Girl by the Road At Night: Didn't finish

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

This marks the first time I've given a 1-star rating since starting this book blog. David Rabe primarily writes plays about Vietnam, but has begun branching out into novels.

I picked this book up at the library. The reviews both on the book jacket and online were stellar.

I read the first 25 pages or so and could not muster any sympathy for or interest in the characters. The chapters alternate between an American GI and a Vietnamese prostitute, who eventually end up becoming entangled. It's written in the present tense, in a removed style that could not capture my interest. It's also a very macho book, with all sorts of "tits" and "dick" references, among other things.

It's interesting to note that both Goodreads and Amazon have just a handful of reviews (most of them positive), so it's not a very well-known book. I think it might be a case of a book that appeals more to book critics than real-life readers.