“If I Lie in a Combat Zone” by Will Tinkham

Well, something doesn’t feel right here. Just a short time ago, I declared the previous book that I’d read in the Americana series to be my absolute all-time favourite. And now I loved the one I’ve just finished so much, racing through its pages like a horse set on winning Royal Ascot, laughing and crying and feeling the characters getting under my skin, that I am at a loss for what to think.

Okay, the Miracles are amazing. Nothing can change my opinion on that. But the von Funcks are amazing too. And the communities either family has built around themselves and integrated themselves into – their lifestyle is one mind-blowing symbiosis of both, let me tell you that much – feel like living, breathing organisms – pardon my overflowing literary – like real places, not sugary perfect but authentic and totally believable.

“If I Lie in a Combat Zone” begins with a young and thus naïve Walt from a not what you can call usual or ordinary family – that’s his excuse for acting strange probably – voluntarily going to war. Influenced by being named after a famous poet Walter Whitman – didn’t I mention the family issues? – he dreams about writing verses. Alas, how can he share meaningful thoughts about the war if he hasn’t sniffed the battlefield air? So, Walt Whitman von Funck comes up with an ingenious idea to enlist in the Army to be dispatched straight into the heat of the Vietnam War.

The troubles begin almost at once. And if Walt – and we readers – think that the biggest of them is the mix-up that sends him to the infantry instead of a medical unit, well, everyone, think again. All bets are off once Private Walt Whitman von Funck boards the plane that will take him to something no one could expect.

I won’t give any spoilers here, for even if I try to retell the plot, it would be a pale imitation, devoid of the spices and flavours which are unique to Will Tinkham’s witty prose and the author’s extraordinary storytelling talent.

As is usual in Will Tinkham’s Americana series, a few US presidents – ex, not-so-ex-to-be-forgotten ex, and, ahem, current – make fleeting but vivid appearances in this book.

And as it usually happens with me, after finishing yet another book by this brilliant author, I have the next one I want to read ready on my list. This time, after my curiosity was sparked by generously scattered mentions of various characters and events throughout “If I Lie in a Combat Zone,” the next story I plan to dive into is “Bonus Man.” And after that, “The Cary Grant Sanatorium and Playhouse.” And then… okay, someone got carried away here. I think it’s pretty apparent that in time, I’ll read every single instalment of Will Tinkham’s Americana series.