Paco's Story Read-a-long - Chapter 6 & 7

This is the final read-a-long post for Paco's Story, chapter 6 & 7 were the last ones to read.  I reviewed the book earlier this week, so I won't do a re-cap with this post.



1.  What is the significance of the rape scene?  How does it change your opinion of Paco?
I think it shows us something that haunted Paco, possibly the reason he is having so much trouble adjusting to life back in the States and why he is haunted.  This happened right before his whole group was wiped out, except for him.  That has to have an impact on him.  In reading about it, I felt that while Paco wen't along with it, he wasn't always sure about it..he did have periods where he knew it was wrong, but yet he still went ahead with it.  Then, he was the only one left living.  He has to be asking himself why, why him.


2.  Cathy’s diary plays an integral role in Paco’s final decision.  Why do you think it has such a drastic impact?
 I think it shows him how people really feel about it.  At first, when her entries were about how he was handsome and intriguing, he felt good and he was going along with it.  Then it changed to where she didn't fee this way about him.  Possibly, she saw who he really was, and he had trouble with that.  I don't think he wants people to know just how much trouble he has with his own demons, when he's alone at night.  I also think that maybe he didn't really think about how people perceived him in this town,  yet reading her diary he found out how she felt, at least.


3.  What are some of the similarities between Vietnam and Boone, Texas?  Differences?
In some ways, the climate is similar.  Both places were hot and left him sticky with sweat.   He is also alone in Boone, Tx.  Nobody really wants to be around him...they mostly shy away from him.  I suppose this could be said about those who live in Vietnam, the enemy, too.


4.  Were you satisfied with the ending?  What are your overall impressions of the book?
In a way I'm not satisfied with the end, but then I am.  In the end he leaves Boone, Texas after finding out how others perceive him and finding out that somebody realizes just how haunted he is (even though it doesn't sound like she really gets it..she seems a bit more disgusted with it).  After learning this, he leaves.  Then the book ends.  I think it was a fitting end to the story, a good way to end the story.  However part of me wishes the book was a bit longer and we could learn more about his story and where he goes next and if things get better.

For my overall impressions of the book, check out my review HERE.   I did really enjoy this book, I'm very glad we read it.  I go into a bit more detail in my review though.

Paco's Story read-a-long - week 3 - chapter 5

In hindsight, I think it would have worked well if I had given a brief description regarding the part of the story that I have read for each week's questions.  That way you all knew what this book was about.


To give a brief summary, Paco is the only survivor of his battalion.  The one fight left everyone dead, except him.  He wasn't found for several days and when he was, nobody thought he would survive, but he did.  Now he has taken a bus as far as his money would take him and he is in a small town.  The owner of the local grill is a WWII veteran and gives Paco a job.   Paco isn't telling the story himself, we have a narrator that up till this point was unknown.


This chapter I think we learn more about Paco and what he is going through, mentally, now that he is back in the States.  A drifter comes into the diner one night and talks to Paco and Ernest about his experiences with the Vietnam war.   We also learn that Paco has a couple of dreams that he has every night or at least most nights.  We learn what happens in those dreams.  


Here are the questions for week 3:


1.  Is the identity of the narrator becoming more clear?

I think it's very clear who the narrator is, but I don't want to say anything else because I don't want to give it away to those who haven't read this book yet and want to.   I'm  happy with who the narrator is too.  I think it works very well for this story.     

2.  What is it about the work at the Texas Lunch that makes it so easy for Paco to assimilate?

if I'm understand the question correctly (it's been one of those days), I think it's because the work is basic, it's the same day in and day out.  He doesn't have to think about it, he just has to do it.  It's mindless.  I think it's what he wants and needs right now.  


3.  What is the purpose of the dream sequences?
I thought the dream sequence was interesting.   I think it shows us how Paco is dealing with the war, it shows more of his emotions and what he is going through.   It shows that he is scared, he has nightmares about what has happened.  He isn't numb to it.   I think it shows that his experiences do haunt him, that war haunts an individual long after they are home and not physically involved in it anymore.

4.  Why do you think Ernest and Jesse are so forthcoming with their war stories, but Paco is not?
I think Ernest and Jesse have had more time to come to terms with what happened.  I also think what Paco went through was a bit worse.  I'm not saying Ernest and Jesse didn't go through a lot and see a lot and experience a lot.  I just think that Paco went through something different, a bit harder, than they did.  He was the only person in his battalion to survive, and he was alone and near death for several days.  That is going to stay with a guy.  I think he's not ready to talk about it yet, I think he doesn't really understand how to cope with it yet. 

Paco's Story Read-A-Long - Week 2 - chapters 3 &4

This is week 2 for the read-a-long of Paco's Story by Larry Heinemann.  I'm really enjoying the story so far.  I honestly love having these questions and reading this one as a group (even if we are small!).  I don't think I would really contemplate and think about the story this much if I didn't have the questions to answer.  Each time I go to answer a question, I come up with more questions of my own and I realize I'm really thinking about Paco.




