I downloaded this book whilst on sale and then forgot about it. I kept seeing the title on my Kindle and wondered why I had chosen it. Eventually I began to read it and was immediately captivated by the intense story and character development. It's far more thoughtful and considered than I had assumed from its title. It's gritty and quite graphic at times. It reminded me a little of 'The Orphanmaster's Son' in that, whilst the latter is set in what we know is an oppressive, war-orientated state of North Korea, this book's theme is the similarly brutal state-sponsored backdrop of the American/|Vietnamese war. There is a tendency for the author to delve into fantasy or stream of consciousness at times, and this did distract a little, but overall a remarkable, well-written story that engages from the first page.