Review: Enlightening
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 26, 2013
I got this book thinking it was a mystery/thriller.  I was wrong.  The story drags a lot in the early parts, but as the story progresses, it all falls into place.  The story tells in pretty vivid detail the living conditions, expectations and the life that an Asian bar girl lives with.  I served in Asia in the Navy during the Vietnam War and have seen and experienced much of what was described; both as a bar patron and as a part of Shore Patrol parties.  If anything, I think the story probably glosses over some of the poorer aspects of the life of the bar girls.  I found the book to be both enlightening and entertaining.  The sad part is that while I remember things as they were 45 years ago, I know from my civilian trips to Asia more recently that things really haven't changed that much.  They still go on today in a lot of places much as they have for decades.