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Altamont Augie

by Richard Barager (Goodreads Author)

4.42 of 5 stars 4.42 · rating details · 36 ratings · 19 reviews

SILVER MEDAL/FOREWORD REVIEWS 2011 BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDS/HISTORICAL FICTION
GOLD MEDAL/2011 eLIT BOOK AWARDS/LITERARY FICTION
SILVER MEDAL/2012 INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER (IPPY) REGIONAL AWARDS/FICTION
FINALIST/2012 USA BEST BOOK AWARDS/HISTORICAL FICTION

A battleground and a rock festival, repositories of a generation's honor and shame...But which resides where?

A passion-filled,...more

Paperback, 308 pages

Published June 1st 2011 by Interloper Press (first published May 23rd 2011)

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Lists with This Book

The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe

Best Novels about the 1960s

13th out of 68 books — 54 voters

We Were Soldiers Once... and Young by Harold G. Moore

Best Literature About the Vietnam War

59th out of 135 books — 210 voters

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Mar 07, 2012 Kathleen Rodgers rated it 5 of 5 stars

CHARACTERS COME ALIVE OFF THE PAGE

What does the brutal battle of Khe Sanh and a violence-riddled rock festival in California in the late sixties have in common? A college student turned Marine named David Noble. The story opens with a young filmmaker researching the infamous rock concert that took place at the Altamont Speedway in 1969. Thirty years have passed, it’s 1999, and Caleb Levy is about to uncover a forgotten piece of history erased by time and circumstance. Caleb’s discovery will plun...more CHARACTERS COME ALIVE OFF THE PAGE

What does the brutal battle of Khe Sanh and a violence-riddled rock festival in California in the late sixties have in common? A college student turned Marine named David Noble. The story opens with a young filmmaker researching the infamous rock concert that took place at the Altamont Speedway in 1969. Thirty years have passed, it’s 1999, and Caleb Levy is about to uncover a forgotten piece of history erased by time and circumstance. Caleb’s discovery will plunge the reader deep into the past, to a college campus in Minnesota where students are deeply embroiled, as is the rest of the country, in racial strife and the United States involvement in Vietnam.

Protagonist David Noble spent his childhood getting kicked around from one foster home to another. Tired of feeling anonymous, he falls in love with a beautiful but spoiled college coed named Jackie Lundquist. She makes David feel whole. But Jackie gets caught up in the antiwar movement on campus and is smitten with its ringleader, Kyle Levy, ironically a product of the privileged class. One day, in the middle of a protest, David up and joins the Marines. What follows is his journey to boot camp, Vietnam, and back to college.

David Noble’s last name is so fitting. Though he was not born into nobility, he carries the deeper meaning of the word with him, even to the end. Hours after finishing this book, I kept going back to reread whole passages. I kept trying to drink in more of the story because I didn’t want it to end. The characters come alive off the page the second you crack open the book. Even minor characters seem fully formed, even if they only appear for a brief moment.

My only complaint was the author's tendency to use a hundred dollar word when a nickel word would have sufficed.

"Altamont Augie" brought out every emotion in me, and I am still choked up as I write this. I highly recommend this novel for a wide audience.

Kathleen M. Rodgers ~ author of the award-winning novel, “The Final Salute”
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Aug 12, 2011 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Altamont Augie, by Richard Barager is a story that takes place in the 1960's, during civil unrest and cultural change. A young man falls into the California Aqueduct and drowns during a Rolling Stones concert in 1969, and is then forgotten to time. Another young man, Caleb Levy, three decades later decides to give a name and back-story to the unknown victim. In doing so, the reader is led on a journey through love, politics, and rock and roll, to a tear-jerking ending that is sad, yet poignant.

I...more

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Jul 22, 2011 Deborah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: american-life, available-on-kindle, family-dynamics, historical-novel, latest-reads, men-would-enjoy, new-author-for-me, older-children-book, paperback-i-own, reviewer-book, war-novel

Gripping trailer for a gripping novel which would make a really great film. I was swept up in this story that was a flashback into the turbulent 1960's.

The conflicting ideals and opinions of the Vietnam War are central to the theme of "Altamont Augie;" as it was to those of us who struggled to make sense of the War in those times, of the reasons why certain of our friends and loved ones were being "drafted" into the clearly "unpopular," politically challenged War, and certain ones were left unto...more Gripping trailer for a gripping novel which would make a really great film. I was swept up in this story that was a flashback into the turbulent 1960's.

