Better Times Than These

by Winston Groom

Frank Holden and other soldiers from varying backgrounds find their lives radically changed in Vietnam by a war that they find difficult to understand or support

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, War, Military Fiction

464 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1978

About the author

Winston Francis Groom Jr. was an American novelist and non-fiction writer, best known for his book Forrest Gump, which was adapted into a film in 1994. Groom was born in Washington, D.C., but grew up in Mobile, Alabama where he attended University Military School (now known as UMS-Wright Preparatory School). He attended the University of Alabama, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta and the Army ROTC, and graduated in 1965. He served in the Army from 1965 to 1969, including a tour in Vietnam. Groom devoted his time to writing history books about American wars. More recently he had lived in Point Clear, Alabama, and Long Island, New York.

Reviews

[Pop · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several historical/fiction accounts of the Vietnam War and several supposedly actual historical books on the subject. My favorites previous to Better Times Than These "The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien" and "Matterhorn by Karl Marlantes". This being a first book by Groom, I wasn't expecting much even though I knew he was a Vietnam Vet. Boy was I ever surprised. If you are willing to read this book, you might be able understand a little of the the mood and emotions the Vietnam War had on its Soldiers and its Civilians. The book definitely captured the nightmare that was the American experience of that War.

Phu Bai, Vietnam (1966-1967)

Welcome Home Brothers and Sisters

[Peter DeSilvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Probably not 100% realistic but of course most books aren't.
The fact that the author Groom actually did serve in Vietnam make the book alot more believable though. Keep in mind also this book was only written some 10 years after the high point of the Vietnam war so for being an early work of fiction Id say its a damn good example of a the beginning of a great author. I recommend this books towards the end it gets to the point where you do not what to put it down. Enjoy

[Sam Reaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the debut novel by Winston Groom, best known for writing Forrest Gump. Groom served a tour as an infantry officer in Vietnam, so presumably he knows whereof he speaks. The novel focuses mainly on the officers of a battalion of the Seventh Cavalry, following them from stateside to the Ia Drang valley, where things do not go well. (This is a fictionalized unit in a fictionalized Ia Drang campaign, not the real-life Ia Drang battle depicted in We Were Soldiers).
It's more character study than stirring military adventure, with nicely drawn portraits that avoid stereotypes. There's a WASP from a rich New York family whose college girlfriend ditches him for an anti-war professor; there's a Jewish striver from Georgia who finds himself commanding a rifle company as he begins to glimpse the appalling dimensions of the endeavor he has committed to. There's the usual obtuse brass (though again, well-delineated individuals rather than stereotypes), a thoroughly sinister rogue platoon commander, and of course an array of grunts, convincingly human. Beyond the wire are the Vietnamese, alien and ominous in their passivity. The novel depicts the creeping callousness and brutality among the Americans as the VC hiding among the populace start to take their toll with mines and ambushes. It all leads up to the inevitable atrocity.
Familiar stuff, maybe; reasonably well done though there's nothing especially distinguished about the prose. Perhaps not the greatest novel to come out of the Vietnam war, but a decent one.

[Ethan Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winston Groom is known primarily for writing Forrest Gump. He should be just as well known for writing this.

This is an outstanding book, made all the more impressive that it’s a debut novel. It’s a shame this isn’t better known because this should be talked about in the same breath as The Things They Carried, In the Lake of the Woods, Indian Country, Dispatches...

I urge everyone to try and read this as soon as possible if they haven’t already done so. It’s that good.

A novel I look forward to reading again.

