Review of Sh*t Happens
Posted: 15 Oct 2022, 14:02
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Sh*t Happens" by Gavin L James..]
Sometimes life seems to be like a game of cards. Have you ever been, metaphorically, dealt a bad hand of cards? Sometimes destiny throws such hands at us without explanations, regardless of how good we've been. Regrettably, bad hands often lead to bad choices. Our circumstances tend to get only worse, and we reach the point where we can do nothing but shrug our shoulders and face the consequences.
We travel to the year 1969 when the Vietnam War was causing dispersion in the US society. We meet Rachel Hanson, a teenager from an upper-class family. She decides to participate in the anti-war protests and chooses not to mention any of this to her parents. On her first protest march, she meets Jenny, a dope-smoking hippie. The girls develop a friendship, and Rachel's mother, Emily, is furious. She is sure that Jenny is nothing but bad news, and this will ruin the future she has planned for her daughter unless she can somehow interfere. However, they soon discover that the real danger lies elsewhere. The evil takes a surprisingly familiar form, and suddenly, Rachel's hand of cards doesn't seem too bright.
Meanwhile, the draft lottery is on, and one of the drafted young men is Steve Tanner, a local farm boy. Destiny has interfered, and Spanner, as friends call him, is sent to Vietnam. Somewhere in between trying to stay alive and fighting the enemy, Spanner falls in love with a Vietnamese girl. Unfortunately, everything is not as it seems; Lien is committed to the local freedom fighters. Commander Chinh is not pleased about their blossoming relationship, and together with Lien's brother Phuc, he does everything to interfere. What happens to the lovebirds? Who walks out of the war alive? Where does Rachel fit into the picture?
Sh*t Happens by Gavin L James follows characters' lives from different layers of society in two countries. The reader follows as they struggle with their choices in life and, eventually, face the consequences of their actions. This historical fiction book paints a fascinating picture of the times. The extremely complicated political and societal issues of the time are skillfully woven inside a colorful canvas. We get a glimpse of Vietnam War veterans dealing with the consequences of war, the rise of the peace generation and their anti-war protests, and the often sad destinies of Amerasians. The reader's sense of justice is tested as conspiracies sprawl everywhere, money is used to solve problems, and certain things are kept hidden in the closets.
I enjoyed almost every bit of this brilliant book. This amazingly insightful story included all the stereotypes of the 1970s, and the author's insightful touch was admirable. Furthermore, the author's ability to understandably tell such a complicated story with so many characters was fabulous. This book consists of almost 500 pages, but I never felt lost or confused. The narration was well-structured and clear, and the story was easy to follow. In addition, I enjoyed the author's dry humor. While reading, one of my favorite epiphanies was that Rachel was slowly turning out just like her mother, who she hated so much.
Sadly, the only failure of this book was the ending. My expectations were high after such a delightful reading experience. Still, I recall wondering throughout the story how this was going to end and whether the author would be able to deliver a satisfactory closure. When I finally reached the end, it felt like someone threw a wet rag on my face. My topmost feeling was disappointment. The ending was abrupt, and many questions were left unanswered. I found myself wondering if the author was planning a sequel. Unfortunately, my further investigations did not reveal any proof of that.
I grant this marvelous book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. I am deducting one star for the disappointment described above. Other than that, this was an excellent reading experience. The editing was on a satisfactory level; some small errors and a minor formatting issue in the Kindle version did not affect my enjoyment of the story. I will gladly adjust my rating if I ever find out that there's a sequel to this book.
Readers who have lived their childhood during the years of the Vietnam War will especially enjoy this book. Sh*t Happens by Gavin L James will also appeal to anyone interested in historical fiction or societal and political themes. This book is unsuitable for minors or sensitive readers as it includes profanities and violent scenes.
******
Sh*t Happens
View: on Bookshelves
Sometimes life seems to be like a game of cards. Have you ever been, metaphorically, dealt a bad hand of cards? Sometimes destiny throws such hands at us without explanations, regardless of how good we've been. Regrettably, bad hands often lead to bad choices. Our circumstances tend to get only worse, and we reach the point where we can do nothing but shrug our shoulders and face the consequences.
We travel to the year 1969 when the Vietnam War was causing dispersion in the US society. We meet Rachel Hanson, a teenager from an upper-class family. She decides to participate in the anti-war protests and chooses not to mention any of this to her parents. On her first protest march, she meets Jenny, a dope-smoking hippie. The girls develop a friendship, and Rachel's mother, Emily, is furious. She is sure that Jenny is nothing but bad news, and this will ruin the future she has planned for her daughter unless she can somehow interfere. However, they soon discover that the real danger lies elsewhere. The evil takes a surprisingly familiar form, and suddenly, Rachel's hand of cards doesn't seem too bright.
Meanwhile, the draft lottery is on, and one of the drafted young men is Steve Tanner, a local farm boy. Destiny has interfered, and Spanner, as friends call him, is sent to Vietnam. Somewhere in between trying to stay alive and fighting the enemy, Spanner falls in love with a Vietnamese girl. Unfortunately, everything is not as it seems; Lien is committed to the local freedom fighters. Commander Chinh is not pleased about their blossoming relationship, and together with Lien's brother Phuc, he does everything to interfere. What happens to the lovebirds? Who walks out of the war alive? Where does Rachel fit into the picture?
Sh*t Happens by Gavin L James follows characters' lives from different layers of society in two countries. The reader follows as they struggle with their choices in life and, eventually, face the consequences of their actions. This historical fiction book paints a fascinating picture of the times. The extremely complicated political and societal issues of the time are skillfully woven inside a colorful canvas. We get a glimpse of Vietnam War veterans dealing with the consequences of war, the rise of the peace generation and their anti-war protests, and the often sad destinies of Amerasians. The reader's sense of justice is tested as conspiracies sprawl everywhere, money is used to solve problems, and certain things are kept hidden in the closets.
I enjoyed almost every bit of this brilliant book. This amazingly insightful story included all the stereotypes of the 1970s, and the author's insightful touch was admirable. Furthermore, the author's ability to understandably tell such a complicated story with so many characters was fabulous. This book consists of almost 500 pages, but I never felt lost or confused. The narration was well-structured and clear, and the story was easy to follow. In addition, I enjoyed the author's dry humor. While reading, one of my favorite epiphanies was that Rachel was slowly turning out just like her mother, who she hated so much.
Sadly, the only failure of this book was the ending. My expectations were high after such a delightful reading experience. Still, I recall wondering throughout the story how this was going to end and whether the author would be able to deliver a satisfactory closure. When I finally reached the end, it felt like someone threw a wet rag on my face. My topmost feeling was disappointment. The ending was abrupt, and many questions were left unanswered. I found myself wondering if the author was planning a sequel. Unfortunately, my further investigations did not reveal any proof of that.
I grant this marvelous book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. I am deducting one star for the disappointment described above. Other than that, this was an excellent reading experience. The editing was on a satisfactory level; some small errors and a minor formatting issue in the Kindle version did not affect my enjoyment of the story. I will gladly adjust my rating if I ever find out that there's a sequel to this book.
Readers who have lived their childhood during the years of the Vietnam War will especially enjoy this book. Sh*t Happens by Gavin L James will also appeal to anyone interested in historical fiction or societal and political themes. This book is unsuitable for minors or sensitive readers as it includes profanities and violent scenes.
******
Sh*t Happens
View: on Bookshelves
. I love the creative mind it takes to draft out an ancient story in a contemporary time, it's always so beautiful to read.