Published by Lake Union Publishing Format: ARC, eBook
“Regret is so much harder to live with than failure.”
1979 – Vincent Bianco has graduated from high school is working as a laborer for a construction crew with two Vietnam Vets. It is a summer before college, he hopes to earn beer money, what he earns instead is a friend, William, with PTSD who will have an impact on his life.
1967 – William enlists in the Marines after high school. He is 18 years old and on his way to Vietnam. He hopes to be a journalist and due to his shooting abilities is sent to fight armed with a gun and a camera to take pictures. He is given the name “shutter” by his fellow marines.
2016 – Vincent received William’s journal in the mail. Vincent has a son named Beau who plays football and will be off to college soon.
Three young men are depicted in this book at various times. Dugoni expertly weaves their tale though Vincent in the present, receiving Willian’s journal which takes him back to 1979. He recalls meeting William, the work they did and even more so the talks about Vietnam. Williams journal entries vividly describe his time in Vietnam. They are raw, devastating and heartbreaking.
Beau, Vincent, and William all have/had dreams. All were/are young and had their lives ahead of them but fate and for William, war changed things. This book is a coming-of-age tale for all three of them. It is poignant, gripping, raw, and powerful. I loved the use of the journal as a means of telling the story.
This book is not only thought provoking it evokes emotion. I felt for all of them but for William the most. His journal entries are like a punch to the gut. Plus, the author’s note as he informs readers what inspired him to write this book.
If you have not read Robert Dugoni’s Tracy Crosswhite series – you should. If you have not read his Charles Jenkins series – you should. If you have not read his stand-alone books – you should. If this book is not on your radar – it needs to be! Seriously Dugoni knows how to deliver, and he does so effortlessly in this powerful book.
Gripping, Raw. and Powerful.
Highly Recommend.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.