An edition of Such a Lovely Little War (2016)

Such a Lovely Little War

Saigon, 1961-63

By Marcelino Truong

3.00 (1 Ratings)

5 Want to read0 Currently reading1 Have read

Publish Date

2016

Publisher

Arsenal Pulp Press

Language

eng

Pages

271

Description:

A memoir, in graphic novel form, on the early years of the Vietnam war through the eyes of a young Vietnamese boy. **Reviews** "Truong forcefully recreates his saga using a bold, blocky visual style and a muted color palette that deftly renders his family members and vividly captures crowded Saigon cityscapes and besieged countryside". -*Booklist* "A beautifully illustrated tale that packs a surprising punch". -*Mother Jones* "What holds the book together is Truong's artwork: confident, contoured brush strokes with watercolor washes, alternating between full color and monochromatic tints. He shows us that what was happening in Vietnam was a nightmare, but also that his youthful perspective made it seem, at the time, like an adventure". -*New York Times* "A terrific graphic novel [...] [Given] American film representations of Vietnam (from *Apocalypse Now* and *Platoon* to *Full Metal Jacket* and *Hamburger Hill*) have become the de facto popular truth of that war, Truong's nuanced account offers an absorbing counter-narrative".-*Macleans* "Truong shows his command of both text and visuals, as his boyhood provides a compelling perspective on the beginnings of a war that would have such devastating impacts on Southeast Asia and America alike [...] A first-rate work of graphic memoir dealing with a pivotal period in modern American history". -*Kirkus Reviews* (starred review) "Truong's art has an appealing simplicity —it's deceptive, drawing the reader into the idiosyncrasy of each character's expression. This artistic presence, this human touch, makes Truong's world— the explosions from within and without --so much more immediate". -*Quill and Quire* "*Such a Lovely Little War* is a remarkable graphic novel that engages both heart and head, and Truong's artwork provides an abstracted realism that perfectly reinforces both the viewpoint of a six year-old, and the edge-softening effect of memory. Providing a unique look into the early years of the Vietnam War, *Such a Lovely Little War* is not to be missed". -*FreakSugar* "A gorgeous graphic memoir [...] This story of one family during a horrible war is powerful, managing to be both broad and intensely intimate at the same time". -*Book Riot* "A riveting graphic memoir [...] Perhaps the passage of time has added an objective and journalistic vantage point for this eyewitness account, making a pivotal moment in American, French and Vietnamese history so meaningful and gripping". -*Shelf Awareness*