1.  Do you think Paco is ready to rejoin the living and will he easily re-enter “normal” life?
  I'm actually not sure yet.  Paco appears to have more physical issues than he does mental issues at this point.  I would think as long as the work wasn't too physically taxing on him, he would be fine.  However, I'm going to guess there is a lot going on mentally and we just don't know it yet.  Perhaps this will come out as the story unfolds.   Of course, there is also the issue of him being on all the drugs to help deal with the pain.  Oh..and it did mention depression drugs too didn't it?  Well, that's not surprising and does go with my guess that there is a lot going on mentally with him.   Also, I'm not sure why he was on the bus in the first place.  Is he running from something?  Did he feel the need to get away from where ever he was at or who he was living with? Does he not have any family or friends he can stay with while he looks for a job (or was this mentioned and I just don't remember or didn't pay attention)?   Or maybe he can't deal with family right now and that's who he is getting away from.  gah...all these questions I know have just in trying to answer this one question!


2.  How do you think the lively atmosphere of Rita’s Tender Tap affects Paco?
   I don't think he was ready for it.  I feel he prefers an atmosphere that is more quite.  Perhaps this is because he has seen things the others haven't and the people seem immature to him? or maybe immature isn't the right word.    It just didn't seem like the type of people that Paco would associate himself with.


3.  Do you think Heinemann made the right choice in narrator, or do you believe Paco should be telling his own story?
  I think the author did make the right choice.  I feel like the narrator can give us more insight, more info on what is going on because we can get it from multiple characters in the story.  Even though this is Paco's story, I think it's just as much a story of how he is doing and what he is going through, as well as how others perceive him.  


4.  Do you think the side stories about the medic who found Paco, the bus driver, and Mr. Elliot, etc., add to the narrative or take too much attention away from Paco, who seems to hide in the background during these asides?
  I'm somewhat undecided on this one.  I think some of the stories add to the overall story but some I don't really understand what it has to do with the story.  I think the medic's story was good and glad it was added.  I liked the background on the cook, Ernest, at the cafe who offered Paco a job. I feel that was important to know, it shows us why the cook is offering Paco a job and shows that there is somebody who can relate to Paco.   The bus driver, I'm sure there was a point to the side story but I'm not exactly sure what it was.   So some side stories I like and think are helpful to the story, others I just don't really understand why they were added.


5.  How do you feel about Paco at this point in the book?
  I feel sorry for the guy honestly.  I'm sure he wouldn't want my pity, but I can't help it. I want to give him a hug and let him stay in my spare bedroom and in return he can clean my pool and do the yard work.  (As long as he doesn't set foot in my library).  I feel like he isn't too sure what's going to happen.  He isn't sure where he belongs right now.  I bet he has a lot of guilt..why did he survive but nobody else in his company did?  Is it worth living with all this pain?  I'm anxiously awaiting the next chapters to see how he adjusts to having a job.

Paco's Story - Read-a-long

This is the 1st week in the read-a-long of Paco's Story being hosted by the lovely ladies doing the Vietnam War Challenge.

The questions for week one are:

1.  Who do you think the narrator is?

I honestly don't know.  It's not Paco, because it talks about him in 3rd person.   I read the comments on the read-a-long post for this and the suggestion was made that maybe this is a ghost, a fallen soldier.  That got me thinking that maybe it could be the ghost of the medic, but then the medic is talked about in 3rd person as well.  I'm interested to see if we can figure out the narrator by the end or if we just aren't meant to know.

2.  What does the opening paragraphs of Chapter 1 tell you about the narrator?

I definitely feel like the narrator is somebody who has experienced this war and is bitter about it.  It's somebody who talks very openly about it, using terms that I don't think any of us who didn't fight the war would use.  

3.  How do you think Paco’s survival impacted the medic’s world view?  And how did that change the medic?

This part was rather interesting.  I think it turned the medic's world upside down.  It seems to me that he had hopped he would be able to save a lot of soldiers and right away, soon after he got to Vietnam and started working, he realized he couldn't. He would try to save soldiers just to learn that they died before getting to the hospital. While this bothered him, I think he got so used to it that he expected it.  Then comes Paco.  Paco should have been dead, but he lived.  What was so different about Paco that he lived?  I think the medic just couldn't deal with it, couldn't deal with why some men with horrible injuries that were left to die actually lived, and others who didn't seem to be as hurt didn't make it.

4.  Is Paco’s Story narrated in a way that is “too” honest?

I don't think the narrator is too honest.  Brutally honest?  yes.  Honest to the point that some descriptions, such as Paco when he was found, are disturbing?  Yes. But too honest?  No.  I think that in a story like this we need that kid of honesty.  It's that kind of honesty that makes the story what it is and drives home the point the author is trying to make.  

Paco's Story - read-a-long for the War Through the Generations Challenge

I will be participating in the read-a-long for Paco's Story this month.  I've been looking forward to reading this book so I'm really glad it's finally time to read it.    If you are interested in reading this book, you don't have to be participating in the War Through The Generations challenge to participate.  Info on the read-a-long can be found here.