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Sunday, May 18, 2008
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  • War Wounds

    “At every meal, Vietnam sat down to dinner with our families.”--Tom Bissell, “War Wounds”
    A son comes to terms with his father’s war, in a moving post-Vietnam memoir.

A single powerful tale makes up this program—Tom Bissell’s memoir of growing up with a Vietnam vet, and his attempt to find closure, for both himself and his father, by returning with him to Vietnam. “War Wounds” was originally published in Harper’s magazine, and forms the basis for his book, The Father of all Things. Bissell, a former Peace Corps volunteer, has provided war correspondence and travel writing from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, and is also the author of the short story collection, God Lives in St. Petersburg.

“War Wounds” was given a beautiful, restrained reading by Oskar Eustis, the artistic director of The Public Theater in New York City. He describes Vietnam as a “wound” that America has never really recovered from, but sees hope in Bissell’s journey to understanding with a man he loves powerfully, but whose experiences are beyond his imagination. Comments from both Bissell and Eustis are included as part of this program.

“War Wounds,” by Tom Bissell, read by Oskar Eustis.

For additional works featured on SELECTED SHORTS, please visit Symphony Space

Comments

  • [1] Christina Brooks from Fort Worth Texas May 18, 2008 - 10:18PM

    Every Saturday night for the past year, I listen to the selections as I lay beside my year old daughter falling asleep in my arms. For the most part, I've enjoyed listening to all of the short stories. IT's one of my favorite activites for the week. But last night, I thought was the best. The story by Tom Bissell is a story I can relate to very well. I too am a child of a Vietnam Vet...A Marine.. A marine that spent 40 days and 40 nights in the siege of some place I can't spell. my brothers and I also had similar wrong rememberances of one of my fathers wounds. He has 5 purple hearts. You see, my siblings and I came close to not even existing. Any how, I really appreciated Tom story and for the first time in my life felt someone else know the story of my childhood and the pain that the Vietnam war caused us at home. And that war is still alive in many peoples lives and still effects us today. Thanks for the reading.

    From the Producer

    Dear Christina:

    We'll pass on your lovely comments to our author Tom Bissell; he would be moved to know that he reached other people whose lives were shaped by the war. Thank you so much for listening.
  • [2] David Jones from Ann Arbor, mi. May 22, 2008 - 09:05PM

    I have one of those "stong back and weak mind" assembly line jobs. Each week Selected Shorts gives me an escape from the imense boredom that comes with my job. Sometimes stories like this one and my favorite "A Well lit Place" give me hours to reflect the details. Often they send me to my book store to furthur enhance my life. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

This thread is closed.