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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
medium-paced
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
First things first, I had never seen the acclaimed sitcom leading up to reading this book and had no prior connotations of the characters going into this. I was recommended this book after highly rating the likes or 'Catch-22' and 'Slaughterhouse Five'. This paled in comparison to those classics. I had a hard time with this. It wasn't the over complicated/elongate surgical jargon or even the terrible pacing. It was the characters, the characters are just so unlikeable. One character quite literally gaining a nickname because he wouldnt let a girl out of the bathroom and was nicknamed Trapper. He is applauded for this. A group of 3 bullies who don't make any progression from the opening page to the last. No development or even arc to the story. The formula of this book is simple: 3 Characters call lower ranks names and throw their egos around, 4 pages of surgical jargon that doesn't add anything, they play a prank on someone, repeat. Quite literally this formula repeats about 6 times. I was expecting some sort of spanner to be thrown into the works. Nothing. It was a shame. I had heard a lot of good things from this IP. I think the iconic nature of the sitcom does the heavy lifting and those with nostalgia for that might enjoy this. I can imagine the show does more with these characters and adds a lot more heart to it. Shame.
This is a very unique book for 1968 and I can see how the material translated so easily into screenplays. This novel felt more like a collection of bits and funny memories/legends as told by a soldier than a well-constructed novel. The writing is choppy and the dialogue is awkward. The three doctors basically win most of the little challenges and conflicts within the camp, which made it feel like there was no conflict - despite the fact that they're set in a high-stress environment in the middle of a war. Perhaps that makes no sense, but in comparison the other officers are continuously out-smarted and constantly losing in the same environment.
This was a quick read and I enjoyed it for the novelty factor, but if not for its legacy it might be forgettable.
I do love the fact that the author was able to pull this out of his experience and share an entirely different angle on the war novel.
This was a quick read and I enjoyed it for the novelty factor, but if not for its legacy it might be forgettable.
I do love the fact that the author was able to pull this out of his experience and share an entirely different angle on the war novel.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Picked this book up as an impulse. I have seen the Robert Altman movie, and saw the TV show in syndication, so I was curious about the source material that inspired them both.
The book was quite similar to the film, and it was very episodic. There was not a great story arc, but a series of moments, some funny, some sad, and some just strange and ridiculous. I imagine that was the point, and showed how some people dealt with the trauma of war when they were not patching people back together. It is a very quick read, but having seen the film, it was not anything new.
The book was quite similar to the film, and it was very episodic. There was not a great story arc, but a series of moments, some funny, some sad, and some just strange and ridiculous. I imagine that was the point, and showed how some people dealt with the trauma of war when they were not patching people back together. It is a very quick read, but having seen the film, it was not anything new.
Not that funny, even when not compared to the show or movie.
A strong book that conveys an anti-war message without being preachy, using characters that are quite flawed but doing the best they can in a grueling situation. Some of the interactions are dated and come across as sexist today, but that's where our culture was then. I believe this novel belongs on the same shelf with Catch-22, Slaughterhouse Five, and others in the same class.