Acclaimed novelist, tatjana soli was at warwicks on thursday, january 20th, 2011, to discuss and sign her book, the lotus eaters, brand new in. The lotus eaters by tatjana soli reading group guide. A unique and sweeping debut novel of an american female combat photographer in the vietnam war, as she captures the wrenching chaos and finds herself torn between. What connection do you see between homers lotuseaters and the. Her second book, the forgetting tree, was a new york timesnotable book for 2012. Richard russo, author of that old cape magic the very steam from vietnams jungles seems to rise from the pages of tatjana soli s tremendously evocative debuta beautiful book. Each week, our editors select the one author and one book they believe to be most worthy of your attention and. The north vietnamese are marching into saigon, the americans are fleeing in helicopters. It attempts to be something more than it is, which essentially is a romance novel. Tatjana soli s debut novel begins amid the chaos of the us withdrawal from saigon in 1975. The lotus eaters is a historical fiction about three photojournalists brought together during the vietnam war.
A story of war and futile loss and suffering alongside love and compassion. Tatjana soli is an american novelist and shortstory writer. Uneven in its execution, the lotus eaters ultimately is a literary failure. Tyler mcmahon talks with the author about how we choose our subject matter, the challenges of writing about welldocumented history, the role research plays in her process, and why novels matter in an era. The lotus eaters, her debut novel, was a new york times bestseller and editors choice and a finalist for the l. Tatjana solis short stories have been widely published, nominated for the pushcart prize, and twice cited in the 100 distinguished stories in best american short stories. Solis vietnam is by turns tender and terrifying, casting a spell of both beauty and horror on her protagonist, helen adams, which doesnt let go until the books transcendently agonizing climax. Born in salzburg, austria, she attended stanford university and the warren wilson mfa program.
Her books have also been twice listed as a new york times notable book. The author explores helens psyche with startling clarity, and portrays the chaotic war raging around her with great attention to seemingly minor details. The lotus eaters is a sweeping debut novel following the story of helen adams, an american combat photographer covering the vietnam war, as she captures the chaos of the conflict on film, breaks into the mans world of war photojournalism, and finds herself torn between the. Martins press march 30, 2010 a unique and sweeping debut novel of an american female combat photographer in the vietnam war, as she captures the wrenching chaos and finds herself torn between the love of two men. Tatjana soli called both beautiful and harrowing, tatjana solis debut novel the lotus eaters combines narrative excitement and the powers of. Helen adams, a naive girl from california who drops out of college to travel across the ocean, hoping to change the world through her pictures. There is no doubt tatiana soli is a great writer who keeps the reader intrigued and turning pages. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the lotus eaters. Pick a book you own but havent read, write a post about it suggestions. As the fall of the city begins, two lovers make their way through the streets to escape to a new life. The lotus eaters reading group gold 9780312674441 by soli, tatjana and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices.
Richard russo, author of that old cape magic the very steam from vietnams jungles seems to rise from the pages of tatjana solis tremendously evocative debuta beautiful book. The lotus eaters, tatjana solis debut novel, is quite impressive, but not without its faults. The lotus eaters is an excellent selection for readers interested in the vietnam war and a perspective beyond that of the soldiers. It tells the story of an american woman who goes to wartorn vietnam as a combat photojournalist and finds herself in a love triangle with two men. On a hot early summer day 142 years ago, a column of soldiers led by a daring cavalry officer known to his friends and family as autie filed into a montana coulee. Beginning during the civil war and continuing into the height of the indian wars in the 1870s, the novel follows two women whose old lives are forfeitedone. It revolves around neophyte photojournalist, helen adams, who we first meet in 1975 in saigon as the north vietnamese begin to roll through the city, and the city falls. Falling victim to the intoxicating mix of adrenaline, fear, curiosity, and selfrighteousness, theyjust as the lotus eaters of homers the. The lotus eaters by tatjana soli takes place in vietnam between 1963 and 1975 and becomes a journal of helen adams evolution into a photojournalist from a young woman chasing the ghosts of her father and brother. The lotus eaters was up there with the best books i have read in the past twelve months. Tatjana soli audio books, best sellers, author bio. The novel was awarded the james tait black memorial prize for fiction.
If its possible to judge a novel by its first few lines, then the lotus eaters tatjana solis fiction debut, shows great promise right from the start. Initially set against the fall of saigon and then flashing back to the early 1960s, tatjana solis the lotus eaters evokes the hypnotic horrors of war set against a lush, culturally rich landscape that lured many photojournalists during the vietnam war. Tatjana solis lotus eaters offers lessons from vietnam. Helen, a photojournalist, and linh, her injured lover, battle through the crowds to board an evacuation helicopter. The book is a true gift from a promising new writer. The north vietnamese army is poised to roll into saigon.
As things began to culminate, the fear rose in me that i would be angry with the ending of this book, but happily i was wrong. Linh, the vietnamese man who loves her, must grapple with his own conflicted loyalties of heart and homeland. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Tatjana solis novel the lotus eaters 2010 follows the course of american involvement in vietnam from 1963 to the withdrawal of american forces in 1975. In her stunningly powerful debut novel, tatjana soli chronicles a young female photojournalists 10year odyssey through love and war. Tatjana soli takes on a monumental task by reexamining a heavily chronicled time and painting it with a lovely, fresh palette. Tatjana solis haunting debut novel begins where it ought to end. Tatjana soli, the bestselling author of the lotus eaters, the forgetting tree and the last good paradise, weaves two such tales together in her stunning new historical novel, the removes. The lotus eaters by tatjana soli at home with books. And in tatjana soli s splendid first novel, the lotus eaters, a group of western. Tatjana soli, author of the lotus eaters, on tour march. In this quietly mesmerizing book about journalists covering the war in vietnam. Soli pulled the novels title, the lotus eaters, from an episode in homers the odyssey and uses homers description of the land of the lotuseaters as the novels opening epigraph.
Buy a cheap copy of the lotus eaters book by tatjana soli. And in tatjana solis splendid first novel, the lotus eaters, a group of western. You must read the lotus eaters, tatjana solis beautiful and harrowing new novel. Tatjana solis debut novel, the lotus eaters, takes place during the vietnam war and focuses on a female combat photographer. The primary character is a young photographer, helen adams, who arrives in vietnam in 1965 and stays through to the end, with a short interval back to her home in california. I highly recommend this book to fellow readers who love a good read while learning. In some ways, thats a pity, for the author has the knack of establishing mood and setting, a real feel for vietnam and southeast asia. Tatjana soli is the bestselling author of the lotus eaters, the forgetting tree, and the last good paradise. The lotus eaters by tatjana soli the new york times. The lotus eaters by tatjana soli random book muses.
Although the lotus eaters is more than a love story, the love between helen and linh begins an eruption of emotions and we begin to see even more of the vietnam that had broken linhs heart in the first place. Tatjana soli s short stories have been widely published, nominated for the pushcart prize, and twice cited in the 100 distinguished stories in best american short stories. The vietnam war was one of the most controversial in american history, and journalists were on the front lines of the battles. Richard russo, author of that old cape magic the very steam from vietnams jungles seems to rise from the pages of tatjana. Katie crouch, author of girls in trucks and men and dogs.
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