[Joshua Bowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winston Groom is a master storyteller. Published in 1978, a very early Vietnam novel, his work of fiction was actually inspired in large part by his own experience in Vietnam, particularly regarding his own voyage on the USNS Gaffey in 1966 as it sailed to Vietnam with an entire battalion of what were mostly infantrymen during the build-up of American forces there. His story follows the fictional 4th Battalion, 7th Cavalry (though I believe it was inspired by the non-fictional 5th Battalion, 7th Cavalry) from their voyage to Vietnam and through their many battles fought there. His characters are rich and well-developed, and his vivid descriptions of the Vietnamese landscape effectively put you there as the reader. He also has a great sense of humor that comes through well in his writing. The author is most famous for another book he wrote approximately a decade later, Forest Gump, but in my opinion, this is his best work (can't say for sure as there are other books of his that I have not read). Even though it is fiction, much of it was based upon, or at least inspired by, real events and real soldiers. It is, therefore, very informative while entertaining.

[Justin Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why is this not made into a movie yet?

[Kevin]

Being a post-Vietnam-era Infantryman, and I mean just after Vietnam when there were more of them and fewer like me, I found it easy to relate to the characters in the book as they are so much like the veterans with whom I served and from whom I learned so much. That meant, also, that I could really relate to the pain and the emotions of that era. It is not necessarily a pleasant book, but I put it down with a feeling of empathy for the characters and for their real-life counterparts. That made it a worthwhile read.

[Jerome Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best book about the war in Vietnam that I have read. Groom does an excellent job depicting the life of a solider from the time he is transported to serving. Eye opening at times, sordid, wretched, and deeply profound. A must read for readers who desire to have their perception educated.

[Timm · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Forrest Gump, I wanted to read another book by Winston Groom. This book is a very good fictional depiction of the war in Vietnam from the soldiers perspective. Anyone having a desire to understand how the war affected the American soldier will enjoy this read.

[Bigpoison · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is entertaining enough to keep you turning pages. It's a quick read because of the, relatively, simple language.

An interesting perspective from an officer, if you can stand an officer's perspective.

[J.E. Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the character development and plot development in this book were phenomenal. My only issue was that I felt the end was rather abrupt. However, I still think that Winston Groom is an amazing writer and I have thoroughly enjoyed everything I've read of his.

[Thrillers R Us · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stumbled upon BETTER TIMES THAN THESE during the anniversary of the Battle of the Ia Drang, Nov. 14-18, 1965, invariably the first major battle of the Vietnam war. In fact, it languished on the TBR pile for a while, the Vietnam War entry by that author of FORREST GUMP.

While this Vietnam War novel doesn't specifically deal with said battle in 1965, it does focus on fighting in that very same valley a year later, following a mix of characters that receive introductory treatment in the first third of the book.

Winston Groom has crafted an utterly readable yarn about the plight of the infantry grunt in the 4th Squadron, 7th US Cavalry, aka the Garry Owen, whose eponymous song lends part of its lyrics to the title of the book. Published in 1978, it encompasses elements of CASUALTIES OF WAR (1989 [F]/1969[B]), PLATOON (1986), and WE WERE SOLDIERS (2002 [F]/1992[B]) while exploring the debt each man has to pay via their tour of duty in the land of the River Blindness. Fierce battles, blood, bullets, anxiety, fear, ambushes, down time and patrols are thrown together into a hellacious gumbo that reinforces the time tested measure of life in the Army: hurry up and wait!

Looking back at a now distant and bloody war, BETTER TIMES THAN THESE is a timeless story of a country in turmoil, morality, love, despair, service and heroism. The characters pop right off the page; lovable, despicable, cowardly, desperate and valorous, drawing the reader deep into the 1960s and a far off place that exacted its toll in heat, bugs, death and ultimately coming home. TAke BETTER TIMES THAN THESE home, pay homage and experience the toils in the Ia Drang Valley all over again.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would rate this book 4.5 stars if I could, but it's not 5 star territory for me. Don't take that the wrong way, this is a fantastic book, especially for being the author's first novel published.

I have read some other shocking books recently on the Vietnam War. Dispatches comes to mind. Also movies like Full Metal Jacket, Apocalypse Now and to a lesser extent Platoon show the most shocking aspects of this senseless conflict that we were involved in during the 1960's and 70's. Winston does a great job at blending shocking scenes into a more humble approach.

