Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
probably one of the best war novels I’ve ever read, it felt so real and I truly got attached to the real people that were in the shitshow that was Somalia
Excellent read! This book tells a story that the movie never really touched upon. Very raw and detailed.
Giving a book a five star rating is something I struggle with. I keep trying to find reasons to give Black Hawk Down only four stars but any flaws I find a minor and insignificant given the quality of this account of the events around 3rd October 1993.
I'm not a reader of war history so I was doubtful that I would enjoy this book. I was right, as this is not a book to be enjoyed. It's a book to be endured as you live through the events along side the men who went into battle on that extraordinary day. The level of detail in the narration was stunning and I am amazed that someone who conducted interviews years later was able to map together events with such detail. The narration is at times chaotic which, rather than being a flaw, helps to build the feeling of a desperate situation.
Providing a Somali perspective is the strength of the book. It forced me to consider the incredibly losses they suffered as well. It makes me think of the saying "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter".
I'm not a reader of war history so I was doubtful that I would enjoy this book. I was right, as this is not a book to be enjoyed. It's a book to be endured as you live through the events along side the men who went into battle on that extraordinary day. The level of detail in the narration was stunning and I am amazed that someone who conducted interviews years later was able to map together events with such detail. The narration is at times chaotic which, rather than being a flaw, helps to build the feeling of a desperate situation.
Providing a Somali perspective is the strength of the book. It forced me to consider the incredibly losses they suffered as well. It makes me think of the saying "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter".
Completely different than I was expecting. I struggled to keep everyone straight but the story was gripping and the varied perspectives of Americans as well as Somalians was a great balance to the story.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
I remember standing in the grocery store thinking about the descriptions of the injured and dead and wondering how their family members would feel if they saw me reading this book. It seemed like such a violation of privacy - and then the movie came out. Still, I found it very interesting. In addition, every book about war or conflict deals with the victims. It is just that this was a current conflict at that point - an event not yet dulled by time.
adventurous
informative
tense
medium-paced
Crazy book about the military actions in '93 Somalia. Incredibly interesting to me to read about military men and their lives. Recommended!
The book is better than the movie (which I liked). I felt every bullet that hit them.