4 out of 4 stars
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Ithaca is a historical fiction novel by Stephen Pearsall. Although this is the third novel in the Norquist trilogy, it stands alone as the story of Kyle Norquist. The opening of the book describes Kyle's experience in Vietnam. The events leading up to this scene and its after-effects are discussed later in the book.
Kyle grows up in Wisconsin where he leads a fairly ordinary life, works on a neighbors farm, and experiences his first romance. After high school, he attends Stanford University and majors in engineering. In addition to his engineering studies, he takes a political science class with the popular professor, William Delamere. Under the guidance of Delamere, Kyle becomes more and more involved in the political science community. During these years, opposition to the Vietnam war increases and spreads across the nation. While opposed to the war, Kyle feels compelled to serve his country and make his voice authentic by experiencing the battle himself. His decision to enlist is life-changing.
Several years after Kyle's time at Stanford, William Delamere becomes a US senator for the state of California. Kyle is hired as one of his aids and moves to Washington, D.C. As the war in Vietnam continues, Delamere discovers a conspiracy regarding weapons trafficking. Additionally, the NRA begins to shift from its traditional focus on hunting and marksmanship with rifles to promoting handguns.
I loved this book for its deep characters and valuable insight into the Vietnam era of American history. Kyle's life story walks the reader through the experiences of one man who seeks to make a difference for his country. We also get an inside look at the political situation in Washington at the time through the experiences of Senator Delamere as well as Kyle and other members of his staff. I was unaware that it was during the Vietnam and post-Vietnam era that the proliferation of handguns in America began. It was fascinating to learn about the role the US played in the distribution of weapons throughout the world as well as the history of guns in America. As we look at legislation regarding handguns in America, I believe an understanding of how we got to where we are today can help us make better decisions for our future.
This book is professionally edited and nearly flawless. I found nothing to complain about in reading this book. Despite it being the third book in a trilogy, I never felt I was missing any important information to understand the storyline. The opening chapter does describe fighting in Vietnam in quite a bit of detail, so I would caution readers who may be triggered by this scene to consider beginning with chapter two.
I am giving this book 4 out of 4 stars because it is excellent in every way. I recommend this book to people interested in 20th century American history and the Vietnam era. Those interested in politics and the history of guns in America would also enjoy this book.
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Ithaca
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