Loosley Bound Book Club discussion

Hello, Loosely Bound! It's time to continue our conversation - I found this really interesting question we never discussed while together last week. What do you think?

In our current culture, there are a flood of fiction and nonfiction books written about WWII or with WWII as the backdrop. There are not nearly as many popular novels and nonfiction tales set against Vietnam. What do you think that is? Yet, there are many, many Vietnam movies out there. Why do you think movies about the Vietnam War may be more popular than novels or nonfiction bout it? (credit: National Endowment of Arts)

WWII was a war with a purpose and an all hands on deck venture even on the homefront. People felt vested in the cause. This is not the case with Vietnam. Our soldiers came back after fighting a war without purpose - many drafted against what would have been the planned life path - to a nation who hated them. From spitting, stoning, sneers and jeers, they were treated the complete opposite of the heroes of WWII.

The problem with this is that Vietnam veterans soldiers did the very thing our WWII soldiers did - followed orders. And we cannot forget who writes history? The winners write history. How do you think WWII is portrayed in German, Japanese, or Russian cinema? Probably very differently than in America.

It is very interesting that Vietnam movies dominate the big screen but there are very few books about the era. I get that the WWII generation is considered the Greatest Generation - but some of those who fought against Germany also fought in Korea and Vietnam.

This perspective also shines some light on the media and what sells.