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The Heart That Fed: A Father, a Son, and the Long Shadow of War
A brilliant graphic memoir debut, this is a loving son’s exploration of his tumultuous relationship with his father, told through the lens of the Vietnam War and its lasting effects long after returning home.
As a college dropout amidst the tumult of the 1960s and the Vietnam War, David Sciacchitano enlisted in the Air Force and volunteered to be sent overseas. An aircraft mechanic away from the front lines, David nevertheless experienced the chaos of war during the Tet Offensive and the 1975 evacuation. But although David returned home from the war with no physical injuries, it would be as if a part of him was forever left behind.
Set against one of the most tumultuous events of the 20th century, The Heart That Fed is a beautifully illustrated and moving story of trauma and love—told by a son seeking to understand a father forever changed by PTSD and the horrors of war.
As a college dropout amidst the tumult of the 1960s and the Vietnam War, David Sciacchitano enlisted in the Air Force and volunteered to be sent overseas. An aircraft mechanic away from the front lines, David nevertheless experienced the chaos of war during the Tet Offensive and the 1975 evacuation. But although David returned home from the war with no physical injuries, it would be as if a part of him was forever left behind.
Set against one of the most tumultuous events of the 20th century, The Heart That Fed is a beautifully illustrated and moving story of trauma and love—told by a son seeking to understand a father forever changed by PTSD and the horrors of war.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 4, 2024
About the author
Carl Sciacchitano
2 books18 followersCarl Sciacchitano is a writer and illustrator who has created comics for IDW, Archie, and MonkeyBrain, including illustrating the graphic novel The Army of Dr. Moreau, written by David F. Walker. He lives in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 10, 2024
This book was a bit outside of my reading comfort zone, but I found myself invested in this story. I appreciated how this story was told through a graphic novel, since I’ve never read a memoir in this form before. I loved the art style and neutral color palette and the illustrations helped tell the story very well. This was a well told, moving story.
Thank you to Gallery 13 for the gifted copy.
Thank you to Gallery 13 for the gifted copy.
June 19, 2024
Incredibly crafted and engrossing. I was enjoying the read so much I had to slow myself down to let all the details of the layered story, beautiful artwork, and historical context sink in. This is an impressive work and a powerful look at the impact of war on countries, individuals, and families over time.
March 1, 2024
I wish the a story had flowed a bit more smoothly and the son had brought himself into the story less and the current day effects of the war were a little more clear. We know his marriage ended but was there more?
But overall a good look at how trauma from Vietnam stayed with one man and then spread out through his family.
But overall a good look at how trauma from Vietnam stayed with one man and then spread out through his family.
June 27, 2024
Tough book to read in some places and more personal than one might think. Anyone with a 'difficult' or angry father; anyone who's father was in Nam, Korea, WW2 or our continually constant conflicts; and anyone who served in the same. The story of a man helping his father come to terms with his anger and the lasting effects of being in Viet Nam. PTSD writ large.
Personal note, as I often do and if you don't like it, tough potatoes: My dad had it after WW2. No doubts in my mind, but it didn't express itself as irritation, anger, or being startled by large noises. Nope, he dealt with it by sucking it all inside and being a very quiet, fairly undemonstrative man. He was at Normandy. He was one of the young GI's present at the opening of 'at least one' concentration camp. (That's how he put it: at least one.) But that's just about all we knew. He did not talk about it, not until after the mini-series 'Holocaust' came out years ago on TV and spoke about it to my sister. (Not to me; I was married and not at home.) But still, what he said was very little.
Personal note over...
So how a person reacts to constant trauma IS going to be different from person to person. Some suck it in, like I said. Others express it by changes in 'normal' temperament, or by lashing out physically, verbally, emotionally. And still others learn to temper it, go to therapy, do all the 'right' things. In this book, a graphic novel, it's all there from the POV of a son.
I seldom read graphic novels. I do own Maus and Persepolis, and have read most of the Sandman books, but this one is totally perfect, above board, hits all the right notes. (What pithy comments are left?) It struck me because, as I said, I have a personal connection to a man who lived through a similar series of events...
But really, this book is good for just about anyone and everyone. We need to see more of this type of thing. People who've gone through this need to know they aren't alone.
Five stars
Personal note, as I often do and if you don't like it, tough potatoes: My dad had it after WW2. No doubts in my mind, but it didn't express itself as irritation, anger, or being startled by large noises. Nope, he dealt with it by sucking it all inside and being a very quiet, fairly undemonstrative man. He was at Normandy. He was one of the young GI's present at the opening of 'at least one' concentration camp. (That's how he put it: at least one.) But that's just about all we knew. He did not talk about it, not until after the mini-series 'Holocaust' came out years ago on TV and spoke about it to my sister. (Not to me; I was married and not at home.) But still, what he said was very little.
Personal note over...
So how a person reacts to constant trauma IS going to be different from person to person. Some suck it in, like I said. Others express it by changes in 'normal' temperament, or by lashing out physically, verbally, emotionally. And still others learn to temper it, go to therapy, do all the 'right' things. In this book, a graphic novel, it's all there from the POV of a son.
I seldom read graphic novels. I do own Maus and Persepolis, and have read most of the Sandman books, but this one is totally perfect, above board, hits all the right notes. (What pithy comments are left?) It struck me because, as I said, I have a personal connection to a man who lived through a similar series of events...
But really, this book is good for just about anyone and everyone. We need to see more of this type of thing. People who've gone through this need to know they aren't alone.
Five stars
July 8, 2024
Special thanks to Gallery books for this complimentary graphic novel. This book was SOOO good! YOu forget it is a non-fiction memoir. An emotional and honest tribute to Carl's father and to the veterans of the Vietnam War. Not only was the story so well written and structured but the art was so good. It made you feel like you were transported into the story. I could go on about it forever. Even the small or not so small details like the colorization change between before Vietnam and Dave entering Vietnam and after. Just an amazing MUST HAVE book for your home library or comic collection.
July 22, 2024
There is a lot going on here...a father suffering from war PTSD without having fully dealing with it, the relationship of a father/son, the general fallout from war, family dysfunction. Though this is a thoroughly engrossing story, I did find it a little confusing when it constantly flipped forwards and backwards in time.
March 20, 2024
The memoir of a Vietnam vet and how his time there affected the rest of his life, written and drawn by his son. It's very interesting. I do wish his time after the war was a little more put together. It can be disjointed with large pieces missing. His time in Vietnam though is very thorough.
June 6, 2024
A brilliant book about Vietnam and its spiritual aftermath, coupled with starkly beautiful black-and-white art and a timeline structure unafraid to take risks.
June 12, 2024
I read this in one sitting! It was excellent - thoughtful and compelling.
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June 29, 2024Notables #58
July 6, 2024
Excellent book Re: Vietnam war …Although a graphic novel, beautifully illustrated, it was a bit of a hard read That’s thus The four stars versus five
July 24, 2024
Powerful and sad.
June 16, 2024
Incredibly moving story about war and its consequences on humans, relationships, and mental health told in an honest and compassionate way. The author holds space for the complexity of this experience and the story is even more compelling told in the visual medium of a graphic memoir. Highly recommend - especially for those touched by war and PTSD.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews