3 out of 4 stars
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A casualty of war is commonly understood to be a person killed or injured in military action. This definition is very specific, but does the number of reported casualties truly reflect the impact of a war? W. Thomas Leonard continues his exploration of the Vietnam War in Asian Stained, the sequel to Napalm's Embrace. Asian Stained is written as a collection of short stories. A number of characters from Napalm's Embrace appear in some of these stories along with many new characters. Rather than a continuous plotline, these stories are a window into the life of a specific person, family, or situation.
The first several stories take place in Vietnam and set the stage for understanding the fallout of the war. The stories of two young men, life-long best friends, are told. Their honorable actions are then contrasted with those of the deserters. Another story explores racial issues and sexism through the interactions of several Marines with each other and with a Vietnamese woman seeking work as a translator. As the stories unfold, we are transported back to the United States to see what happens to Vietnam veterans and their families in the years that follow.
While these are short stories, many of them deliver an incredible emotional punch. The very first story left me in tears as I tried to absorb the reality that this tragic narrative represents. This book is masterfully written, but not appropriate for every reader. Lieutenant Brady, the main character from the first book, appears in several stories in this book. After his time in Vietnam, he is transferred to Camp Pendleton where he will serve at the brig. Here we meet, in the words of Colonel Roland, "The wreckage of the Vietnam War." These once good Marines are now imprisoned. Brady, with a fellow officer, fights an uphill battle to help rehabilitate these men, many of whom have been driven to despair or are suffering from trauma and need psychiatric care. Another story that particularly touched me was that of Alexei Kazakov, a young man who immigrated from Russia with his mother when he was just three years old. Though his story includes great tragedy, his is a precious example of hope and resiliency in the face of incredible obstacles.
In spite of how much sorrow is contained within these pages, I nevertheless appreciate this book as a valuable insight for younger generations into the long-term effects of the Vietnam War for the men who survived and the families of those who did not. The book was very weighty and difficult to read because of the emotional content and I wished more of the stories had come to happier endings. Perhaps that is a selfish wish on my part as it may not have communicated the author's overall message as well.
Asian Stained is a masterfully crafted collection of stories that are incredibly valuable in telling the story of the Vietnam War and its aftermath. Unfortunately, I found numerous errors and typos throughout the text. Missing quotation marks, commas, and misspelled words occasionally interrupt the flow of the text. For this reason alone I am unable to give this book a perfect score and must rate it 3 out of 4 stars. I recommend this book to adults who are interested in the long-term consequences of war.
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Asian Stained
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