How does Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo relate to the American experience? (plot summary included)?

Question

I'm having a little trouble figuring this out... What exactly IS the American experience anyway?

Here's a short plot summary of the book:

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/johnnygun/summary.html

Answer 1

I read this book in high school.  It was a really powerful book to me - so much so I read it again a few years ago.  

This book definitely is relative to the American experience in the Viet Nam era, and his thoughts, feelings, opinions are very relative to that period of time.  And I believe the soldier returning home scenario can be related to what we are experiencing now (Iraq), not to mention what we have experienced every time we have been in a war situation (WW2, Korean, etc.).  Our soldiers come home battered and injured (physically and mentally) and are displaced.  Where do they belong now?  Who will heal them? They left as healthy, energetic youth and return injured and unsure of their place.  

His thoughts and feelings can be relative to the human experience, too - his emotions - sadness, disbelief, love, hurt, depression, hope, hopeless.

Have you read the book, or just the Spark Notes? The book isn't exceptionally long and I think if you actually read you won't have much problem relating it to the American experience - especially during our current war.  It's not a boring book, and the memories will stay with you for a long time.