This is the fourth and final post on the readalong for Paco's Story. I've thoroughly enjoyed sharing this reading experience with Anna and Serena, our hosts, and the rest of the participants. The questions certainly gave me pause, and provoked musings that would not have been considered otherwise. The last two chapters of the book were the darkest by far, enough to make me squirm and get an ugly feeling in the pit of my stomach.
1. What is the significance of the rape scene? How does it change your opinion of Paco?
As Paco sits in his apartment listening to his neighbor, Cathy, have noisy sex with her boyfriend, he flashes back to an event in Vietnam, where the infamous Gallagher (nasty fellow, he) decides to rape a local girl. This is a horrible, graphic scene that is not for the light-hearted. In this flashback, not only does Gallagher abuse the girl, but the entire platoon participates, and ends with the girl's death. Paco recognizes the beginning of the end, the evil in this act, but doesn't make any gestures to walk away or speak up on the girl's behalf. I found myself greatly saddened and disappointed in Paco. I recognize it is not the culture to speak up, especially when pack mentality is present, but I didn't really want to be privy to these details.
I can only guess to the significance of this scene. Perhaps Paco is only now allowing himself to recognize the evil in himself, or that his viewpoint towards sex has been permanently altered. I found it revealing that Paco only recalled the rape scene while listening to Cathy's sexual antics.
2. Cathy’s diary plays an integral role in Paco’s final decision. Why do you think it has such a drastic impact?
Hasn't Paco ever been taught that you should never read someone else's diary unless you are strong enough to handle what is written inside? While Paco knows that Cathy has a boyfriend, he's imagined an attraction between them, and maybe some tiny bit of hope they might connect. This is only the first or second ray of light for Paco, that hint of a normal life to come.
Paco discovers though the diary that Cathy WAS initially attracted to him, but over time, exposure to his scars and his disabilities caused this to change. In fact, her opinion of Paco was horribly cruel. Was this meant to be representative of how all civilians view Vietnam Veterans? I hope not. No human should ever have to read those things about themselves. It made me angry. This was the sign to Paco that there was no future for him in this town. He was probably right, but this insensitive tramp was not worth Paco's angst. Obviously Paco was more fragile than I had imagined.
3. What are some of the similarities between Vietnam and Boone, Texas? Differences?
From everything I've read, Vietnam, while horrible, also provided bonding and brotherhood that can be once in a lifetime. In fact, many men found themselves longing for it after they returned home, unable to find that same closeness in the day-to-day drudgery. In Vietnam there were also few rules in which to abide, and there was a constant source of adrenaline. It is no wonder that our men had issues with the transition.
I'm not so sure about the similarities, except for the presence of good and evil.
4. Were you satisfied with the ending? What are your overall impressions of the book?
This was an incredibly dark view of one man's life after Vietnam, of humanity, and of the United States that our veterans faced when they returned. It isn't a pleasant book, but is one I will remember for a long time. In fact, it is one that has the potential to rattle around in my brain forever.
Was I satisfied with the ending? This is a trick question, and my answer has to be both yes and no. The ending is realistic and not the least bit sugar-coated. But it also filled me with extreme sadness and hopelessness. I suppose I should have more confidence in Paco's ability to rebound and survive, but wouldn't we imagine that Boone, Texas is just a microcosm of our country as a whole? Will Paco find peace and normalcy in another town? I'm not sure about that. It may be decades before he finds what he is looking for.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Welcome to Week 3 of the Paco's Story Readalong. Our assignment for this week was Chapter 5, entitled "The Texas Lunch", which is the name of the diner where Paco starts working as a dishwasher.
I have to admit, I really struggled with this chapter. The prose seemed to wander all over the place, and my attention strayed so much that I wasn't sure what I had just read. I just shook my head and wondered if I would be able to answer any of the questions! Here they are:
1. Is the identity of the narrator becoming more clear?
My impression has always been that the narrator is the ghost of a soldier in Paco's unit. The narrator uses the term "us grunts" when reminiscing about things that occurred in Vietnam. There is also this passage:
"No, James, Paco has never asked Why me? It is we - the ghosts, the dead - who ask, Why him?"
I think that makes it pretty clear. My only confusion at this point is figuring out who James is. Others have mentioned a foreword in the book where this is all explained. My book does not have this explanation!
2. What is it about the work at the Texas Lunch that makes it so easy for Paco to assimilate?
Like the military, work at The Texas Lunch is very predictable, regimented and controlled. Few surprises, and a clear beginning and ending to the day and the tasks required. It also allows Paco to operate under the radar without much social interaction, and without much thought. He actually is enjoying himself. From the outside looking in, this is probably the ideal job for Paco.
3. What is the purpose of the dream sequences?
Jeez, these dream sequences. I had to go back and re-read to answer this one. Well, the narrator explains that Paco has never questioned "why me", so the ghosts of the fallen soldiers have taken it upon themselves to breathe a few suggestions into his subconscious state. What these dreams signify, I have no earthly clue. They are dark dreams...dreams of escaping an angry mob, dreams of panhandling, dreams of execution, dreams of leaving Vietnam whole and on his own two feet. I'm sure Freud would have had fun with the analysis, but my takeaway is that Paco is a disturbed soul. He maintains a stoic presence throughout the day, but his dreams are the true indication of his psyche.