The conflicting ideals and opinions of the Vietnam War are central to the theme of "Altamont Augie;" as it was to those of us who struggled to make sense of the War in those times, of the reasons why certain of our friends and loved ones were being "drafted" into the clearly "unpopular," politically challenged War, and certain ones were left untouched. Just like Dr. Barger's characters, we were fighting to make changes in our lives: breaking out of restrictive, status focused chains ready-made for us in a world assuming to hold us back from expressing the knowledge we'd gained of new sciences, new sociology, new art and literature...a new awareness of who we were and what kind of world we wanted, particularly in a world that warned of nuclear annihilation by a Big Bear enemy. The 1960's generation was the first to break barriers in college-educated citizens, for the first time children were significantly more educated than previous generations.

Through all of these struggles for rights to their own bodies, to their conscience, equality, peace and a voice of freedoms, college sweethearts David and Jackie provide a bird's eye view into the angst of young Americans of the era.

Like the majority of the world around them Dr. Barager's characters experience professors, friends, student uprisings and news commentary of the day. And, while the two young lovers are bound to each other, they are also bound to the truths they've arrived at for themselves. It is these differences in philosophy and values that causes a chasm between them that only love can grow into.

I found "Altamont Augie" a trip back in time. It's a good story of love and loyalties--honor and shame, the bottom-line
issues close to our hearts during times of unrest in our country and our homes. It's a novel written by an accomplished writer whom I expect we'll hear more from in the future.

On another note, I just want to say that in contrast to the current wars we are sending our young men to in the Middle East, and despite our national conscience and political outcries currently...the Vietnam War was a catalyst for more unity and uprising of voices in America in its day. There was more determination, more "guts," more a sense of urgency and anger. Young adults had a sense of gravity and loss, it seems to me. I'm not sure why this is. Perhaps it was because so many were forced to fight...perhaps it was seeing them die daily on television (like today: 19 yr. olds, 20, 21, 22-30 yr. olds)...perhaps it was that we were young and felt the oppression of our collective "selves" on so many fronts so profoundly. Maybe we didn't have the added burden of a society fraught with the base-of-the-pyramid challenges of financial collapse! Or the infiltration of the Muslim Brotherhood terriorists in our midst... All which may seem to be an overwhelming war in itself to surmount.

Whatever the reason...I wish we had the power behind our convictions today that we did back then.

This book is one you'll be glad you read. It's a quick read with a heart-warming message of love and triumph...with a bit of rock 'n roll to spice it up, and a bit of sobriety to leave us thinking.

Deborah/TheBookishDame

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Jun 15, 2011 Laurie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I don’t expect to give first novels a five star rating, but I have to give it to this one. The author has brought the 1960s to life vividly, and has given us a main character that is complex enough to hold our attention even when we don’t agree with him.

I have to admit that when I entered to win this book, I missed that it was in large part about the Viet Nam war. When I received it and saw that was the case, I was dismayed as I don’t like war stories. I was figuring that since it was about the...more I don’t expect to give first novels a five star rating, but I have to give it to this one. The author has brought the 1960s to life vividly, and has given us a main character that is complex enough to hold our attention even when we don’t agree with him.

I have to admit that when I entered to win this book, I missed that it was in large part about the Viet Nam war. When I received it and saw that was the case, I was dismayed as I don’t like war stories. I was figuring that since it was about the 1960s, it would be hippies and music and beads and incense. But I felt obliged to read it, so I plunged in. In the end, I’m glad I did miss that bit because I would have lost out on reading an intense, gripping novel that showed me parts of the 60s that I was not well acquainted with.

‘Altamont Augie’ is the name that Caleb Levy, (fictional film editor for a re-release of ‘Gimme Shelter’ -the very real movie about the Rolling Stones 1969 US tour, which culminated with the Altamont Speedway concert that went so horribly wrong), gives to the John Doe who drowned in an irrigation canal during the concert- a real person who has not been identified to this day. To Caleb, the 60s were an absurd, futile decade and Augie represents well to him- what kind of a loser goes to a rock concert and drowns? His view on that is shaken when, while editing the film, he finds a few frames that show Augie with Caleb’s mother, Jackie. He demands an explanation, but never expects the story that she tells, about ‘Augie’ (who now has a name: David Noble), his mother, and the times.

