As a former war photographer myself, I was amazed when, reading The Lotus Eaters, I read some of my own thoughts, fears and doubts attributed to the main character, Helen. Although my war happened long after Vietnam, the way the author described situation and mental built of war photographers hasn’t changed. War shooters, then and now, are children who live high on adrenaline and in their own utopia, believing that the truth exposed in war photographs can make the difference, that people will learn from a tragedy they reveal not to repeat the same horrific mistake. But, people never learn.

As it was the case with Helen, once a photographer had some modicum of success with a certain photograph, the pull to out-do his own picture becomes a drive that pushes him (or her) farther, into riskier and wilder situations. At the same time, something tears in the social fabric of his soul, and he (or she) becomes incapable of returning to “normal” life. And, although seemingly Helen always had a choice to return to the U.S., I completely understand her failure to blend in when she came back, and her eagerness to return to Vietnam at the first opportunity. Once you learn that the only thing that matters in life is the life itself, you can’t sympathize with trivial complaints about job, baby-sitter, traffic and weather. Everything that institutes life for “normal” people becomes trivial. Consequently, it’s impossible to fit into society which only pays attention to “trivial” things. If there was a sequel to this story, I’m certain Helen would be in another war, doing what feels natural – taking pictures of another tragedy.

It is a well-written love story, believable as it is tragic. Tatjana Soli takes the reader through the jungles of Vietnam and the chaos of Saigon, into the depths of her characters’ hearts. It is a wonderful trip and I enjoyed every word of it.