4. Why do you think Ernest and Jesse are so forthcoming with their war stories, but Paco is not?
In the normal process of healing, it is always easier to talk about the tragedies in your life once you've put some time between yourself and the event in question. Ernest and Jesse have seen and lived the horrors of war, but they are in a different stage of the healing process. Paco's wounds are fresh. He still has constant pain, mentally and physically. I also think that Paco is suffering from survivor's guilt and his heavily weighed down by the fact that he was the only man amongst 93 to survive.
Next week will be the last week of our readalong, covering Chapters 6 and 7.
Welcome to the Paco Story Readalong Week 2 discussion questions. In chapters 3 and 4, Paco has arrived in the US from Vietnam, with scars and a walking cane as proof of his experience. He gives nearly all of his cash to a bus driver and tells him to take him as far as the money lasts. Which is a small town in Texas.
1. Do you think Paco is ready to rejoin the living and will he easily re-enter “normal” life?
Would anyone be ready, honestly? I think just about every Vietnam Vet had issues with adjustment after they returned home, but it seems like Paco is as ready as the next guy. I don't think his re-entry will be easy. His cane and his limp draws attention and prejudice, and he will have to overcome this.
2. How do you think the lively atmosphere of Rita’s Tender Tap affects Paco?
It is hard to tell what Paco is thinking in any of these scenes, because he speaks few words. But by his actions (in this case, his swift departure), I believe he was overwhelmed by all that humanity, and by the patrons' disregard for him. I would imagine he felt like he didn't belong.
3. Do you think Heinemann made the right choice in narrator, or do you believe Paco should be telling his own story?
The obvious choice WOULD have been for Heinemann to allow Paco to tell his own story. However, the soldier ghost's perspective is an inspired decision. It provides us the viewpoint of America, watching our soldiers come home from the war. An outsider's viewpoint. It actually is more insightful than if we were privy to only Paco's thoughts. What it tells me is that in general, the world passed the soldiers by, and often could care less about their stories.
4. Do you think the side stories about the medic who found Paco, the bus driver, and Mr. Elliot, etc., add to the narrative or take too much attention away from Paco, who seems to hide in the background during these asides?
No, I don't think the side stories distract at all. Like I stated in question #3, these characters are a cross-section of America, and how they responded to the returning soldiers. In Mr. Elliot, we see a man damaged by his own wars and ghosts, and didn't even recognize the existence of the Vietnam War. The bus driver saw Paco as one in thousands that pass before his eyes in a year's time. The owner of the diner, on the other hand, was a Marine and saw in Paco a brother. Each of these characters represents everyman.
5. How do you feel about Paco at this point in the book?
Obviously I feel sympathy for him, and wish I could help him. But I've had little insight into who he really is. So far, he has passed through the first four chapters as an invisible man.
Welcome to Week 1 of the Paco's Story Read-along, hosted by Serena and Anna at the War Through the Generations Challenge. We will be reading one or two chapters a week, and then responding to discussion questions.
1. Who do you think the narrator is?
In your average book, this isn't too difficult to figure out. But in the case of Paco's Story, it is not automatically clear. Based on what I've read, it seems that the narrator is the spirit of a man killed in battle - the same battle that destroyed everyone in the Alpha Company except for Paco. The narrator is also telling the story to "James". I've no idea who this is (yet).
2. What do the opening paragraphs of Chapter 1 tell you about the narrator?
I had to read the first several paragraphs three or four times. It is filled with slang and a hardened, rapid-fire dialogue. The narrator sounds angry and bitter. This is a guy that has been around the block and seen more than he should. He assumes folks don't care to hear his story, but he's going to tell it anyway. I found that once I got through the first few pages, I was able to better follow the prose.
3. How do you think Paco’s survival impacted the medic’s world view? And how did that change the medic?
This poor medic had seen one too many dead bodies, and soldiers that passed away soon after his arrival on the scene. He must have been questioning what real purpose he served in this war, besides acting as clean-up crew. Seeing Paco, the lone survivor of a brutal massacre and days of exposure, presented the possibility of a miracle. He defied the medic's reality. The fork in the road for the medic: To dare fate and hope for Paco's survival? Or leave before reality kicks him in the ass one more time. The medic couldn't face it, and took himself out of the equation, abandoning what may have been a career for him down the line. It destroyed him.
4. Is Paco’s Story narrated in a way that is “too” honest?
My personal opinion is that there is no such thing as "too honest" in a novel. Honesty is what will touch your heart, give you nightmares at night, and change the way you look at life. The question is interesting though, because obviously someone does think this book may be offering just a little too much information. Agreed, it is harsh and graphic, and rubs your nose in the violence of the war. So far, though, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Posts
