Exploration 6: Andrew Chaffin

My active reading is going great so far. It allows me to understand the text in greater detail then just reading the book. I seem to forget information sometimes and I can  just go back to what I have written down in my book. The novels strengths consist of great uses of narrative conventions like dialog, senses and figurative language. O'Brien uses senses great in the chapter "On the Rainy River" when he says, "I remember the wind in my ears, the sound of the old outboard Evinrude" (O'Brien 53). The text puts you in his shoes. The novel does have some weaknesses. The massive amount of cursing in the book is really getting out of hand. I realize it is war but some of the text used could of been left out. It is really starting to bug me on the numerous times I have heard the Lords name. This can be left out and I think it is a flaw on the author. Christians like myself would rather not listen to this. Enough said there.
My favorite chapter of the book so far would have to be "On the Rainy River." I think the chapter not only gave historical text of the time of war but an opinion of the writer and what many young adults of the time were thinking and doing. Drafted individuals fled to Canada to escape war. Many, like O'Brien, would contemplate the decision choosing what they believed. For O'Brien he was to go to war. Not because he agreed but because of humiliation. He clearly states this when he says, "I would go to war--I would kill and maybe die--because I was embarrassed not to." (O'Brien 57) There also the somewhat father figure in Elroy who basically guides him to his decision. It was a great chapter.
I am not really a fan of any of the characters in the book so far. If I had to pick one it would be the author Bill O'Brien. He is the only character that does not seem as if the war got to him as bad as the rest of the individuals in the book. Now the war did put a tole on his life. That is just something everybody caries when they go to war: emotions, death and horrific images. He clearly states this saying, "But the thing about remembering is that you don't forget." (O'Brien 33) Rather than letting it get to him he accepts it. O'Brien decides to write of his ties to the war and let others no of his trouble along with others.
From talking to individuals who grew up during this time in the past. I have to say it was mostly from my AP US teacher in high school. That it was not only a time of confusion but uncertainty. The government was on thin water with Watergate and the US was losing this war. We had know experience going into this environment which was muggy and hot. The people being sent were not ready. The draft selections were young individuals fresh out of high school. They did not even know what war meant. I just feel sorry for any individual that had to fight. I appreciate what they did for our country. Plain and simple is that this may have been a war that could have been avoided but instead was not.