Scan barcode
bkeving_74's review
3.0
Good story but language atrocious
I first read this book probably 25 years ago and nostalgia hit me and I picked it up again. My reading habits have matured quite a lot in that time and I’m sorry to say I didn’t have the experience I expected. The banter between characters is inappropriate at best and downright creepy at worst. Still I never read this series all the way through and that’s my goal. I still love reading about WW2 as well as historical fiction.
I first read this book probably 25 years ago and nostalgia hit me and I picked it up again. My reading habits have matured quite a lot in that time and I’m sorry to say I didn’t have the experience I expected. The banter between characters is inappropriate at best and downright creepy at worst. Still I never read this series all the way through and that’s my goal. I still love reading about WW2 as well as historical fiction.
david_megginson's review
3.0
It's strange to see the reviews in the front of the book claiming it's realistic; I very much doubt that most ordinary marines during the Second World War had unlimited wealth, direct access to the president, and the ability to live in luxury hotels instead of barracks. The books in this series are fairy tales in a Marine Corps setting.
govmarley's review against another edition
3.0
So happy to be reading this again for 2013. It's one of my favorite series. Not just for the Marine Corp details, or the rich history, but because I love each of the characters. McCoy, Pick, Ernie...I can't choose a favorite. Book one starts prior to the US entry into WW II with the Marines stationed in China and ends with the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Welcome to World War II, boys. It's going to be a hell of a ride.
chewwwy_'s review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ncrabb's review
2.0
I suspect this series gets better, but the first book seems like a trailer for something that comes out soon.
Ken McCoy is a street-smart young man who has entered the marines partially to escape the horrors of his life at home with a hypocritical abusive father. He is assigned to China in the late 1930s where he learns both Chinese and Japanese, and he employs his street smarts to get connected both to Shanghai's police force and its gambling factions. Indeed, he ultimately makes a good bit of money at gambling, something he refers to as his retirement fund.
But when he kills an Italian marine in self defense, things change for him. His superiors are aware of his linguistic and other talents, and soon he is doing reconnaissance for the U.S. disguised as a driver for American missionaries.
This book, then, charts McCoy's meteoric rise into Officer Candidate School. It essentially ends a few weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. At this point, McCoy has had short-lived sex with the wife of a homosexual preacher in China, and he's bedded a society girl who didn't make her position of prominence known to him until after their encounter. Initially outraged, McCoy ultimately falls in love with the girl, and she him. But by now, World War II is the elephant in the room that will impact all their decisions moving forward.
A caution to some who follow me here, the profanity index goes pretty high for this, as you might expect for a military novel. The sex is rather frequent and casual.
My final thoughts: I have other books by this author on my hard drive; and, I may give them a try when the roll to the top of the TBR pile, but it's unlikely I'll shift the pile about so one of these additional books comes to the top more quickly than it might otherwise.
Ken McCoy is a street-smart young man who has entered the marines partially to escape the horrors of his life at home with a hypocritical abusive father. He is assigned to China in the late 1930s where he learns both Chinese and Japanese, and he employs his street smarts to get connected both to Shanghai's police force and its gambling factions. Indeed, he ultimately makes a good bit of money at gambling, something he refers to as his retirement fund.
But when he kills an Italian marine in self defense, things change for him. His superiors are aware of his linguistic and other talents, and soon he is doing reconnaissance for the U.S. disguised as a driver for American missionaries.
This book, then, charts McCoy's meteoric rise into Officer Candidate School. It essentially ends a few weeks after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. At this point, McCoy has had short-lived sex with the wife of a homosexual preacher in China, and he's bedded a society girl who didn't make her position of prominence known to him until after their encounter. Initially outraged, McCoy ultimately falls in love with the girl, and she him. But by now, World War II is the elephant in the room that will impact all their decisions moving forward.
A caution to some who follow me here, the profanity index goes pretty high for this, as you might expect for a military novel. The sex is rather frequent and casual.
My final thoughts: I have other books by this author on my hard drive; and, I may give them a try when the roll to the top of the TBR pile, but it's unlikely I'll shift the pile about so one of these additional books comes to the top more quickly than it might otherwise.
bookstuff's review
4.0
I enjoyed this - really felt transported back to 1941. The characters were all true to the period, although the main character is a bit too lucky, but still a fun read. I really like how matter of factly the characters accept the prejudices of the day (nothing annoys me more than a character in a historical novel with modern sensibilities - puhlease).
A lot of profanity and a lot of military / weapon facts; skimmed over some of that.
A lot of profanity and a lot of military / weapon facts; skimmed over some of that.
utbw42's review
4.0
I've been wanting to read this series for a while now.....it was worth the wait. This follows the trials of Kenneth "Killer" McCoy as he progresses from a Marine corporal in China spying on Japanese occupation to a commissioned lieutenant in D.C. during the time right before the invasion of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Along the way he makes friends, mistakes, and meets a few women. A hard-nosed look at the Marine Corps during WWII, and I am looking forward to the next few in this series.
kvarun88's review
5.0
one of the best WWII novel i hav ever read, the characters are so real to life and the books best part are in the late pages, but still it has some serious humor, one of the best books i hav ever read..! :)
More...