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jalumbaugh's review
tense
slow-paced
2.0
The book was entertaining enough as it went on. Well enough written, if not clinical every time somebody felt a human emotion. "She cried" often being the most we get.
But, through the whole experience of reading it, I couldn't see past the nationalism I was supposed to buy into. For a book that wants to tell the most authentic war story, it can't help but write the enemy in the simplest action movie terms. The war is justified to the characters because the enemy is Communist and therefore needs to be stopped at every turn. We are supposed to weep at every American death but thousands of Chinese soldiers are mowed down without care.
The "friendship" at the core of the book is also hard to buy. Jesse and Tom barely talk, they're just in the same squadron sometimes!
Overall, messy and tries too hard to sell itself as interesting and historically accurate, while failing at both. A historically accurate book with any guts would write this war as a waste of human life, a civil war that was turned into a meat grinder by two empires worlds away.
But, through the whole experience of reading it, I couldn't see past the nationalism I was supposed to buy into. For a book that wants to tell the most authentic war story, it can't help but write the enemy in the simplest action movie terms. The war is justified to the characters because the enemy is Communist and therefore needs to be stopped at every turn. We are supposed to weep at every American death but thousands of Chinese soldiers are mowed down without care.
The "friendship" at the core of the book is also hard to buy. Jesse and Tom barely talk, they're just in the same squadron sometimes!
Overall, messy and tries too hard to sell itself as interesting and historically accurate, while failing at both. A historically accurate book with any guts would write this war as a waste of human life, a civil war that was turned into a meat grinder by two empires worlds away.
mary_r_m's review against another edition
4.0
I love a non-fiction book that reads like a novel. The tribute to these amazing people is beautiful.
taycm's review against another edition
4.0
Some good insite into the lives of some who fought in the "The Forgotten Victory/War" but the storytelling itself could have been improved.
★★★★½
★★★★½
clt677's review against another edition
5.0
I have never read anything about the Korean War. My only knowledge of it came from watching M*A*S*H reruns. This book does an excellent job of putting faces to this war. This is not a book about military strategy or about politics. The author clearly did his homework, and his due diligence in interviewing the central people in this book. He does an excellent job weaving the stories of the Marines on the ground and the Navy airmen, along with Daisy back home. It is a pretty quick read, as it moves along at a pretty good clip.
basicfangirl7's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
5.0
if i have ever read a 5-star book, than this is the 5-star book. EXCELLENT storytelling that kept me, a person who knows little about ships and aircraft intrigued and desperate to read. so grateful i was introduced to this book for a class assignment.
katymaefallon's review against another edition
Too many books at one time, will pick up in April
mirrorballmusings's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
5.0
jediknight138's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
This is one of the best books I read. I am a history buff but mainly read about World War 2 and Vietnam. I did not know much about the Korean War except for some surface information. Yet, you do not need to know about this war, because the author fills the reader into what is needed for the story. Adam Markos writes history so enthralling that it is like reading a fiction thriller. The story of Jesse Brown and Tom Hudner (and many others) is a gripping story. I do not remember the last time a book got me emotionally but this one did. If you are a fan of history or even a great story, do yourself a favor and read this book.
rjd824's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible story. Makos does a phenomenal job telling the story. Excited for the film to come out even more now.