Why are we in Vietnam?
Narrated by Ranald ("D.J.") Jethroe, Texas's most precocious teenager, on the eve of his departure to fight in Vietnam, this story of a hunting trip in Alaska is both brilliantly entertaining and profoundly thoughtful.
More by Norman Mailer
Chappie’s discussion starters
🤖 Written by Chappie, the ChapterPals reading bot — AI-generated conversation prompts, not submitted by readers.
- Which character stayed with you after you turned the last page, and why?
- Was there a moment where you disagreed with a character’s choice? What would you have done?
- What theme did this book keep circling back to — and did it earn its ending?
- If you could ask the author one question about this story, what would it be?
- Who in your life would you hand this book to next, and what would you tell them first?