David grew up without roots, an orphan who was shuttled from one foster home to another, each more horrifying than the last. But he’s made a life for himself, working on a roofing crew and going to college. He’s a conservative who believes in America and that the Viet Nam war is a necessary one. Jackie, who grew up the spoiled child of the upper middle class, is a liberal who believes that America needs to change drastically. Kyle, Jackie’s other boyfriend, is a radical who believes there will have to be violent change- and he wants to be a major player in that as a leader in the SDS. David and Jackie disagree on politics so badly they can’t be together, yet they can’t stay apart. How they change each other through time is a large part of the story.

Barager writes rich, flowing prose. The characters are fully fleshed out. The author has obviously done his research well, because the era comes alive on the page. There is none of the thinness that so often marks first novels, none of the flat characters or poorly described scenes. Oh, and the war part, set in Viet Nam, that I thought I might skim through? I stayed up until 1 am reading that part because I couldn’t put it down.
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Apr 22, 2011 Sharon rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was received through FirstReads. Altamont Auguie is an ambitious debut novel by Richard Barager. It takes place in the sixties on the college campus of the University of Minnesota, Vietnam and the San Francisco area. It delves into the opposings sides of the war from the perspective of 3 main characters - David, Kyle and Jackie.

Normally I don't enjoy "war stories" but this book was an exception. It has some war scenes with graphic descriptions, however this is not the majority of the b...more

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Jun 29, 2012 Fox rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, fiction, history, own, 2012

I was incredibly fortunate to receive this book through the Goodreads First-Reads program. First, I wish to say that the first-reads program is a truly amazing thing. Altamont Augie is not something that I would have sought out, nor is a book that I feel I would have ever happened to hear about were it not for first-reads. Another reviewer has said that it is rare to give five stars to a first time author... I was surprised to see so many good reviews.

Well, I shall be joining the chorus of wond...more I was incredibly fortunate to receive this book through the Goodreads First-Reads program. First, I wish to say that the first-reads program is a truly amazing thing. Altamont Augie is not something that I would have sought out, nor is a book that I feel I would have ever happened to hear about were it not for first-reads. Another reviewer has said that it is rare to give five stars to a first time author... I was surprised to see so many good reviews.

Well, I shall be joining the chorus of wonderful reviews.

Altamont Augie is a masterpiece. I do not tend to read historical fiction, nor do I tend to read about any wars, let alone Vietnam. I don't tend towards political thrillers either. Altamont Augie is historical fiction, deeply steeped within the conflicting politics of liberalism and conservatism that fades into a more libertarian stance. The tension in the book is the horrors of war, mixed with the domestic terrorism that came to characterize the sixties. I couldn't put the book down, and by the time I got to the ending, I was crying.

To say the book is well written is an understatement. I wanted to write the review criticizing the framing story initially, but by the end any criticisms I had had melted away. I wanted to state that I disagreed with Richard Barager's characterization of Jackie and feminism in general... and then had those criticisms torn away as I realized how vital and telling her attraction to David and what he did to her was. Whatever happened in the novel that drew my ire wound up having a point, and a strong one.

Altamont Augie presents a vision of the sixties that is rarely seen. The book showcases the folly of the idealism, while simultaneously wishing that there was more substance within it. The futility is highlighted, while the bitterness of cynicism is also present. Altamont Augie created a very fair assessment of what went on, all the while showcasing the best and the worse in human behavior. Best of all, the book praises what truly matters:

Honor, identity, and integrity at all costs.(less)

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Mar 23, 2011 April rated it 5 of 5 stars

Barager has written a page-turner that is as much a love story as it is a political novel. His two main characters, David and Jackie, couldn't have been any more different from one another, but they felt a strong affection for one another despite their political and social differences. His introduction of Kyle Levy certainly muddied things up for David, but I remained invested in the story at this point, anxious to see what would become of the trio in the matters of love.

The scenes that Baranger...more

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May 03, 2011 Leah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Historical fiction is my favorite genre and I was thrilled to win this book from goodreads. The story of David Noble, an "anonymous" young man of the sixties, is told by Caleb Levy. By doing research into the life and death of David, Caleb not only learns more about the protagonist of his proposed film but also his own parents who grew up in the same time period. Ultimately his research gives him greater insight into himself. It was easy to become submerged in the sixties along with Caleb and th...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Cherry rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was...just amazing, I can't even begin to describe how it went from "eh s'okay" to "omg! I can't believe how good it's getting!" I was incredibly surprised, to say the least, at how much I enjoyed reading this story. The beginning was all right but it was just enough to keep me reading to the best part, David's part. He made for quite the interesting character; he had a history (though sad, it shaped him into the brave honorable man he became later in life), fears, secrets, and most im...more

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Nov 15, 2011 Debbie rated it 5 of 5 stars

“What kind of man goes to one of the biggest rock concerts of the sixties, manages to drown in a nearby irrigation canal an hour into the show, and is never identified?”
With that opening sentence, Altamont Augie by Richard Barager grabbed my attention and riveted me for 300 pages.

