4254 An American Requiem God, My Father, and the War that Came Between Us, by James Carroll (read 5 Jan 2007) (National Book Award nonfiction prize for 1996) This is a 1996 book by an ex-priest which I have previously avoided reading since I did not want to read what I presumed would be a book disrespectful of the author's previous calling. I was wrong. While he does say some things not Faith-affirming, most of what he says is respectful of the priesthood. His father was in the FBI and became in 1947 an Air Force general. The author was ordained in 1969 and became very anti-Vietnam War, much to his father's dismay. He left the priesthood with Vatican permission in 1975 and married in 1977. This book is a very moving book, and one aches for the author and his very Catholic parents. I found it poignant, and timely, since what he says about Vietnam is most pertinent to Iraq and what we are doing there. A most exceptional and absorbing book. ( )

In this book we see Jim Carroll right of passage to manhood. It takes place during the same years of Vietnam. And his families like many others were placed in conflict by it; it split two generations apart like no other war. Father and son were being at odds with one another. And the author uses this book to support his position that he took in protesting the war.

Though his famous father, Ex-FBI Agent and Lt. Gen. Carroll in command of the DIA is the subject of some of his consternation. The book is not about him. It is about Jim Carroll and his relationship with his father who seemed to never be able to fill a void he made in himself by not becoming a Priest himself. And it seems to me this is the large reason for the conflict between them...Jim felt his father expected to be redeemed by his works as a Priest. Though his father never says this.

So when you pick up this book to read, remember it is about Jim Carroll's life and his struggle with his faith and his father. And it does show the spirit of those times. ( )