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Lizzie's War: A Novel
A family epic laced with authenticity, wit and unforgettable characters. Liz O'Reilly has a husband in Vietnam, 4 kids under the age of 12 (and one on the way), and a burgeoning crush on the family priest. An unconventional love story.
It's Summer 1967 and Mike O'Reilly's just shipped out to Vietnam. Liz O'Reilly is trying to keep it all together for their four kids - 6 yea...more
It's Summer 1967 and Mike O'Reilly's just shipped out to Vietnam. Liz O'Reilly is trying to keep it all together for their four kids - 6 yea...more
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
May 2nd 2006
by HarperOne
(first published 2005)
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I read Lizzie's War a few years back now and thought I'd reviewed it then, but I guess I didn't. It is perhaps one of the few novels about the Vietnam War that shows both sides of a marriage affected by the war. Lizzie was the wife of a Marine officer deployed to Vietnam and the narrative has a kind of variable viewpoint. First you see what the husband is doing and enduring and then what the wife is doing and enduring. Their letters play a big role too, but not because of what they say, but rath...more
I read thtis book and cried at least three times. The author Tim Farrington is brilliant - I happen to be lucky enough to be a writing seminar he teaches. After reading this I started to listen more closely in class... Just kidding, I always yhought he was wooooonderful.
Introduce yourself to an amazingly funny while breaking your heart story about a military, catholic family facing distance, comunication, personal frustrations and the world everyday. It is a coming of age story, a family story a...more
Introduce yourself to an amazingly funny while breaking your heart story about a military, catholic family facing distance, comunication, personal frustrations and the world everyday. It is a coming of age story, a family story a...more
Tim Farrington’s novel, Lizzie’s War, focuses on married couple Lizzie and Mike O'Reilly and the wars that each are fighting. Set in 1967-68, the narrative centers on the title character, who raises her 4 kids while her husband is in Viet Nam, struggles with an unplanned pregnancy, and thinks about what it means to be married to someone so far away and the person she was before marriage and kids. Mike, her husband, fights in Viet Nam, while leading and trying to protect his men in a chaotic envi...more
Tim Farrington’s 2005 novel, Lizzie’s War, opens with a helluva first line: “Detroit was burning.” I was immediately pulled in to this story of two wars. Taking place between July 1967 and Labor Day 1968, the novel is reflective of the period. At home, riots are burning the country and in Vietnam, men are dying at an alarming rate in an unpopular war in an unforgiving country.
Captain Michael O’Reilly, USMC, has shipped out for Da Nang. His wife, Liz, is on her way to her parents with their four...more
Captain Michael O’Reilly, USMC, has shipped out for Da Nang. His wife, Liz, is on her way to her parents with their four...more
This is the newest book by Tim Farrington, who wrote a book I really loved, "The Monk Downstairs". I liked this new book, just not quite as much as his other.
"Lizzie's War" is the story of Lizzie and Michael O'Reilly and takes place in 1968-69, during the Viet Nam War. He is a Marine officer who is in VN and she is at home in VA with three children, expecting a fourth. The story alternates between her life and his, and is an interesting juxtaposition. I think that Farrington does outstanding ch...more
"Lizzie's War" is the story of Lizzie and Michael O'Reilly and takes place in 1968-69, during the Viet Nam War. He is a Marine officer who is in VN and she is at home in VA with three children, expecting a fourth. The story alternates between her life and his, and is an interesting juxtaposition. I think that Farrington does outstanding ch...more
This book reminded me strongly of "When We Were Soldiers". It tells the story of a military wife whose husband is fighting in Vietnam. It alternates between her story of trying to keep things together at home while she waits anxiously for letters from the front or that ominous knock on the door. I cried my way through the movie of "When We Were Soldiers" and wept while reading this book. There are also moments of humor though at times of the dark variety.
As a military wife myself I was able to identify with the characters in the story. I liked how the point of view would alternate between the battles in Vietnam and those at home. Many of the emotions described in the book are very real and applicable to any wife who put her dreams on hold and had to send her husband off to fight a war. Being a Marine Corps wife made much of the vernacular easier to understand, and appreciate. Mr. Farrington did a good job researching his story and making it bel...more
I picked this up at a used bookstore in San Fran because I didn't have a book and really enjoyed Farrington's previous books. Despite reading this all the way through, this one left me cold. It's about the wife of a marine during Vietnam and their shared stories. Perhaps I was too turned off by the whole topic and time or just couldn't relate to the gung-ho marine/catholic theme, but I never really 'cared'
He successfully gets inside a lot of human experience typically ignored/avoided/overlooked by authors. His main character is a young wife and mother whose husband goes to fight in Vietnam. I appreciated the author's exploration of both process and faith. I also enjoyed the Monk Downstairs and the Monk Upstairs by this author - they were fun reads, but maybe not the contribution this book is.
