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5 Local Warehouse Literature- A to Z

Going After Cacciato

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Going After Cacciato Cover

ISBN13: 9780767904421
ISBN10: 0767904427
Condition: Standard
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

"To call Going After Cacciato a novel about war is like calling Moby-Dick a novel about whales."

So wrote the New York Times of Tim O'Brien's now-classic novel of Vietnam. Winner of the 1979 National Book Award, Going After Cacciato captures the peculiar mixture of horror and hallucination that marked this strangest of wars.

In a blend of reality and fantasy, this novel tells the story of a young soldier who one day lays down his rifle and sets off on a quixotic journey from the jungles of Indochina to the streets of Paris. In its memorable evocation of men both fleeing from and meeting the demands of battle, Going After Cacciato stands as much more than just a great war novel. Ultimately it's about the forces of fear and heroism that do battle in the hearts of us all.

Review:

"This war novel, dealing with our military involvement in Indochina, is in the great tradition of The Red Badge of Courage, All Quiet on the Western Front, From Here to Eternity, and Catch 22. Read it even if you may have some trouble with the indigenous patois of the American G. I. and the Vietnamese refugee." Reviewed by Andrew Witmer, Virginia Quarterly Review (Copyright 2006 Virginia Quarterly Review)

Synopsis:

In the jungles of Indochina, Private Cacciato decides to lay down his rifle and embark on a quixotic walk to Paris, leaving in his wake a trail of M&M candies and a platoon intent on bringing him back to the war — and to reality.

Synopsis:

"To call Going After Cacciato a novel about war is like calling Moby-Dick a novel about whales."

So wrote The New York Times of Tim O'Brien's now classic novel of Vietnam. Winner of the 1979 National Book Award, Going After Cacciato captures the peculiar mixture of horror and hallucination that marked this strangest of wars.

In a blend of reality and fantasy, this novel tells the story of a young soldier who one day lays down his rifle and sets off on a quixotic journey from the jungles of Indochina to the streets of Paris. In its memorable evocation of men both fleeing from and meeting the demands of battle, Going After Cacciato stands as much more than just a great war novel. Ultimately it's about the forces of fear and heroism that do battle in the hearts of us all.

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About the Author

Tim O'Brien received the 1979 National Book Award in Fiction for Going After Cacciato. His novel The Things They CarriedChicago Tribune Heartland Prize. His two most recent novels, In the Lake of the Woods and Tomcat in Love, were national bestsellers.
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Average customer rating based on 1 comment:
connorpeterson9, May 15, 2011 (view all comments by connorpeterson9)
The novel Going After Cacciato is an amazing story of how soldiers were able to cope with the hardships of the Vietnam War. The novel takes place in Vietnam during the controversial Vietnam War. The tale is told through the eyes of Private Paul Berlin, as he creates a dream where one of his platoon members, Cacciato, runs away to Paris. Paul’s mission is to catch Cacciato, a deserter and dreams helped Paul Berlin cope with the war. During the dream, Paul was able to escape to a beautiful and peaceful city, which for the short duration allowed an outlet from the horrors of war.
Tim O’Brien also utilizes many literary elements to demonstrate how the ideas of confusion, boredom, beauty, and fear affect the soldiers as they are fighting the war. The novel is split into short and long chapters, which are not in chronological order. The use of short chapters illustrates how war can be very demanding, but once the battle is done the soldiers have to cope with extreme boredom until they are forced to fight again. O’Brien also uses Paris, France as a symbol for peace and tranquility. This symbol is essential to the novel because Paul Berlin and his platoon purposely desert the war to catch Cacciato who is planning to reach Paris. Therefore the soldiers love the idea of leaving the war and living stress free in France. Finally, a theme found within the novel is always looking for the good things while at war. This theme was advice from Paul Berlin’s father as he was talking to his son before he went to war. This theme is present within the novel because Paul Berlin purposely creates a story so he could stay positive, and look for the good that takes place around the world.
Overall Tim O’Brien’s novel is a must read for anyone who loves war stories. The narrator takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster as war can create many different emotions within the soldiers. The tale takes a platoon of soldiers who disagree with the war, and follows them across the continent of Asia and into France as they chase a deserting platoon member, Cacciato. The novel demonstrates how soldiers cope with the atrocities of war, the constant boredom of war, and the psychological trauma that comes with war. The best part about O’Brien’s writing style is how personal he can make the story feel. As the story is told in third person, and third person omniscient the reader feels everything the narrator is feeling as the story unfolds. In the novel, O’Brien addresses the controversial War by focusing on characters that fought in spite of their disapproval for the war. Anyone who is interested in learning more about the Vietnam War, a tale about soldiers looking for peace, or a great War story should definitely read this amazing book. Finally, if you enjoyed O’Brien’s other novel, The Things They Carried, this novel is a perfect fit for you.

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Product Details

ISBN:
9780767904421
Author:
O'Brien, Tim
Publisher:
Broadway Books
Location:
New York :
Subject:
General
Subject:
Fiction
Subject:
War
Subject:
Vietnamese conflict, 1961-1975
Subject:
War stories
Subject:
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
Subject:
Vietnamese Conflict, 1961-1975 -- Fiction.
Subject:
Vietnamese Conflict, 19
Subject:
War & Military
Subject:
General Fiction
Subject:
Popular Fiction-Military
Copyright:
1999
Edition Description:
1st Broadway Books trade paperback ed.
Publication Date:
19990931
Binding:
TRADE PAPER
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
352
Dimensions:
8.04x5.24x.98 in. .68 lbs.
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Related Subjects


Featured Titles » Bestsellers
Featured Titles » National Book Award Winners
Fiction and Poetry » Literature » A to Z
Fiction and Poetry » Popular Fiction » Military

Going After Cacciato Used Trade Paper
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$3.95 In Stock
Product details 352 pages Broadway Books - English 9780767904421 Reviews:
"Synopsis" by , In the jungles of Indochina, Private Cacciato decides to lay down his rifle and embark on a quixotic walk to Paris, leaving in his wake a trail of M&M candies and a platoon intent on bringing him back to the war — and to reality.
"Synopsis" by , "To call Going After Cacciato a novel about war is like calling Moby-Dick a novel about whales."

So wrote The New York Times of Tim O'Brien's now classic novel of Vietnam. Winner of the 1979 National Book Award, Going After Cacciato captures the peculiar mixture of horror and hallucination that marked this strangest of wars.

In a blend of reality and fantasy, this novel tells the story of a young soldier who one day lays down his rifle and sets off on a quixotic journey from the jungles of Indochina to the streets of Paris. In its memorable evocation of men both fleeing from and meeting the demands of battle, Going After Cacciato stands as much more than just a great war novel. Ultimately it's about the forces of fear and heroism that do battle in the hearts of us all.
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