Slow Walk in a Sad Rain

by John P. McAfee

Book Overview

In the style of quality war fiction like Catch-22, this critically acclaimed, poignant, and powerful first novel is based largely on the author's own experiences as a combat veteran of the Vietnam... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446516422
• ISBN13: 9780446516426
• Release Date: January 1993
• Publisher: Warner Books (NY)
• Length: 239 Pages
• Weight: 0.81 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.3" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

A book that fully captures the mind-set of a soldier

I was given this book by a friend who raved about it. I expected yet another terrible "Vietnam was hell-don't you feel sorry for me" books. Instead I got to read a book that transcends that conflict and all others. The story and mood could easily be transplanted to any other conflict in history and thats what makes this book so compelling. As a former enlisted infantryman, I rarely read any accounts that accurately portray the bizzare and often irrational logic that one has to adopt to deal with the situations faced by a soldier. Most stories and recollections make soldiers clear-thinking and rational and are usually from the perspective of an officer or high ranking NCO who seem almost to enjoy the experience. Any bad decisions are made "out-of scene" by politcally motivated officers or out-of-touch politicians. They imply that things would be fine without these busybodies. McAfee throws away these stereotypical conventions and gives us the hazy and almost absurdist reasoning that governs a man in times of unrelenting stress and deprevation. Each character in this story clings to each other, and in one case a mortar, to try and ground themselves in an environment of chaos and incoherence. This book should be a classic and the fact that it is out-of-print is a disgrace considering how much junk out there should never have been printed in the first place. However you can swing it, get this book. You will not be disapointed.

To the Author

Dear Mr. McAfee,I read your book. I have sent copies to friends. I never understood why it did not become an American classic. Finally, I saw your on-line comments and I understood. You have done a marvellous thing for veterans and civilians alike. You have captured the essence of the Vietnam conflict. You "Get" it. You also made me weep for the first time in thirty years.Thank you

The most unforgettable book I have ever read about Vietnam.

I was in the Army Reserves while I was in college, and I had the opportunity to serve with many Vietnam Vets who taught me a great deal about leading men and understanding war. While the unit I was in was on maneuvers in Ft. Hood Texas we had a lot of down time so we went to the P.X. and bought books. I ran across Slow Walk in a Sad Rain and could not put it down. In between Black Hawk and Apache flights I read, on the parade ground I read, and on the plane ride home I read. I never looked at my sergeants the same. This book moved me. I was a history major at the time in college and this book spun me around. I showed this book to my father and after reading it he was silent for two days by overwhelming emotion. We love to read and we read everything on war, but this book differently changed our perspective.

Vietnam War subject matter - here is the straight scoop!!

After M.A.S.H., Catch-22, and Vonnegut's classic Dresden novels, Slow Walk In A Sad Rain continues the legacy. Since the author is a teacher he most likely has read all the above and more and no doubt has their influential style in mind as he creates his own unique prose. However, I believe he has gone another step in the right direction in creating the perfect anti-war novel. I wish that Hollywood could make the definitive Vietnam War movie, using McAfee's characters and adventures; certainly the prose is very cinematic and the action set-ups and pay-offs are well done and work on the emotions and thought processes of the reader (or viewer) as they are supposed to. I never felt once that I was manipulated, but rather taken on a journey through a harrowing set of experiences that changed my perspective forever about war, THAT war, and I now worry even more about the delicate balance between man as servant of institutions and man in charge of his own moral integrity. That thin line is much in evidence in Slow Walk and I highly recommend it to discerning readers.

A novel that will make you laugh while you are crying

It is quite possibly the finest combination of humor and sorrow I have ever read. The struggles of the characters and the different feelings that each has show McAfee's impeccable control of his character's emotions. The pages seems to move themselves through the darkness of death and the bonding of friendships. This is a novel about Vietnam that teaches via showing much more than any history book or media report every could. Slow Walk in a Sad Rain is a classic war novel. I only wish McAfee would have written more.