Red Convertible

The story reminded me of Sherman Alexie, not just for the obvious thematic connections but also for the style. It felt very conversational and comfortable in the first person but still filled with very writerly details. The characters were believable and touching, and the book didn't bend over backwards to explain aspects of their development. In other words, it shows rather than tells. I had the weird sensation of not being very impressed with the story, for reasons that eluded me, while still being impacted by the ending. I cared about the characters but I wasn't really convinced by the events that happened to them. Maybe because I'm too far removed from the experiences of Vietnam veterans, but I didn't feel too convinced by the reasons for the narrator's brother's ruination. And the style, while it was appreciable, didn't feel like the right choice for this story. I did like the stories about their travels prewar; it added a sense of aimlessness and a bit of despondency to the story.