David O'Sullivan
asked:
Do you think this works as a collection of short stories or should it have been worked as a novel?
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Brian Rosenblat
I think Klay's goal is to give the reader a broad look at the psychological challenges of the war. To paint a sweeping picture of what the war was like, it's helpful to introduce the reader to a varied characters in different, but related, situations. Diving into the psyche of each of the marine protagonists illuminates a different aspect of the conflict and the mental hurdles associated with it. Following one long story arc might have allowed us to go into deeper detail about one or several experiences. But by carving this out as short stories, it allows Klay to paint a broader picture for us. And I think it makes it all the more powerful.
Matthew Hall
Short stories function differently than novels. They have different goals, and affect us or explore things in different ways. Asking "should" implies that there is somehow more value in a novel than in a short story. This is, for the record, a categorically stupid implication.
Ilsa Hinsley
No novel. While the overarching theme is combat Marines in the Middle East, each story is completely different in that various units are highlighted. To lump this into one novel would require a cast of characters similar to one of GRRMs GoT books. Keep in mind that, while Marines work like a well oiled machine, military occupational specialties (MOSs) are wildly diverse. In summary: just because they're all in the same place and fighting the same war doesn't mean that they can be lumped into one story.
Patrick Murphy
Yes as s/s. He has much-meat for several novels in his opening collection. Had the same happy affect on me as did Dispatches by Michael Herr insofar as it cast my mind into the battle front and gave me the pseudo experience of the craziness - fear and shock of the reality of combat. Great as a set of anti-war stories and easily recommended to young readers who are curious about "what combat is like" ... reminds me that I must re-read The Things They Carried by T. O'Brien
Deborah Dameron
I think it works perfectly as a collection of different voices, in different places and doing different kinds of jobs. I particularly liked the priest's interior monolog . That was one of the most powerful stories, I thought.
Lily
This works as a collection of short stories. The book includes many narrators' voices -- not good fodder for a single connected story, even one with numerous subplots. These stand-alone vignettes are powerful, thoughtful, challenging, intelligent. As Colum McCann wrote: "with a muscular language and an agile heart and a fair amount of complicated doubt."
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