The 1969 concert held at Altamont Raceway outside San Francisco was meant to be California’s version of Woodstock, but became an infamous debacle after concert security (manned by Hell’s Angels) stabbed a man to death....more “What kind of man goes to one of the biggest rock concerts of the sixties, manages to drown in a nearby irrigation canal an hour into the show, and is never identified?”
With that opening sentence, Altamont Augie by Richard Barager grabbed my attention and riveted me for 300 pages.

The 1969 concert held at Altamont Raceway outside San Francisco was meant to be California’s version of Woodstock, but became an infamous debacle after concert security (manned by Hell’s Angels) stabbed a man to death. (This is not the fictional man who drowned in the canal.)

Richard Barager’s debut novel is set against the back drop of 1960s America, the Vietnam War, and the ever increasingly violent anti-war protests of the time. It is the story of David and Jackie, young people on opposite sides of those divisive issues, but who have a passion for each other that connects them through it all. David’s story unfolds in Vietnam, Jackie’s at the University of Minnesota and in California. After David’s tour of duty, he returns to the States and takes up his relationship with Jackie who is now involved with Kyle Levy, a militant anti-establishment activist.

The identity of the man in the canal is determined early on in the book but the answer to the question “What kind of man…?” remains, and is answered by the story that follows. The plot advances steadily and evenly over the five year period from 1964 to 1969, building to a climax at the Altamont concert.

I came of age in the late sixties and early seventies and although I was just a year or two too young for Woodstock, I embraced the ‘summer of love’ and peace movement ideology as most of my friends did. Being Canadians removed us from the immediate political arena around Vietnam, allowing us to see the issue from only one side. It was the era of not only “Mary Quant miniskirts, white go-go boots, flash cubes, color broadcasting on all three networks, and static-free radio”; to us the times were world-changing and thus clothed in importance and valour. So I was astounded to read the narrator’s opinion: “No matter how absurd the decade appeared in the century’s rear-view mirror, it had at least aspired to be relevant.” Absurd?! We were absurd? No way!

Barager’s writing style is slightly pretentious in his use of large words on nearly every page. Gems such as ‘senescence’, ‘leporine’, and ‘reliquary’ at first sent me running to my dictionary. But that was interrupting the story, so I marked them for further research and determined from the context meanings close enough to allow me to understand the story and move on.

But the overdone vocabulary is my only complaint about this book. Barager has crafted a keenly insightful look into the politics of the 1960s, presenting both sides, but with a protagonist who represents a view that was decidedly unpopular among youth of the day. How had it come to this, he wondered, needing to persuade an entire generation of Americans that it was better to win a war than to lose one? In some ways, this is a courageous book, as many still hold those views of their youth, and America and perhaps the world may still be as divided as ever on that issue.

But I would urge you to keep an open mind and read this book. I learned a lot about the decade that I’d not known – because I was young, because I’m Canadian, and because my friends accepted the issues superficially, as did many youth. Even if you were more involved in the politics of the era, you’ll be certain to learn aspects of the fight on both sides that will make you reflect. If you missed the sixties the first time around, I can’t think of a better introduction to the issues of the day than Altamont Augie .

When I first read Altamont Augie , I rated it 4.5 stars but over the last month and a half, it’s provided much fuel for discussion in our household and food for thought. It’s been a while since I’ve read such a thought-provoking book, one that stays with me as Augie has, so I’ve upped my rating to a full five stars,
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May 21, 2011 Carla rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: firstreads-giveaway-books

One of the questions in the Reader's Guide discussion insert included with this book is "Do you think the partisanship of contemporary Red and Blue America is in part a continuation of the political conflict of the Sixties...?" For anyone who, unlike me, is too young to remember the Sixties, this historical novel would be an excellent primer to help answer this question. (And for the record, I think the answer is unquestionably "yes.")

