Review of Sh*t Happens

[Myungclas]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Sh*t Happens" by Gavin L James..]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Set is the 1960s, this historical novel explores the lives of three main characters as they navigate the fallout from the Vietnam War. Spanner is a young mechanic, living and working on his family's farm. Hoping to avoid the fighting, he dreads the draft lottery that could potentially send him and many of his young friends across the world to risk their lives. Rachel is a young woman who is intrigued by the many opportunities to protest the war and the moral and political dilemmas of the time. Her story has underlying themes regarding the entitled attitudes of the wealthy elite, as well as the rampant misogyny that was common during this time in America's history. The counter story introduces the reader to Lien, a young Vietnamese woman who is angry at the takeover of her beloved country. After one questionable decision, she finds herself torn between her family's hatred for the American soldiers and her own experiences with their compassion for her plight. The author seamlessly intertwines these characters' experiences and those of other minor characters as the novel progresses. He addresses the harsh treatment these young men received upon returning home from a war they were forced to participate in. The story was truly a page turner. I will say that the British English didn't seem particularly authentic in dialogue between characters from middle America. I somewhat expect there will be some sort of sequel, because the ending was rather abrupt and a bit disappointing. Right at the point where it seemed that connections would be made and all the loose ends would be tied up, I found myself on the final page without the satisfaction of any of that closure. As any reader would, I simply wrote the ending in my head, but a sequel would be welcome. This book was hard to put down.

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Sh*t Happens
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