Book overview
In this poignant historical fiction documentary, "The Big Indian: True Love in a False War" follows the true story of Juni Allen, an American woman who moves to Saigon, Vietnam in 1968 with her three children to join her husband Doug, a communications engineer working for the U.S. government. The story starts in the winter on 1967 with her husband back in the States on R&R asking for her and her children to join him over in Saigon. It is here that the story really takes place during 1968, as the family goes through everyday life like visiting the local markets, to going out to eat, to going to visit the zoo, to enjoying a pig roast for Juni's birthday, all the way to having to go down into the bomb shelter at night.
Amidst the chaos and brutality of the Vietnam War, Juni tries to keep her family safe while navigating the complexities of her tumultuous marriage, but also includes the bond of a loving family going throughout their daily routines. As she builds a life in a war-torn country, Juni encounters love, loss, and betrayal, all the while grappling with the harsh realities of conflicts that would shape a generation. It is here that her love for her entire family is tested with new events happening daily, yet routinely facing the fact that they are living within a war and learning how to accept it on a daily basis. Although their lives are constantly under threat, and quite often actually in danger, somehow they manage to live a somewhat normal life.
Through vivid descriptions and heartfelt prose, author Norma June Allen offers a unique perspective on the Vietnam War and its' daily encounters with life itself, shedding light on the experiences of American civilians living in Saigon during one of the most turbulent periods in history. It is the everyday experiences that make the story so interesting, yet so alarming to only imagine what thier life was like while living over there. "The Big Indian" is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of love in the face of unimaginable adversity, and the never ending love of one's family. It's a love story, a war story, and a documentary all combined into one fantastic book, and I'm sure that you will enjoy reading it.
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