The best parts of the book were the passages from the letters to home, and the pre-deployment flashbacks of the soldier's lives. The girlfriend breaking up with the solder through letters, leaving them to shack up with the head of the anti-war movement. The commander who died during the first part of Operation Western Movie, flashed back to when Kahn had a fling with his daughter. Kahn wanting more in terms of a relationship, but faced backlash from the Commander father and a sibling brother who attacked Kahn for being a Jew and living in the south. When Kahn found the Commander dead and thought about that past experience, was one of the most gripping parts of the book.

Winston Groom has always been a remarkable writer to me. I have read his books on Shiloh and Vicksburg battles of the U.S. Civil War. He always wrote in a way that I can understand, painting a picture in my mind of exactly what he is trying to show the reader. Known for Forrest Gump, Winston was an even more talented Historian. R.I.P and thank you Winston for your service to this country, both as a veteran of the Vietnam War and again as a Historian. Your service in Vietnam was not in vain. Again, all my favorite writers are dead.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best known for writing the novel "Forest Gump," this was Winston Groom's first novel he wrote. Winston Groom's own personal experience as a soldier in Vietnam clearly shows through in "Better Times Than These," and lends the same degree of authenticity to this novel. The year is 1966 and the anti-war movement has not really started, and fighting is the news. It has a good, authentic story line, interesting and well-developed characters and solid writing. As you travel with these soldiers to Vietnam and into battle, you feel all the emotions that made this war so controversial. This book was extremely funny in parts, sad in parts and very dramatic. He paints such a picture with his writing, and I have to say it is one of the most enjoyable books I have ever read. Even though it is fiction, much of it was based upon, or at least inspired by, real events and real soldiers. It is, therefore, very informative while entertaining. I think anyone interested in the Vietnam war experience would find it well worth reading.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this twice. Wasn’t as wonderful second go. Perhaps I’d read better since then, maybe confused w we were soldiers once…, or dispatches. or T. O’Brien’s wonderful work. Who knows.
All war stories are horrid, but this era was my era and I really wanted to understand what these soldiers experienced. I tell you, again, we’d better think long and hard before we “nation build” again. Afghanistan - case in point - repeated this what I thought was a lesson learned. So horrible for the families who suffered so greatly. And, now we backbench “study”, “analyze?”! Why? We’re so flawed, and I mean that collectively.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this years ago and really enjoyed it. I can’t speak to how historically accurate it was. The characters were engaging and the story top notch.

[Thom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, sad story.

[Jeff Price]

Great book!

[Bobbie]

Did not finish.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was rough for me. Probably because it hit too close to home. However, Groom knows how to build characters that you really care about--even if caring about them hurts.

[Mark Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should be required reading for policy makers considering sending young men and women into harm's way. Groom's descriptions of days-long battles and of the daily struggles of an occupying army emphasize the dehumanizing effects of war. He shares his hard-earned insights in a compelling story featuring several players that are, one knows from the outset, likely to die before the tale is told. This was a great book.

I did not know until I saw the cover of the edition on this site that Groom wrote Forrest Gump, a movie that I found hard to sit through. I wonder if this book was ever optioned by Hollywood.

[Lawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better Times Than These,Winston Groom's novel of young men at war

Review in progress...

[Carlos Arsenio Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite draggy save for a few good parts in the story.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so well written, it was really worth the effort . At times I found myself wondering what possessed me to read a book about the war in Vietnam, but in the end I am so glad I did.

[Kw · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plodded through this, for some reason. Authentic, probably. Gruesome at times, and sometimes just dull.

[Tommy Belt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very worthy read about Vietnam!

[C.J. Hatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Groom is a natural storyteller and his experiences in Vietnam surely helped bring about a realistic interpretation of fictional events in this novel. This should have been a movie before FG.

[Nan Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding!

[DAVID Halfpenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very thorough and moving portrait of what it must have been like to serve in vietnam. I shall be thinking about it for quite some time.

[Andrew Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.