An American Requiem is the story of one man's coming of age. But more than that, it is a coming to terms with the conflicts that disrupted many fam...
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Nov 17, 2010
Eric_W
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James Carroll is a former priest, son of an air force general, and brother both to a draft resister and an FBI agent whose assignment was to track down draft resisters. James left the priesthood, saddened and sickened by the war in Vietnam and perhaps subconsciously by his father's role in it. This book is, in part, his reconciliation with God and his father - maybe because, in some measure, they were one and the same.
His father was certainly James' idol. He put himself through law More...
His father was certainly James' idol. He put himself through law More...
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Jan 22, 2009
Julie
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You think you've got pressure from the family? James Carroll was caught in a web of expectations. His father, Gen. Joseph Carroll, left the seminary shortly before being ordained. His mother wants one of her five sons to become a priest to get the family right with the church and God. When his older brother becomes disabled, it is assumed that second son Carroll will enter seminary, which he does. The family drama takes place as the nation goes through the great changes of the 1960's, and C
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Jun 11, 2011
Tim
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James Carroll's memoir detailing his transformation: personal, religious, and political, and the effect it had on the relationship he had with his father. I have to imagine it hurt to write this book; he holds his father responsible for the deaths of millions due to his involvement in Vietnam, Carroll believes his own father was part of a fascist plot (Carroll's words) to discredit Martin Luther King, Jr. But Caroll, sometimes self-righteous to a fault, has written a beautiful book. I do wond
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Oct 10, 2011
Joe
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This book was not as good as I'd thought it might be, or as it could have been. The subject matter was interesting, and occassionally the author's insights were fairly good, but overall it seemed very self serving and, at the same time, either naive or ignorant. It was fascinating to see the interaction and dynamic in retrospect, but I think the author has still yet to fully acknowledge everything that happened or look at the events from a non-biased perspective.
There were a lot of asp More...
There were a lot of asp More...
Nov 24, 2008
Carole
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this is an interesting book, but difficult to relate to. The author was so in awe of his father, and so deferential, that he becomes a priest, almost entirely to earn his father's approval. He also uses dashes - in almost every sentence - often making it difficult to follow.
Mar 22, 2009
Kathleen
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This book was so beautifully written and so painful and wonderful to read. It taught me a lot. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to get lost in an informative, heartbreaking memoir.
Feb 20, 2010
Kurt
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Absolutely fascinating... being a Roman Catholic myself, and passionately interested in the 1960s, and a son of a father myself (:-)), the story was heavily moving to me. Time to read it again!
Jan 02, 2011
Jerry
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History and family, up close and personal. Having lived the same years, prayed in the same church and protested the same war, this account is like a homecoming. I shed more than one tear.
Jan 17, 2012
Emily
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4.5 stars.
Very good father/son biography. Dad is a general in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and at the same time period the son becomes a priest. The son idolized his dad but due to conflicts over the war the father/son relationship is ruined. The son really became a priest for his Dad and later ends up leaving the priesthood.
Very good father/son biography. Dad is a general in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and at the same time period the son becomes a priest. The son idolized his dad but due to conflicts over the war the father/son relationship is ruined. The son really became a priest for his Dad and later ends up leaving the priesthood.
Jan 02, 2012
Jenni
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Exceptionally well written, and a seamless melding of history and personal memoir.
Oct 04, 2008
Eric
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A poignant narrative. A rare oppurtunity to have our point of view from the son of a powerful man, who himself has dabbled in many places of the world. James Carroll's conflict is that of being the type of person who could address it, his vision is that of having identified it. With clean and introspective prose, Carroll seems to have told it as it is, and not how he wished for it to have been. The inside scoop we get from both the father and son's status could have easily bogged this book d
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Jun 28, 2008
Beth
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I was a child during the Vietnam War. I was too young to learn about it in school or understand what happening in our country. So much of this story was news to me. It is an amazing story about the desire to have your parent's love - finding your true self - our country and the Catholic Church. Really a great story. I think the author is a great story teller - at times I wanted more story and less of a history lesson. The final chapters are wonderful. All and all I will remember this story
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Jun 25, 2007
Carey
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This book is the story of the relationship between James Carroll, an anti-war priest (who later leaves the priesthood) and his father, a high-ranking officer in the armed forces. It is one of the most honest stories that I have ever read about one's journey of theological education and the way it changes most of the aspects of one's life, including how one understands and deals with, their family. My favorite sentence -- "[Seminary] was an incubator of my own personal and unwanted revolut
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Dec 17, 2009
Tim
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A touching autobiography about growing up in the fifties and sixties in the shadow of the bomb and surviving the turmoil of the civil rights/Vietnam war era from someone who was right in the midst of the struggles. At the same time one man's search for his own mission in life and his troubled relationship with his father and his church. Smoothly written with extensive retrospective insights into the dynamics of personal growth and the challenges of being a parent/child.
Oct 02, 2007
Kevin
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A book bogged down by people and places that are not for my generation. It felt like a textbook at times. The story is worthwhile to read just difficult for someone who was not around during the Vietnam War and can't feel the atmosphere that surrounded the war to get into it. Yes there is a war going on now but the atmosphere is far far differnt, from what I have read, heard and seen. This book has so much tos ay that it can't develope that atmosphere to well.
Feb 27, 2011
David
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I don't know what I expected when I picked up this book but it didn't deliver on anything. Just a dreary book.
Nov 22, 2008
Madge
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Wonderfully told autobio. and how dificult it can be to "leave home". Really moving.
And did you know that Klaus Fuchs, who gave the Russians atom secrets, received 7 years in jail and was then deported to Russia. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were relative minors in the transactions received the death penalty.
And did you know that Klaus Fuchs, who gave the Russians atom secrets, received 7 years in jail and was then deported to Russia. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were relative minors in the transactions received the death penalty.
Mar 31, 2008
John
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Went to see James Carroll speak about a month ago. Couldn't sit through his whole lecture either. Can't really put my finger on it, but the story just wasn't that compelling. Also have a hard time reading books by people that I don't think I would like personally. Seems a bit self righteous and annoying.
Jun 18, 2008
Amy
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Heartbreaking book about a struggle between father and son during the Vietnam War. I didn't get too teary until the last chapter but the son is writing about his father's death and dealing with their relationship (or lack of). It's a well written book for sure.
Apr 10, 2008
John
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Incredibly moving account of a devoted pacifist priest and his complicated relationship with his father, who was one of the founding principals of the Defense Intelligence Agency, precursor to the CIA. A very moving book.
Mar 14, 2008
Jill
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It reads more like a history book than a personal memoir, but I've learned a good deal more about the Vietnam War than I ever knew before, so that's a plus.
Oct 09, 2007
J.C.
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never thought I'd love a book I found in the used religion section, but this was one great read.
