Perfume River

This is a beautifully written and thought provoking novel that probes the repercussions of war on family, marriage, sons, and brothers. Robert is 70 years old, served in Vietnam, and whose marriage to Darla was born in the divisive anti war marches. Their marriage is now permeated with silence and routines. Jimmy, Robert's brother, was banished by his father for his resolve in being a conscientious objector. He forged a life in Canada with Linda for 46 years with no contact with his family. Their lives are at a crossroads and their father has an accident that brings death knocking at his door. A psychologically damaged homeless war veteran's mind is dangerously confused and reverts to his relationship with his father and war. Where this novel excels is in its insights into the jealousy, blame, betrayal, bitterness, insecurities, anger and regret experienced by the various characters.

Robert has flashbacks to his time in Vietnam, and his lover, Lien, who disappeared in the Tet Offensive. Like his father, he cannot forget the fear that drove him to kill a man. This has haunted him through the years. There are no war stories, only silence and a fear that if he talks, his life will collapse. A 70 year old man who still depends on the approval of his father, a father who put greater emphasis on the composure of a soldier than on his sons. Men sold wars on the basis on patriotism, politics, religion, and the ludicrous Domino theory to justify a country gone mad. Who have to face the depths of betrayal when their country quits the region. What was it all for? The destruction that men go on to wreak on their families and themselves. The mental health issues that proliferate. The story moves inexorably towards Robert's father's funeral.

There is an understated artistry in the prose and the narrative of the novel. The insights into the introspection of the complex and multi-dimensional characters render them authentic. For Robert and his father, all tenderness was swallowed in their barren emotional landscape that obliterated all passion. The Perfume River which has such a wonderful fragrance yet is underpinned by the stench of the rotten. Thankfully, Robert can face some of his fears. The unbearable and unforgiving nature of his father gives us food for thought, particularly as war begins to infect the next generation of the family. I thought this was an outstanding novel that brought back many of the anti war poets that I read when I was younger. This book made a unforgettable impression and it feels like a work of art that I would highly recommend others to read. Thanks to Oldcastle Books for an ARC.

This is a moving and compelling novel about the impact war can have on a family long after the conflict itself is over. It’s an intelligent and empathetic exploration of the relationship between fathers and sons, the expectations fathers often have of their sons, the difficulties of living up to those expectations and the way an inability to communicate can lead to a lifetime of disappointment and lost opportunities. It's a powerful story, beautifully written, expertly paced, and suffused with melancholy, centred around a single family, and at times I found it unbearably sad.

I haven’t read many novels related to the Vietnam War but I am really glad I read this one. The writing is fantastic and filled with insight into human nature. It’s a bit of a complicated interspersing of stories that is fairly easy to follow and not lose your way yet it made me feel a bit uneasy; I realized I was as uneasy as the characters were feeling in the book. As a reader I could keep track of the stories but I don’t know how the author kept track as he was writing it. There is constant interplay between current times and past experiences. One of the main characters has severe PTSD and the writing makes you feel as if you could see life through this character’s eyes. You understand what he is thinking and what he is seeing vs what is reality. It was very eye opening. The story delved deep into each family member and how and why the war effected them and their relationships without being political or preachy. And, on top of the insights shared it also had a very suspenseful ending. I highly recommend reading this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an early release of this book.