Some Kind of Hero

Taken captive and held for five years as a POW in Vietnam, Eddie, in his early twenties when captured, recounts his years of incarceration and the period following his release and return to the States. While held as a POW he develops a close attachment to his cell mate, Vin, and their plans for the future together with the prospect of eventually returning to his beautiful wife help sustain Eddie through that period. But events following his liberation turn out to be very different from his imaginings. A story filled with believable characters and a complex plot, Some Kind of Hero piles on the tension as it builds towards its unpredictable conclusion. At times touching, at times very moving, by turns funny and cynical, often very frank, it is a captivating book, hard to put down. The relationship between Eddie and Vin is beautiful and heartbreaking, by contrast some of Eddie's exploits following his release border on the slap-stick. What is constant is the high standard of the writing; altogether an enthralling novel.

It's impossible to read Kirkwood and not beg for more. After reading P.S. Your Cat is Dead, I became a fan forever and went on to read Some Kind of Hero, looking forward to what he had in store for us next. Unfortunately, Kirkwood died in 1989. I feel saddened by the loss of such genius in the literary world.

This book just pulls you in, one second you'll be laughing as hard as possible and turn the page and tears will be streaming down your face. It grabs you by the heart and you can't help but to want everything to work out. To this very day I'll find myself wondering how Eddie's (the main character) doing. It's a must-read for anyone.

I noticed that this is another of James Kirkwood's novels that is out of print. For any of you searching for his work, include this novel in your search. Although I read it almost 25 years ago in college, I still remember the way it made me feel and the emotions that it dragged up from me. This book will make you laugh and cry, value friendship above all and remind you of the horrors of war. If you have not read James Kirkwood, you are missing out on one of the best authors of the last 30 years! If you enjoy John Irving, you will most likely enjoy James Kirkwood.