Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

I was a little skeptical about this–like, is there anything left to say about the Iraq War? Isn't it kind of beating a dead horse with a drone at this point?–but I heard enough great reviews about it that I picked it up, and I'm glad I did.

It's definitely a satire of the (W) Bush era, and Fox News, and Hollywood, but it's populated with such human characters that it feels fresh. It's the story of Billy Lynn and his fellow soldiers from Bravo Squad, who have become minor celebrities due to their embedded Fox News journalist's footage of sketchily-described skirmish. They're back to the US on a 2-week Victory Tour, during which they attend a Dallas Cowboys game, which is when most of the book's action takes place. It's a story of courage, hypocrisy, and the “band of brothers” love the Bravos have for each other.

Did I say it's funny? It's funny: “Okay, so maybe they aren't the greatest generation by anyone's standard, but they are surely the best of the bottom third percentile of their own somewhat muddled and suspect generation.”

I also think this would have a lot of teen appeal. Billy's only 19, and he grapples with a lot of big issues while being given limited information.

Also, Beyonce is in it.