Memories Time Can't Heal: A Vietnam War Novel

5 Star Review

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Editorial Book Review:

By Solange Roe

Wars leave scars that last long after the fighting is over, and this book does a great job of showing that. The plot is about a young man who is forced to serve in Vietnam and has little time to prepare for the terrible things that are about to happen. The writing is honest and raw; it never sugarcoats what happened but instead tells it like it was. The tension never goes away. The battle scenes are vivid and draw you in, and the characters' deep psychological wounds from the war are shown in quiet times.

I was most moved by how deep it made me feel. That's not all this is about; it's also about moral challenges, friendships formed in impossible situations, and the guilt and grief that follow. The main character struggles with fear, loss of hope, and trying to keep his humanity in a world that seems set on taking it away. The book isn't just about the war; it's also about how the people who lived through it still felt the effects of it years after they got home.

The writing is immersive, capturing the sensory overload of Vietnam—the oppressive heat, the deafening sounds of battle, the constant, gut-wrenching uncertainty. The relationships are complicated, the conversation feels real, and the themes of loyalty, trauma, and the cost of war are handled very well. There is no glorifying here; just an honest look at what it's like to fight in a war you didn't want and see things you can never get back.

I liked how there was a good mix between doing things and thinking about them. The story never drags, but there are also quiet scenes of destruction that are just as powerful as the most intense battles. This book isn't just about war; it's also a very personal tale about grief, strength, and the ghosts that won't go away. This is a great book for anyone who wants to see Vietnam through the eyes of someone who went through it.

About the Author

James Quinnett

James Quinnett was born and raised in California. He began taking classes at San Bernardino Valley College the year President Kennedy was assassinated in ‘63. By 1966, he was drafted into the army, received training as an infantryman, and was deployed to Vietnam to serve in the 1st Air Cavalry Division. After returning from Vietnam, he completed his degree at Cal State San Bernardino. Over the years, he has been interviewed on radio and in newspapers and appeared at several events discussing the Vietnam War.

Quinnett has worked as a graphic artist, illustrator, political cartoonist, and courtroom sketch artist. Recently retired from McMurry University in Abilene, Texas, James spent twenty-plus years as the webmaster.