The Lotus Eaters
While the horrors of war are never far from the surface, the love stories, as well as Helen's personal evolution, lie at the center ofThe Lotus Eaters. (A few critics compared Helen's wartime experience to the rush experienced by characters in the Academy Award–winningThe Hurt Locker, and the title refers to the lotus eaters who, in Greek mythology, become addicted to the opiate.)Soli's visceral writing captures an alluring, dangerous country, and she excels at conveying the intricacies of war-torn lives. A few critics disagreed about the centrality of the romance and the characterizations, but overall, they had little but high praise for the work. "If you've never read a novel about the Vietnam War, this could be the book for you," concluded theDallas Morning News.