Andrew
Difficult one for me to read or review with any degree of impartiality. I myself was a Fobbit, deployed to a Forward Operating Base on the south side of Baghdad in 2005, exactly the time in which this novel is set. It's a weird feeling to have personal experience with the events of a fictional story...
I can say that it's a competently written story and the plot comes together nicely without any wild leaps or deus ex machina workarounds. It has a strong sense of place: I was instantly brought back to my own time on a FOB and some of the dialogue is word-for-word with conversations I overheard and took part in.
There is an implication in the tone of the book that Fobbits (soldiers deployed to a combat zone who work in office jobs or support roles on base and don't see combat up close) are universally cowards, shamelessly ducking their true duty and responsibility at every opportunity, as if they could (and should!) pick up their rifle and volunteer to go out on patrol any time they wanted if only they were man enough. That is not the case...but I absolutely did know soldiers who fit that stereotype.
The absurdity of the military operations never quite reach the fever-pitch of a scathing satire or uncover any core truths...but in truth the Iraq War was absolutely an immoral, illegal, unnecessary conflict of immense idiocy. It's probably not fair to expect the author to make it make sense in under 400 pages.
And lastly, the author's obvious self-insert gets off too lightly as the only sane, thoughtful character trying to do his best amidst all the insanity and hypocrisy around him...but I also absolutely like to think of myself as "one of the good ones" when I look back.
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My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.
Difficult one for me to read or review with any degree of impartiality. I myself was a Fobbit, deployed to a Forward Operating Base on the south side of Baghdad in 2005, exactly the time in which this novel is set. It's a weird feeling to have personal experience with the events of a fictional story...
I can say that it's a competently written story and the plot comes together nicely without any wild leaps or deus ex machina workarounds. It has a strong sense of place: I was instantly brought back to my own time on a FOB and some of the dialogue is word-for-word with conversations I overheard and took part in.
There is an implication in the tone of the book that Fobbits (soldiers deployed to a combat zone who work in office jobs or support roles on base and don't see combat up close) are universally cowards, shamelessly ducking their true duty and responsibility at every opportunity, as if they could (and should!) pick up their rifle and volunteer to go out on patrol any time they wanted if only they were man enough. That is not the case...but I absolutely did know soldiers who fit that stereotype.
The absurdity of the military operations never quite reach the fever-pitch of a scathing satire or uncover any core truths...but in truth the Iraq War was absolutely an immoral, illegal, unnecessary conflict of immense idiocy. It's probably not fair to expect the author to make it make sense in under 400 pages.
And lastly, the author's obvious self-insert gets off too lightly as the only sane, thoughtful character trying to do his best amidst all the insanity and hypocrisy around him...but I also absolutely like to think of myself as "one of the good ones" when I look back.
_____
My Rating Scale
5 stars - An all-time classic, a book that fundamentally changed or enriched my life. Would recommend to any and all readers.
4 stars - An excellent book that stands out in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would recommend to anyone with even a passing interest in the genre or subject matter.
3 stars - A perfectly serviceable book that may be entertaining or informative but does not push the envelope or linger long in the memory. Would recommend to pre-existing fans of the genre or author.
2 stars - A book that falls short in one or more areas of writing style, characterization, making a point, etc. Would only recommend with reservations or would not recommend at all.
1 star - A book that has nothing to say, or says it so poorly it isn't worth reading. Would not recommend and would actively warn away from.