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Summary: Extraordinary treasure hunting/PTSD adventure.
Review: I agree with Devine. Couldn't put it down! Refreshing new spin on the old stories bantered around as to Captain Kidd and his treasures. Not your average run of the mill "I was there!" adventure story. Graham shows a great depth of understanding of himself and his environment, and the history of Vietnam. A very personal experience described wonderfully. I was skeptical of it being labelled as a "history/adventure/self-help" on the back of the book, but was completely won over and can see how "The Bamboo Chest" covers them all.The PTSD is perfectly written about, both the personal experience and what to do. I have a dear friend soon returning from Iraq and will be sure to buy this book for him and his wife. He'll enjoy the treasure hunt, and ambush in Laos (poignant!), and his wife will be better prepared for symptoms that might occur in the future.I work in health care and will get copies for my co-workers. PTSD doesn't only affect combat veterans!
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Summary: Definitive both literally and metaphorically
Review: I got this book only a week ago and was impressed with how easy a read this was considering the gravity of the subject. The local book critic in my area wrote that this book is the definitive book on Vietnam, both figuratively and metaphorically. A story about the Vietnam of the war and later, the attractive potential treasure trove of gold and jewels, the covert operation into Laos that failed, a father-son story, a coming of age story with love and romance, and finally a story about the harsh effects of war that haunt for years after the war (making it very important for the events these days) I enthusiastically agree!
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Summary: Great book!
Review: I just had to say that this is an amazing story and a joy to read!! I just could not put it down, from page one!
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Summary: A visual book.
Review: I like book that I can get into visually. Corks book, The Bamboo Chest, is definitely visual book. The book does not have a lot of pictures, it is the kind of book where the words seem to fall away and the scenes present themselves in front you. Add the visual style to fact the book is an exciting and engaging book and you will enjoy every moment spent reading The Bamboo Chest. I found The Bamboo Chest to provide some self reflection along the way too. No that I completely identify with the character, but I do emotional journey to be familiar. The writing style, though dark at times, always seem to carry with it a hint of a positive turn to be had at some moment. Or at least the realization of silver lining to be seen somewhere. I all, I would recommend The Bamboo Chest to anyone enjoying stories of self discovery as told with reminiscing way. With a dash of action and suspense thrown in.
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Summary: Three best books this year: two memoirs and one novel!
Review: I love everything about Asia and the Middle East so I'm so happy to have the opportunity to read the three most important books to come out on the subjects in the last 10 years, every one of them 5 stars: "The Kite Runner", "Reading Lolita in Tehran", and "The Bamboo Chest", one novel and two memoirs!
In "The Bamboo Chest", Frederick Graham writes about being his experiences as the first American political prisoner held by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: his crime was that he sneaked into the country to report on American MIAs and Captain Kidd's treasure. A bizarre tale that shows the effects of the Vietnam War, and how far reaching they have been, as if we didn't know that from the emotions during this year's political campaign. Graham is a fresh new read with a style all his own--I felt as though I was right there with him as he was put through the beatings, mock execution, mock trial, the $10,000 ransom and finally his release 11 months later in 1984. Oh, and this all happened when he was 18 years old, fresh out of high school. His 19th birthday was the mock trial, something that smacks of the old Gang of Four trials they had in China. Amazing! Is a memoir, but read like a novel.
In the Kite Runner, the only fiction novel in the bunch, we are in Afghanistan, a place that during the 1970s was a must visit on the trekker's trail from Europe to Australia. A novel, but reads like a memoir. Some of the plot twists might seem unbelievable, but after reading "The Bamboo Chest", which is a memoir, but unbelievable, I think those plot twists are wonderful.
In "Reading Lolita" we are taken through the nightmare of being a woman in a country where women are taken as second citizens and the idea of a woman teaching is so restrictive, it's a wonderful book peppered with references to the Nafisi's favorite literature that color the narrative well. The author now teaches at Johns Hopkins. She got out of Iran in 1997.
I hope they have more books like this at Amazon.com in the coming years I'll buy them all in a heartbeat!
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Summary: Refreshingly Uplifting
Review: I read this book thinking it was going to be another "Vietnam book" and learned quickly that it is much more. In contrast to many other books on Vietnam and that whole time, this didn't leave me down. Au contraire! It's the most uplifting book I've read in years! I've purchased five of these books as stocking stuffers for my family and friends. I'm sure when they read it, they will be that much richer and uplifted. A true gem from an era of such loss (one of my uncles was in Vietnam). And I never would have read it myself if I hadn't received this book as a gift, I'm sorry to say, especially since I've read nothing in the New York Times review about this book: I'm suprised! This is a great book.
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Summary: christmas shopping is done!
Review: i was so impressed by this book that i had to get five more copies for family and friends. it's a story that when i tell friends they think i'm describing a fiction adventure novel and not a non-fiction memoir about a coming of age story that involves a hunt for captain kidd's treasure, political intrigue (vietnam, usa, sweden, australia, uk)and a how-to to deal with stress and post-traumatic stress disorder. not bad for learning how to also be fixated on a goal, building self-confidence and discipline. cork graham helped me answer what i would get for christmas presents. no fighting the present buying lines at the malls in november for me!
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Summary: All in one
Review: I'm an afficionado of travel adventure books and also like to read self-help, psychology. This book is impressive in that all those topics of interest have been covered so well! This incredible story is a movie waiting to happen. Well worth the investment!
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Summary: GET THIS BOOK! When is the next TV interview??
Review: Impressive writing! Amazing read!
This book only suffers from not having a large, multi-million dollar marketing and pr campaign like all the other New York Times #1 bestsellers!
Charlie Rose! Larry King! Jon Stewart! Katie Couric! When will you have Cork Graham on your show?? Inquiring readers want to know!!!
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Summary: Real Page Turner!!
Review: Never thought a book about post-traumatic stress disorder could hold my attention like a thriller, but that's exactly what this is and what it did! I'm sure with the renewed public interest, evidenced by the 3 part feature run by Ted Koppel on ABC News' Nightline a few days ago, this book is going to really take off! Not that I've ever been attracted to the topic of Vietnam, PTSD, photojournalist, or even treasure hunting in the least; but, my wife purchased the book and each of us read couldn't put it down until we got to the end. If this is an average example of Mr. Graham's writing, I can't wait for the second installment in his memoir trilogy!
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