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angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
2.0
Overly long. Stretches of boredom and uneventfulness. Can really be summed up in two phrases. 1) The Fog of War - whenever there is actual fighting in this war opus. 2) Who’s my wife having sex with back at home? - whenever the characters are discussing their back story or not fighting (which is 88% of the novel). One of those “classics” which honestly just isn’t that compelling.
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Talk about the futility of war! This is a classic war novel, published just 3 years post the end of WW II. We learn the individual strengths and flaws of each man in the platoon and how battle affects him. Mailer was required to tone down the language when it was first published so he uses "creative" spelling ... but we know what he meant to write.
footprof's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing depiction of war; hard to believe this was fiction. Character development was superb.
veganhitchhiker's review against another edition
5.0
I'm never here for the military, to begin with, but I've never been so enamored with someones prose. It may not be his best, but the heart wants what it wants.
kegifford's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
swicksy's review against another edition
5.0
Published in 1948, this acclaimed WWII novel that takes us on a journey with a platoon of soldiers invading the Japanese-held island of Anopepei. Norman Mailer takes us deep into the psyches of the individual soldiers with detailed descriptions of the hardships of war (you will feel wet and cold after reading the first 100 or so pages and then never really shake that feeling), the personality clashes of the men including superior officers with the men they command, as well as the vivid details of men dying and the reactions of the others as their actions (or lack of) result in their colleague's deaths.
There are some truly great moments like when a soldier learns that his wife has died during child birth, but then because the army is behind on delivering mail, keeps receiving letters from her from the days leading up to - and even one from the day of - her death. He continues to plead with God for her to "survive" in shock as the letters have messed with the reality that his wife is truly dead. Such a great chapter.
A personal conflict between a General and his staff lieutenant is also compelling and gives great insight to the power struggles of men who are sending those they command to their possible demise.
So well written, the conflict between the Japanese is merely a backdrop for the psychological, personal and emotional turmoil of the characters.
I look forward to reading it again in the future.
There are some truly great moments like when a soldier learns that his wife has died during child birth, but then because the army is behind on delivering mail, keeps receiving letters from her from the days leading up to - and even one from the day of - her death. He continues to plead with God for her to "survive" in shock as the letters have messed with the reality that his wife is truly dead. Such a great chapter.
A personal conflict between a General and his staff lieutenant is also compelling and gives great insight to the power struggles of men who are sending those they command to their possible demise.
So well written, the conflict between the Japanese is merely a backdrop for the psychological, personal and emotional turmoil of the characters.
I look forward to reading it again in the future.
gma2at's review against another edition
2.0
I did not enjoy this book. There were no redeemable characters. I disliked the portrayal of women as harlots and men as promiscuous and shallow. While I enjoyed the writing style for the most part, I can't get past the blatant flaws in character portrayal. Not only would I not recommend this one, I'm likely to encourage avoiding it all together.
ajreader's review against another edition
2.0
Read my full thoughts on this book and hundreds more over at Read.Write.Repeat.
I recognize Mailer's skill and why this book became such a sensation. It just didn't work for me personally. It did, however, make me wonder if there will ever be such an event that every single story of this era will center around it. Is there anything left that can unite our stories in such a huge way? Would it take another world war?
I recognize Mailer's skill and why this book became such a sensation. It just didn't work for me personally. It did, however, make me wonder if there will ever be such an event that every single story of this era will center around it. Is there anything left that can unite our stories in such a huge way? Would it take another world war?
bdamokos's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very good book in my opinion detailing the life of soldiers during the fictional capture of the Japanese island Anopopei.[return][return]At ~700 pages it is a long read by today's standards but its worth it. If you like WW2 novels this is a must-have.[return][return]Norman Mailer was a WW2 soldier and thus this account of the feelings, and thoughts of the soldiers, the portrayal of the general's selfish revenge against a subordinate come as close to the real thing as possible.