Michael McCormick (3) (1949–)

Dedicated to the veterans of the Vietnam War, Across the Pond tells of a young man who fought for his country in Vietnam, returned home, and faced abandonment and hostility because of his actions overseas. This subject might not be a new one to many, but the heart of any story lies in the way it's told - and Across the Pond is an enlightening, moving saga that explains not just one young man's changes, but how America changed because of Vietnam.

One might anticipate a weighty survey, but the show more pleasure in this book, in contrast to similar-sounding discussions, lies in its brevity, which succeeds in packing a punch using only 50 pages.

So if it's an in-depth tome that is appealing, look elsewhere. Across the Pond is more of a quiet statement, based on the author's personal experiences, and proves that one need not be excessively wordy to capture the emotions and power of the aftermath of war and the plight of war veterans who received little or no support upon returning home. show less

2.5 Stars

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I always find it hard to say something about a book that's obviously as personal as this one. It is without a doubt a very felt account of one's time in Vietnam. But as a story, it fell short for me.


Basically because it was all over the place. It is a very short story and it's divided into so many flashbacks and changes of timepoints that I still got confused and it was hard for me to get into the story.


I think it might show more probably work a lot better if you have your own memories to the Vietnam war or that time period, but I noticed that it wasn't really for me.


Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! show less

Excellent and emotional read!

This was my first exploration of a Michael McCormick book so I didn’t know what to expect. That was a good thing because then I had the opportunity to be pleasantly surprised. Across the Pond is a fictional take on real circumstance as the story follows “Mac” into the Vietnam war and back again. It is an intense and jaw clenching peek into this mans life as he struggles to assimilate back into some sense of normalcy after enduring the horrors of war. Is show more that even possible after encountering such emotionally charged situations?

One of the things that makes this book so explosive is the authors ability to condense this affecting and gut wrenching future classic into a quick read which makes the impact that much more powerful. With a no nonsense attitude toward the work McCormick goes straight for the juggler and does not let up until the very last word is read. The writing skill is entirely refreshing with a thoughtful way of going about this riveting yet sentimental read.

It is interesting to me how people can be so dismissive toward those who have suffered to keep us safe. I came away with a new awareness of what it was like for soldiers in war and coming back in that period of time. That must have been the worst part of all. I felt the pain of Mac and reading this book has shifted my perspective such that shall never look at war and those who suffer it the same way again. I have to give this 5 stars! show less