The Other Side of Heaven: Post-War Fiction by Vietnamese and American Writers [Paperback]

Wayne Karlin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1995

These stories represent the "second wave" of fiction--works about the aftermath of the Vietnam conflict as it moved into both countries, touching and forever changing not only the veterans, but also their families and their societies. Contributors include John Edgar Wideman, Larry Brown, Robert Olen Butler, Philip Caputo, Bobbie Ann Mason, Ngo Tu Lap, Tim O'Brien, and others.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Just as the remaining trade sanctions against Vietnam are being lifted comes The Other Side of Heaven, a collection of short stories by American and Vietnamese writers about the Vietnam War (or the "American War," depending on who is speaking). "This book was born out of the meeting of two people who, if they had met two decades previously," writes Karlin in his introduction, "would have tried to kill each other." Stunning in both scope and content, this collection strips away the uniforms and propaganda to reveal the fearful, naive peoples of both sides engulfed in a war with consequences neither could imagine. Soldiers, villagers, spies, assassins, men, women, children and the dead speak their piece in stories grouped by varied facets of the war and its aftermath (Hauntings, Exiles, Legacies, etc.), with each entry original in its interpretation but interchangeable in the vividness of its pain and horror. Though many contributions are noteworthy, six are outstanding: Bao Ninh's "Wandering Souls," Xuan Thieu's "Please Don't Knock on the Door," Nguyen Quang Lap's "The Sound of Harness Bells," David McLean's "Marine Corps Issue," and Tim O'Brien's "Speaking of Courage." The message of this monumental book is summed up in George Evans's "A Walk in the Garden of Heaven," which runs through the book like a current, a piece of it opening each section: "We've destroyed too much to be sentimental... Wars are always lost. Even if you win." Clearly, it is the fervent hope of the authors and editors united in The Other Side of Heaven that readers of all nationalities will understand.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA?This collection of short stories was born out of the meeting of two people who, if they had met two decades previously, according to Karlin, "would have tried to kill each other." In an effort to heal wounds and bring about a resolution of emotions, the selections alternate between American and Vietnamese authors, showing powerfully effective juxtapositions. Some of the American voices, such as Robert Olen Butler, Bobbie Ann Mason, and Tim O'Brien, may be familiar to older teens, and readers will discover unusual and illuminating stories by Vietnamese writers. All of the entries are powerful. Mature YAs will find something to touch them in this thoughtful collection.?Susan R. Farber, Chappaqua Library, NY
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 412 pages
• Publisher: Curbstone Books; 1st edition (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1880684314
• ISBN-13: 978-1880684313
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,127,551 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Useful for Exploring Different Perspectives, March 29, 2000

By 

cgabriel223 (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Other Side of Heaven: Post-War Fiction by Vietnamese and American Writers (Paperback)

If you, like me, have gotten your impressions of Vietnam and the Vietnam War mostly through American movies, the American press, American books, etc., this anthology of short stories can be a worthwhile way of exposing yourself to other perspectives.

I don't mean to imply that most Americans have encountered only pro-American and pro-war propaganda. Quite the contrary. Actually a lot of the popular movies and such about the Vietnam War present the American role in that country quite negatively. But whether the Americans are the heroes or the villains, they're still the main focus. The Vietnamese typically are portrayed as a mysterious "Other," who serve merely as extras in a drama about complex, flesh and blood, American persons.

Half of the stories in this anthology are written from the Vietnamese perspective. Even within that, of course, there are countless sub-perspectives. The reader is given the opportunity to see the war through the eyes of Vietnamese men, women, civilians, soldiers, those allied with the Americans, those battling against the Americans, those who stayed in Vietnam after the war, those who left, etc. I definitely appreciated that.

Having said that, I can only give this book 2-3 stars, because only a handful of the stories, a handful of the scenes, drew me in or seemed particularly memorable. I felt myself forcing my way through a lot of the book. I am not a literary critic, and I fully admit that this is merely a subjective reaction on my part, so I would urge people to give the book a chance and draw their own conclusions. The stories only made a deep connection with me quite infrequently and I have to give an honest rating based on that, but others might find themselves affected quite differently.

I suppose one could find fault with the tendency of the stories to present the characters just a little too sympathetically. You'll find very few "bad guys" in here. Presumably those would be the American politicians, generals, etc., and they're left out of these stories almost completely. Instead, the stories focus on the Vietnamese, and on the type of powerless Americans whom we are supposed to more or less relieve of responsibility for the evils of the war-the grunt during the war and the veteran back home afterwards. And these characters are mostly presented in a way that conveys the message that if you really understood their circumstances and what went into the things they did, you wouldn't condemn these folks. Not all that objectionable a sentiment certainly, but still, I wouldn't have minded stories with just a little more bite, even at the cost of some of the reconciliation and healing.

5.0 out of 5 stars REVIEW QUOTES, September 4, 2001

By 

Curbstone Press, Jantje Tielken, Editorial As... - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Other Side of Heaven: Post-War Fiction by Vietnamese and American Writers (Paperback)

"Stunning in both scope and content..." --Publishers Weekly

"Karlin has established a reputation as a superb prose stylist. His uncanny ability to examine the human condition by juxtaposing historical periods and tracing the dramatic impact of one person's history on other characters and consequent events has won him praise...This excellent novel is highly recommended..."
--Multicultural Perspectives

"A superb collection." --Kirkus Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A Two-Sided Perspective, April 1, 2000

By 

Jessica DeSpain - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Other Side of Heaven: Post-War Fiction by Vietnamese and American Writers (Paperback)

The layout of the book is rather interesting, and serves to make the point of the authors clear. Each section of the collection is prefaced by a part of a poem that illuminates the struggles victims on both sides of the war faced. The anthology is also organized in a form that alternates between American and Vietnamese short stories. The plight that the Vietnamese people faced during the Vietname war is often overshadowed by America's turmoil, and it is helpful to see both sides of the coin. Some very formidable Vietnamese authors are included in the anthology, so it is also a helpful way to introduce oneself to Vietnamese literature. I think that the book is very worthwhile, and it makes an interesting attempt at healing the scar which divides two nations.