Where the Rivers Ran Backward

Library Journal

Merritt, an architect and Vietnam veteran, has written a compelling account of his experience in the war. It follows the ``standard'' pattern of such memoirs: induction, basic training, the war itself, and the return home. However, this work is unique in two respects. Merritt writes in a minimalist, fragmentary style, with some chapters less than a page long--reflecting the chaotic nature of the Vietnam War. And he effectively integrates lyrics from popular songs into his narrative. His book is not an attack on the war. If anything, the author seems proud to have served. And yet, as he ends with the chorus to ``Down by the Riverside,'' one must view this as a meditation on the horror--as well as the glory--of the war in Vietnam. This worthy addition to the growing literature on the subject is highly recommended for most libraries.-- Anthony O. Edmonds, Ball State Univ., Muncie, Ind.