Active Topics  Memberlist  Search  Help   Register  Login

Book Talk ( Forum Locked)
Ernest Hemingway Message Boards : Book Talk

Topic: Jarhead.

Author Message << Prev Topic | Next Topic >> Papa Cosa Leader Joined: 02 September 2005 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 504 Posted: 12 October 2005 at 10:34pm | IP Logged     I never heard of this book before I saw the trailer for the movie.  The movie looks good with some fine actors in it.  I read some reviews about the book and it seemed like it might be a cool read.  I was blown away.  Swofford's voice is great.  He doesn't fluff up his language(but hes a marine-is he capable?) or make everything over dramatic.  He's straight forward with lines full of harsh words, dirty words and even dirtier words.  But it worked.  He had a unique voice and the book moves along at a great pace.  Hemingway is even mentioned.   I usually don't read war book unless their from WW2 or before but I'm happy I picked this one up.  It's a grunts view of Desert Storm and the events that shaped his patriotism and shattered it.  It shows us the boy becoming a man who faces death and leaves somewhat smarter but haunted by the way he now sees things.  The book moves back and forth between times and it does a good job -  never leaving the reader wondering what the heck just happened.    Has anybody heard or read this book?  If not I suggest reading it.  You'll discover a new voice.  How many authors would talk about war and admit -   "I've pissed my pants, but only a bit, a small dark marker the shape of a thrid world country on my trousers.  My heart rate climbs.'   Papa Cosa  Back to Top   Mike Galvin Forum Moderator Joined: 29 August 2005 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 1441 Posted: 13 October 2005 at 2:10pm | IP Logged I read it when it was first published. It reminded me very much of Michael Herr's book Dispatches about the Viet Nam war. Should make a great movie. Mike Edited by Mike Galvin on 13 October 2005 at 2:11pm Back to Top   hijo Leader Joined: 14 August 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 547 Posted: 14 October 2005 at 11:12am | IP Logged Haven't read it yet. Will add it to my list. Your description, however, brings to mind some other favorite books with great voices - "The Ice Beneath You," about peace-keeping in Somalia, and returning; "A Rumor of War," by Philip Caputo, also a Marine, about Vietnam. Wondering whatever happened to Caputo after "Delcorso's Gallery," which I thought verged on mellow-drama but was a precursor of some other books. He moved to KW and was deep-sea fishing, last I heard. My favorite (at least for me) Vietnam novel, "If I Die In A Combat Zone," by Tim O'Brien, also worth a read. Ever wonder why it is so many writers go to war, wind up telling everyone about life and death and disillusionment, only to see wars keep happening and young people keep being told to fight them by old people who may or may not ever have been near them? "Johnny Get Your Gun" another fine one. No wonder Trumbol was on the Hollywood blacklist. Allbest, hijo Back to Top   hijo Leader Joined: 14 August 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 547 Posted: 14 October 2005 at 11:14am | IP Logged Forgot to add (of course) am currently reading book about war from civilian side in Afghanistan - "The Kite Runner." A must read as far as I'm concerned, and not just because many of the experiences are ... familiar to me. Best, hijo Back to Top   Papa Cosa Leader Joined: 02 September 2005 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 504 Posted: 05 November 2005 at 10:11pm | IP Logged     Saw the movie today.  It was great.  If you liked the book I think you'll like it.  The film makers followed the book pretty closely.    Papa Cosa Back to Top

Sorry, you can NOT post a reply.
This forum has been locked by a forum administrator.

Printable version Forum Jump -- Select Forum -- Questions About Ernest Hemingway's Life   - General Questions   - Site Announcements and Updates   - Hemingway In the News The Novels   - The Sun Also Rises   - A Farewell to Arms   - For Whom the Bell Tolls   - The Old Man and the Sea Short Story Collections   - In Our Time   - Men Without Women   - Winner Take Nothing The Posthumous Books   - Islands in the Stream   - True At First Light   - The Garden of Eden Other Forums   - The Writing Room   - Book Talk   - Hemingway Links

You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum

Powered by Web Wiz Forums version 7.92
Copyright ©2001-2004 Web Wiz Guide