For anyone who, like me, does remember the Sixties, reading t...more One of the questions in the Reader's Guide discussion insert included with this book is "Do you think the partisanship of contemporary Red and Blue America is in part a continuation of the political conflict of the Sixties...?" For anyone who, unlike me, is too young to remember the Sixties, this historical novel would be an excellent primer to help answer this question. (And for the record, I think the answer is unquestionably "yes.")

For anyone who, like me, does remember the Sixties, reading this book is like taking a trip right back there. Barager brings it all alive: the music; the clothes; the campus war protests; Vietnam; San Francisco; the drugs; the idealism. I hesitate to call it nostalgic, because that implies a level of comfort and pleasure that, for me anyway, are never present when revisiting that decade; there was plenty about it that was uncomfortable as well as downright ugly, including the December 1969 rock concert at Altamont Speedway, east of San Francisco, which plays a pivotal role in the plot of this debut novel. That disastrous concert, which was the subject of the 1970 documentary film "Gimme Shelter" (reissued in 2000) is pretty universally accepted to have spelled the end of the fun and idealism of the decade.

I fell in love with the protagonist David Noble, probably because he reminded me of the guys I actually WAS falling in love with during that turbulent time. Even without that, though, I would have loved this vivid novel; I found it totally absorbing.

If you read this book, keep your dictionary handy. The author enjoys using words that were, at least to me, unfamiliar, many of which I plan to keep handy for Words With Friends. Some of the more fun ones: cetacean; farrago; tabard; discalced; redivivus and pellucid.

Barager's nearly flawless evocation of the Sixties allows me to forgive him my one criticism of this book: its wholly implausible underlying plot. I don't write spoiler reviews, so I won't elaborate, but it had me saying "Oh, now, come ON..."

(FTC disclaimer: I reviewed a copy of this book that I won, free of charge, in the Firstreads Giveaway contest.)(less)

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May 09, 2011 Laurie Carlson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-giveaway-in-return-for-a-rev, character-female, character-male, gangs, vietnam-war, women-s-lib, war, love, politics, age-of-aquarius, altamont-augie, marines, young-americans-for-freedom, students-for-a-democratic-society, port-huron-statement-of-1962, sharon-connecticut, basic-training

“Altamont Augie” a novel by Richard Barager

A lot of people will describe books as must-reads, or “5-Stars”, but honestly, this TRULY is. If you really want to revisit the 1960’s and read such vivid detail, and feel like you are such a part of this story, then this IS ‘the book’ to be on your ‘To Read’ list. I can really see this book being made into an award winning movie.
This author’s talent with writing is unbelievable! The author, Richard Barager hits on every detail of the 1960’s unrest unli...more “Altamont Augie” a novel by Richard Barager

A lot of people will describe books as must-reads, or “5-Stars”, but honestly, this TRULY is. If you really want to revisit the 1960’s and read such vivid detail, and feel like you are such a part of this story, then this IS ‘the book’ to be on your ‘To Read’ list. I can really see this book being made into an award winning movie.
This author’s talent with writing is unbelievable! The author, Richard Barager hits on every detail of the 1960’s unrest unlike any other I have read. It is told in such detail that you are sucked right in to this story. This page turner makes you want to devour this book. It is full of a little of everything from the 60’s unrest. The story weaves you right into it, and you want to know where the next page will take you. Unfortunately, like all books, it ends. It is truly sad when it is over. You want to stay with these characters. It leaves you wanting more, and it is going to stay with you forever, and when you think back to the 1960’s, ‘this’ is the story that will come to mind first and foremost.
This fiction/just about non-fiction book hits the ‘high’ of the 1960’s unrest like no other; Vietnam, Rock Concerts, ‘The Age of Aquarius’, Women’s Liberation, marijuana/LSD/drugs, free love, War Protests, and more.
This book starts off with a young man, Caleb Levy, who travels to San Francisco seeking Altamont Augie’s past for the 13th Anniversary re-release of a movie called ‘Gimme Shelter’, a true-to-life ‘Rock Documentary’ that profiled the last 10 days of the Rolling Stones 1969 U.S. Tour, as commissioned by his employer. He was at the Altamont Speedway where this free concert took place. He got the ‘feel’ of where history took place and talked to quite a few people who experienced it first hand.
The book then goes into a story of two college lovers; characters Jackie Lundquist and David Noble. A very intricate love story intertwined with the war, protests, and more, getting in the way of these two. It follows the lives of these characters and more of what each of them stands for during these times. As the story goes on we get to know so much about the lives of these characters, the good and the bad. Sometimes we want to shout out to them and say what we think, as we are so wrapped up in this story. The story goes on. We experience all that they did and didn’t do, until the ultimate end of this story taking place at Altamont Augie.
We later learn more . . . this part you will have to read as I am not going to give spoilers. This book is to good to do that.
From the back of the book, Altamont Augie: “Khe Sanh and Altamont: red clay and yellow grass . . . the senseless slaughter of Vietnam and the folly of utopian fantasy . . . a battleground and a rock festival, repositories of my generation’s honor and shame . . . but which resides where?”
Please visit the author’s website: www.altamontaugies.com . There is an MP3 playlist of the songs in the order as they appear in the book. There is an EXCELLENT Book Trailer for this book which should not be missed.
About the author: This next paragraph is directly quoted from his website:
Richard Baragaer, M.D. is a Nephrologist in private practice in San Diego’s North County. Dr. Barager, who has twice received a San Diego County Medical Society “Top Doctor” award for distinguished care in his specialty, is a champion of the healing power of literature, and from time-to-time “prescribes” specific novels to receptive patients and families to help them cope with their burden of illness. Please visit the site for more.
In closing this review, I can only hope I have portrayed the quality and integrity of this book to you, the reader. Enjoy!
This book was provided to me for free in exchange for a review by Bostick Communications.
Laurie Carlson
www.lauriehere.blogspot.com
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Jun 29, 2012 Melissa Sargent rated it 4 of 5 stars

