Smoky Joe's Café: Library Edition

Smoky Joe's Café: Library Edition Bryce Courtenay Date: 28 February, 2005   —   $21.12   —   Book product page Rating:

You may recall me telling you I got a parcel from my mum just a little while ago. This was one of the books she sent me and as a fan of Bryce Courtenay, I had to start with this one.

Smoky Joe's is a sort of a diner in a one-horse town called Curranong Creek, rural Australia. Thommo is a Vietnam vet trying to settle into a 'normal' life after returning from Vietnam. He has married his sweetheart Wendy and they have a daughter Anna. Thommo suffers from a lot of problems caused by chemicals used during the war which of course both the US and Australian governments deny. We soon learn Anna has Leukemia and that many Vietnam vets children are suffering from a range of things - more frequently than non veteran children anyway.

We learn a lot about the Australian side of the war in Vietnam and this gives you an idea of what these poor soldiers were subjected to when the survivors made it home.

Thommos platoon comes in to help fight for what is right and help all veterans seeing as neither the government non RSL want anything to do with them.

*****

I laughed and I cried (mostly the latter) while reading this book. I love how Courtenay gives a human side to a historical event. If you have never read anything by Bryce Courtenay this is a stand alone story and as good a place as any to start.