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mrdietz's review against another edition
4.0
An engaging, well-research account of a terrible time in world history. Bradley's Flyboys takes a long view of the second world war, providing a number of chapters that spell out plenty of Japanese history before the war even begins. I enjoyed this large view of the war, but some readers might be disappointed to learn that the stories of the central boys doesn't really take hold until the back half of the novel. The prose makes explicit the violence of warfare. I also appreciated Bradley's effort to give fair blame to the atrocities committed throughout the war by both the US and Japan. War makes humans commit terrible acts. The hope is that reading about these people, these families who were torn apart by loss and destruction, that a new generation can keep such violent conflicts from happening.
mdunnbass's review against another edition
5.0
It's hard to know what to say about Flyboys. It's the kind of book that everyone should read, and yet there are things about it that I wish I hadn't read and didn't know, and I don't want to inflict that information on anyone either. Non-fiction, about what happened on a tiny island a few miles from Iwo Jima during WWII. 8 flyboys (pilots and other air-personnel like navigators and radiomen) survived being shot down at various times near the island. 7 parachuted near enough the island to be brought ashore and kept as POWs. 1 - later U.S. president George H. W. Bush - landed far enough out to sea that a nearby American submarine rescued him. The problem is that according to Japanese thought at the time, Flyboys were not POWs, but war criminals, and as such were executed. The fact that 4 of the 7 executed flyboys were then cannibalized (Not because the Japanese were starving, but because their officers thought it would be good for their fighting spirit and fun to do) took it from almost justifiable wartime atrocity to heinous crime beyond the pale. And, this is leaving out all of the really horrendous information.
Aside from the content, the book was written by James Bradley, author of Flags of Our Fathers, son of one of the Iwo Jima flag raisers. He's certainly one of the rare few who could write the book with the right perspective, but perspective doesn't make up for quality of narrative. Very balanced - showing both the Japanese and Americans in equally negative lights - and very well researched - full of quotes from those directly and indirectly involved - but a little creaky in places. Recommended to those interested in understanding History to prevent it's mistakes, but not recommended to those with weak stomachs or emotional detachmentability.
Aside from the content, the book was written by James Bradley, author of Flags of Our Fathers, son of one of the Iwo Jima flag raisers. He's certainly one of the rare few who could write the book with the right perspective, but perspective doesn't make up for quality of narrative. Very balanced - showing both the Japanese and Americans in equally negative lights - and very well researched - full of quotes from those directly and indirectly involved - but a little creaky in places. Recommended to those interested in understanding History to prevent it's mistakes, but not recommended to those with weak stomachs or emotional detachmentability.
abiofpellinor's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Colonisation, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Murder, Rape, War, Child death, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Slavery, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, Body horror, Self harm, Cannibalism, Classism, Racism, and Suicide
cgonya1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.0
alittlebithopeful's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
macdave22's review against another edition
It seemed to jump all over the place following different pilots at random.
michigancolt's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Murder, Blood, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Suicide, Suicide attempt, War, Cannibalism, Torture, and Violence
A lot of this book is beyond disturbing. It can be very hard to read, yet it’s important. Could be intensely triggering, read with caution.jware23's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
This book is extremely well-researched and written. It’s a difficult read, in terms, of the descriptions of what happened to each of the eight Flyboys. Highly recommend though, their names/stories deserve to be known.
ada_love_less's review against another edition
5.0
Informative and well researched. The horrors of Pacific War during Second World War, will make your skin crawl after knowing the extents to which human can degrade but at the same time, one needs to know what human himself is capable of, in time of crises. The philosophical questions it dealt with, are so required to be pondered on and not only with sense of war but also blind faith, revenge, morality, history and many.
And most importantly, who's right? Well mostly, the one who won(historically speaking).
And most importantly, who's right? Well mostly, the one who won(historically speaking).