A unique writer with a talent for historical fiction. It sucked me in and kept me reading! It was very emotional; at times sad, outgraged, and I even found some dark comedic moments. I usually slog through historical fiction at the speed of a dino in a tar pit, but I couldn't put it down! Do I recommed this book? Yeah! *This review was given in exchange for a free copy from the author and Goodreads/Firstreads.*

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Jun 17, 2011 Stacey Donaldson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Altamont Augie is the story of unlikely lovers David Noble and Jackie Lindquist. David joins the Marines and stands by his decision to do so, while Jackie is completely against the war and takes every opportunity to vocalize her opinion.

I was immediately impressed with Richard Barager's style. His writing is very eloquent. I literally read the first page twice, because I thought it was so very well written. He has successfully written a novel that accurately depicts the war, conflict, and love...more

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Jul 12, 2011 Terry rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the most impressive book I have read in many years. Our popular culture has attempted to distill the 1960s/Vietnam War into Heroic Hippies, victim GIs and the evil government/industrial complex. While there are many true elements in all of those, as a kid growing up in the 1960s, that's not exactly how I recall the decade. This book successfully takes on both the honorable sacrifice of a generation in war, and at the same time gives an honest treatment of the anti-war movement. For any a...more

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Apr 15, 2011 Ellen marked it as to-read

Shelves: first-reads

I won a copy from Goodreads. I will edit this with a review after I've read it. Thank you for the opportunity.

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Aug 24, 2012 Lisa Miller Chandler rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: blogged, bookshelf-at-home

Wow. Richard Barager really turned my head with this telling of 1960's love, hate, war, fight for peace and the vivid, intense emotions on both sides of the American conflicts at home. The feelings of the brave who signed up to fight for their country vs. the opposing Americans at home who were violently (at times) opposed to the war.

I learned more about the actual feelings and tension at home while enjoying a love / hate relationship with an ironic beginning and ending.

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May 21, 2011 Giselle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Giselle by: goodreads

Shelves: first-reads

I won this book through goodreads first-reads! Even if you're not a '60's child, this book will grab your interest and take you to one of the most interesting time periods of the last century. The read encompasses the drugs, the war, the "free love", the music and the politics, and having grown up in that era, it was a time travelling experience. I look forward to the author's next work.

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May 21, 2012 Shane rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won this book through first reads giveaways.

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May 17, 2013 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 04, 2013 Melodee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mar 24, 2013 Beejay marked it as to-read

Shelves: on-kindle

May 03, 2013 Cam is currently reading it

Shelves: kindle, booklist

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Shelves: vietnam-war

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About Richard Barager

Richard R. Barager, MD, FACP, is a nephrologist in private practice in San Diego’s North County. Dr. Barager, who has twice received a San Diego County Medical Society “Top Doctor” award for distinguished care in his specialty, is a champion of the healing power of literature, and from time to time “prescribes” specific novels to receptive patients and families to help them cope with their burden...more

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