ↑01 Nov 2019, 03:57 The Veterans Affairs department were presented as a heartless organisation that went out of its way to pass laws that may deny veterans their pensions. I particularly hated them in this book and found them to be worse than the act of war itself. To send men to die for them in a war, and then to deny pensions to those same brave men and women was truly evil.
What are your thoughts on the Veterans Affairs department, and their role in this book?
- Inkroverts
- Posts: 298
- Joined: 15 Jul 2019, 00:38
- Currently Reading: The Book Thief
- Bookshelf Size: 67
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-inkroverts.html
- Latest Review: Killing Abel by Michael Tieman
-
- Posts: 209
- Joined: 05 Jul 2019, 21:55
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 387
- Areej Tahir
- Posts: 349
- Joined: 05 Jan 2019, 04:03
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 43
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-areej-tahir.html
- Latest Review: Solaris Seethes (Solaris Saga book 1) by Janet McNulty
-
- Posts: 394
- Joined: 17 Apr 2019, 12:13
- Favorite Book: The Unbound Soul
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 287
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-nuel-ukah.html
- Latest Review: Le Mutt by Eva Elle Rose
This is what has been happening for ages. No wonder military sometimes turn to fight the government that used and dumped them. Then the wicked government will tag them 'terrorists'. That's what they get after serving their country. Too bad.Ferdinand_otieno wrote: ↑01 Nov 2019, 03:57 The Veterans Affairs department were presented as a heartless organisation that went out of its way to pass laws that may deny veterans their pensions. I particularly hated them in this book and found them to be worse than the act of war itself. To send men to die for them in a war, and then to deny pensions to those same brave men and women was truly evil.
What are your thoughts on the Veterans Affairs department, and their role in this book?
- Prisallen
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 5678
- Joined: 27 Feb 2019, 18:57
- Favorite Book:
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 233
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-prisallen.html
- Latest Review: Nirvatra by April Thomas
- Erin Dydek
- Book of the Month Participant
- Posts: 1058
- Joined: 20 May 2019, 19:07
- Favorite Book: Shadowborn
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 328
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-erin-dydek.html
- Latest Review: Northern Umbrage by Dennis Lorenz Ph.D.
- ciecheesemeister
- Posts: 706
- Joined: 08 May 2018, 20:44
- Currently Reading: Homer, A Constant Companion.
- Bookshelf Size: 724
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ciecheesemeister.html
- Latest Review: Wild World by Peter S. Rush
- vermontelf
- Posts: 221
- Joined: 08 Jan 2014, 17:05
- Currently Reading: The faerie wand
- Bookshelf Size: 83
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-vermontelf.html
- Latest Review: The Follower by L. Hillis
- Jeremie Mondejar
- Official Reviewer Representative
- Posts: 2251
- Joined: 09 Jun 2017, 19:28
- Currently Reading: SandPeople
- Bookshelf Size: 1377
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-jeremie-mondejar.html
- Latest Review: The Book of Moncoto by Mosetta Penick Phillips-Cermak, Ph.D.
I agree with you. I am excited to read it, but when I came across the aftermath of war, I am devastated. I thought, the real enemy was the Communist, and they won the battle. However, the aftermath of the war for the veterans are not well-treated. It seems that justice denied.Everydayadventure15 wrote: ↑22 Nov 2019, 08:47 That portion of the book made me sick to my stomach. After all the pain Zach went through, he held on with the hope that he would die and leave survivor benefits for Tally, but when those were denied he lost all hope. I’m glad things have changed with the way the VA is run, but that corruption during Vietnam was inexcusable. Those men served and sacrificed and were left with nothing.
Official Reviewer Representative
"Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world."
- Jeremie Mondejar
- Official Reviewer Representative
- Posts: 2251
- Joined: 09 Jun 2017, 19:28
- Currently Reading: SandPeople
- Bookshelf Size: 1377
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-jeremie-mondejar.html
- Latest Review: The Book of Moncoto by Mosetta Penick Phillips-Cermak, Ph.D.
I'm glad that you live in a peaceful country. However, I am sad when I read this book because through this novel I am aware about the VA thing as you noticed. As far as I know, Americans are helpful to the Veterans, but I am stunned that a story like this existed.Inkroverts wrote: ↑18 Nov 2019, 20:54 I live in a place where we don't have the military department or any veteran policies. So I'm not familiar with the VA thing. But I'd read history books where people who served in war, came back, and had to face up to the downfall of the economy and a thankless government. It's really terrible how these things happen.
Official Reviewer Representative
"Jesus Christ is the Saviour of the world."
- Kansas City Teacher
- Review Team Admin
- Posts: 753
- Joined: 06 Jun 2016, 14:55
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 200
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-kansas-city-teacher.html
- Latest Review: Project: 211 by Sammy Maida
- Zeix
- Posts: 159
- Joined: 03 Nov 2018, 23:36
- Favorite Book: Man Mission
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 37
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-zeix.html
- Latest Review: We are Voulhire: Someone Else's End by Matthew Tysz
I totally agree with you, this happens even in real life right know. I know people who are going through the same currently, militaries who have been affected by wars but no pentions assigned to themB Creech wrote: ↑03 Nov 2019, 19:50 I had two uncles and a brother-in-law serve in Viet Nam. One of my uncles did two tours of duty in Nam and was exposed to agent orange. When he came home he didn't initially get any benefits from the military at all. He had to battle the system for several years before he finally received his VA benefits! It is a shame on our government to deny ANYONE who serves this country their benefits when they come home. It still angered me to read about how these heroes were treated in the book. This may be a book of fiction but what happened to these guys is a reality for most military heros!