Such a well written book! Wonderfully evocative of its time between 1967 and 1968, alternating between Liz O'Reilly and her four children who live stateside, and her husband, who is a Marine Officer in Vietnam. Their parallel "wars" and battle scars and trauma are heartbreaking, funny, revealing, and such a fascinating window into that time and place. Very well done.
Picked up this one because it is about the Vietnam War experience. Liked the shared narration, marine on the frontline, and wife holding down the homefront. Both facing life-changing battles.
Farrington's writing is simple. He includes some point-on descriptions of family life which add a light touch of humor. But I would not have stayed with it, were it not for the subject.
Farrington's writing is simple. He includes some point-on descriptions of family life which add a light touch of humor. But I would not have stayed with it, were it not for the subject.
The author said that this book was about careers based on faith: parenting, soldiering, religion and marriage. It was a wonderful story even not thinking about these things, but the added depth made it a must-read. It is reasonably accurate in terms of the 60's, and fortunately stayed away from the California issues.
As a woman who does NOT enjoy war stories or conflict, "Lizzie's War" was the most readable and comprehensive profile of the Vietnam War I've read--both on the homefront and the frontlines.
I read this book quite awhile ago, and it's one of those on my list to re-read at some point. If I ever see a used copy of it somewhere, it would be one that I'd like for my home library.
Descriptions of a soldier's life in the Vietnam war corresponding with his wife and children at home. Well written. The women's characters were very well done, I thought a woman had written the book!
I am reading this book for the second time and like it every bit as much this time around. It's funny and moving and a trip back in time. Wonderful!
Of course there were some parts that I could have done without. However, it's a book about war so it would have been lacking without some references. It was interesting to see the point-of-view of a wife/mother left home with her kids while her husband is at war. I was entertained and read it quickly. Those are my biggest requirements.
Enjoyed Lizzie and was interested by the title. the title is not just refering to Vietnam
I read this a few weeks ago, but have been unable to decide just how to rate or review it. I went with four stars because I found it honest, poignant (not a literary quality, I suppose) and I loved or hated the characters equally well. It worked, in other words. If you either grew up in the Vietnam era or have heard stories, here is another one to take you there.
Really, really liked this book. Good story, compelling characters.
Thank you, insomnia, for allowing me the time to read this book. 3.5 stars.
My writing teacher wrote this book so I might be biased.
soldier wife left at home coping Vietnam
Another really good book. The setting is 1967 and the Vietnam War is raging. Lizzie, the mother, is on the homefront, has four children and is pregnant with number 5. Husband Mike is in the dregs of Vietnam, and even after being wounded refuses to leave. As they come back together at the end of his tour or duty, they have to learn to respect the decisions that they each had made.
Jan 10, 2010
Anna
added it
ok so far
This was my first book by this author but I want to read more very soon - other books of this include The Monk Downstairs, Blues for Hannah and The California Book of the Dead.
This book was a tearjerker - absolutely lovely writing - the battle scenes were very clear and understandable.
This book was a tearjerker - absolutely lovely writing - the battle scenes were very clear and understandable.
How, I ask you, HOW is this man not a bestselling author? This book was brilliant, even allowing for the fact that I inexplicably love Vietnam fiction. It's heart-rending without being maudlin, beautifully written and even funny. Highly, highly recommended.
I really liked the portrayal of what life is like at home for a young mother (with abandoned dreams & ambitions) while her husband is at war. Vietnam era but good insights into the tight military world.
I felt the ending was true to the times.
I felt the ending was true to the times.
Have enjoyed all Tim Farrington's books that i have read. very easy to read and learnt more about Vietnam War. mostly from the viewpoint of Lizzie's husband who describes conditions and head space well. Impact of war on those at home.
Wish I could give it 3.5. Good, solid novel from a talented writer. Wish there was more relationship building between the titular character and some of the friends mentioned.
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