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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
Modern warfare is just so different from battles you read about in your history books, and Bowden does a fabulous job writing the book like you’re there. This isn’t just a nonfiction statement of facts. It’s the stories of the battle from the mouths of the men. And he seems to grasp the culture and brotherhood of the men that makes you connect with the story. I loved this book the first time I read it and I still love it. Highly recommend.
Pretty interesting, gives a blow by blow account of the battle. It can be hard to follow with all the different characters but it kept me engaged throughout. One critique is possibly that it only focuses on the actual events of the battle without diving too much into the surrounding circumstances of the battle or of the U.S's involvement in Somalia.
It was interesting how Bowden included the perspectives of Somalians during the battle, though these only made up a very small portion of the book. Overall I would recommend it but it is not something I am likely to re-read.
It was interesting how Bowden included the perspectives of Somalians during the battle, though these only made up a very small portion of the book. Overall I would recommend it but it is not something I am likely to re-read.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Excellent read. Lived every minute of it. Reads almost like a fiction novel, despite basically being a documentary. Highly recommended.
Only criticism I have, and I'm sure it isn't the author's fault, is that sometimes it's hard to grasp where what your reading is occurring and be able to follow the entirety of the story.
Only criticism I have, and I'm sure it isn't the author's fault, is that sometimes it's hard to grasp where what your reading is occurring and be able to follow the entirety of the story.
"I wrote this book for them"
I enjoyed this book as an update on important events in our countries history and as an interesting and gripping story. I think, for the most part, the goal of creating a historical book that reads like a novel was accomplished. I also, however, think that the information could have been organized in a better way.
The style of jumping from character to character created a more accurate timeline and a interesting correlation to the chaos of the situation and the confusion the soldiers must have experienced as events were unfolding. However it created a sense of disassociation for the read, I found it hard to connect to any of the characters in the long term and when the author switched stories mid paragraph I can't say I always associated the events with the correct person.
The author has clearly talked to many people and in great detail and used quotes from them. Unfortunately, because of trying to use single direct quotes to describe the characters feeling and in such a disjointed manor a lot of them felt disingenuous.
I greatly appreciated the summary provided by the author at the end of the book; reviewing his own opinions surrounding the battle and analyzing some of the public statements made about the battle by various people really help me gather my thoughts and think critically about the feelings and fact presented in the book.
I enjoyed this book as an update on important events in our countries history and as an interesting and gripping story. I think, for the most part, the goal of creating a historical book that reads like a novel was accomplished. I also, however, think that the information could have been organized in a better way.
The style of jumping from character to character created a more accurate timeline and a interesting correlation to the chaos of the situation and the confusion the soldiers must have experienced as events were unfolding. However it created a sense of disassociation for the read, I found it hard to connect to any of the characters in the long term and when the author switched stories mid paragraph I can't say I always associated the events with the correct person.
The author has clearly talked to many people and in great detail and used quotes from them. Unfortunately, because of trying to use single direct quotes to describe the characters feeling and in such a disjointed manor a lot of them felt disingenuous.
I greatly appreciated the summary provided by the author at the end of the book; reviewing his own opinions surrounding the battle and analyzing some of the public statements made about the battle by various people really help me gather my thoughts and think critically about the feelings and fact presented in the book.
Quite an in depth story told from many different perspectives. THe live action description on the audiobook definitely put you in the action. There were certainly a couple local perspectives that didn't really help the story much and felt like they were introduced for filler but you can't deny the emotions as you hear how the soldiers and Delta guys received and gave some serious hurting.
‘ I wanted to combine the authority of an historical narrative with the emotion of the memoir, and write a story that read like fiction but was true.’
Mark Bowden I would say mission accomplished! This is fantastic read. Not a subject I’d usually go for, but so we’ll paced and conveyed I couldn’t put it down!
Mark Bowden I would say mission accomplished! This is fantastic read. Not a subject I’d usually go for, but so we’ll paced and conveyed I couldn’t put it down!
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Blood, War, Injury/Injury detail
Mark Bowden makes the excellent point of how he wrote Black Hawk Down. It reads like fiction: the detail of the events and personalities of all the characters. But it's all factual and based on data he collected himself. It's an amazing read. There were times, as I was reading, when I gasped aloud, laughed, averted my eyes, cried, chuckled lightly, etc. At the end, all I feel is a profound respect and admiration for those Americans at the Battle of the Black Sea. Mr. Bowden honored them all in this book.
Superlative. Deserves every bit of its iconic status, and surely destined to remain a classic.