In the novella, Something About Ann, a black Vietnam veteran and a Vietnamese woman fall in love in Cleveland, Ohio, not knowing they were once combatants. Clarence Bankston returns from the Vietnam War shaken by his experience. After seeing Ann Minh, a Vietnamese, at a party, he is repulsed because she is a reminder of a war he doesn’t want to relive. Once she initiates a conversation, though, they bond, recognizing both have been affected by the conflict.
The peace of mind each seeks, however, eludes them.
In the story, Lucky, a veteran, Raphael “Lucky” Holland, finds his niche as a stick-up artist. His luck runs out when he tries to rob a stranger whose past is darker than Holland’s. In a Sound Decision, Marcus Glover restrains from fighting an antagonizer because of another confrontation that still haunts him.
In the story, The Education of Xavier Warfield, Xavier, a veteran and promising pool hustler, finds the most valuable lessons in life aren’t learned in the pool room when he falls for a lady with a questionable past. With One Exception tells of an encounter that begins on shaky terms between a militant vet, Erving Robinson, and Harland Conrad, a white Vietnam veteran’s but evolves as Robinson helps Conrad fight his demons.
The Gift finds Myron Turner, a recluse and an empath, is confronted by an older empath when he tries to submerge his abilities. Leroy Casper is enjoying The Good Life when his past associations barge into his life shattering the peace he’s established and causing him to make drastic decisions. In The Tell, Elgin learns that a “tell” applies not only to poker but to life—— too late.
Ralph Gaines in The Best Seat In the House, is down on his luck after a lofty law career and only has a reserved seat in a bar as a symbol of respect. When a bully commandeers the seat, the elderly Gaines snaps, simultaneously solving the seat issue and a personal problem. The Last Time I Saw Willie, is a coming of age account of a young middle-class African-American who learns the importance of dedication and persistence when he meets Willie Stinson, an orphan.
A Good Day To Be A Man shows that confrontation is not necessarily the path to manhood. In Slow Songs, Lieutenant Raymond Williams faces his worst fear in Vietnam, and it has nothing to do with his own welfare.
everett (verified owner) –
Something About Ann, by J. Everett Prewitt is an excellent book of short stories including a novella of the same name, that will touch the heart of all… (It) is a must read for all who are interested in learning about brotherhood, bonding, passion, and survival.
Carol Hoyer – Readers Views
Something About Ann‘s prologue opens in June of 1969, with a setting somewhere near the Cambodian border, making it evident this story will be about Vietnam. What isn’t immediately evident is that its two introductory characters, Clarence and Ann, will keep readers riveted to the story in this novella through a series of encounters against the backdrop of a conflict which places this production a cut above the usual singular Vietnam War scenario.
But this collection isn’t just about Ann and Clarence’s choices and confrontations. A host of other characters contribute to a bigger picture; each holding their own perspectives about Vietnam’s lasting effects on their lives. These stories offer differing viewpoints, yet nicely support one another with messages that neatly dovetail to follow the evolution of friendships, family, and a changing world that moves past the war’s politics and into personal arenas.
Readers seeking a different kind of Vietnam piece will relish the messages and approach of Something About Ann, which digs deeper into the finer psychology of social change and individual choice than most, making it a special recommendation for those who like their psychological insights at the forefront of popular modern historical writings.
Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
…Reading this will give you some insight into what our service boys of today are facing. PTSD is a common ailment nowadays. Be nice to soldiers and respect them. War is hell.
There’s even a tale of romance in the collection. Enemies of the past find they aren’t so different after all.
All in all, there’s probably a story that will resonate with you here. They are varied, just like people are. Even if you have bad memories from the war, this was well worth the read.
Jo Ann Hakola, The Book Faerie
In “Something about Ann” Prewitt skillfully uses the Vietnam War as the catalyst for this interconnected anthology of short stories about a group of soldiers after returning stateside. Instead of focusing on these men’s experiences in the trenches, Prewitt shows how Vietnam has shaped the men they become, and why it should matter in the first place. The war is an important aspect of these men’s lives, but it isn’t the ONLY thing that defines them. They are veterans, but they are also fathers, lovers, brothers, thieves, skilled billiard players, businessmen, struggling heroes, average men, resilient killers, and so much more. Vietnam is a puzzle piece but not the whole part of their story.
The war never ends for these men, but not in the PTSD, shell-shocked manner that you may imagine. Each takes away something from the war that helps define and highlight their character.
While I thoroughly enjoyed reading through this book, perhaps what stood out most for me was what wasn’t there. This isn’t a flashy blood-and-guts war story. It’s more about the quiet aftermath of the war on those who served.
Sometimes the ordinary is what is extraordinary.
Jessica Dickenson Readers Views