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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
From http://weeksnotice.blogspot.com/2016/03/mash-novel-about-three-doctors.html
I read Richard Hooker's MASH: A Novel About Three Doctors (1968) and kept wondering how it was I'd never read it before. I've seen the movie several times and am a huge fan of the show. I did not know that Richard Hooker is in fact a pen name for two people, both of whom had been doctors during the Korean War.
It's a very funny book, and raunchier than either the movie or show. The core of it is that being right in the fighting (not just war per se, but actually in the fighting) flips open the lip of sanity. People act in odd ways (such as dressing up as Jesus Christ, then selling autographed pictures of it) and of course they drink heavily. When Hawkeye and Duke (a character that does not make it to the TV show) go home, it's almost a process of detox. As they get farther from the front, they realize their behavior has to shift. What's normal at a MASH unit is unacceptable elsewhere. Those who are serving in the army but are on the outskirts simply cannot relate.
I read Richard Hooker's MASH: A Novel About Three Doctors (1968) and kept wondering how it was I'd never read it before. I've seen the movie several times and am a huge fan of the show. I did not know that Richard Hooker is in fact a pen name for two people, both of whom had been doctors during the Korean War.
It's a very funny book, and raunchier than either the movie or show. The core of it is that being right in the fighting (not just war per se, but actually in the fighting) flips open the lip of sanity. People act in odd ways (such as dressing up as Jesus Christ, then selling autographed pictures of it) and of course they drink heavily. When Hawkeye and Duke (a character that does not make it to the TV show) go home, it's almost a process of detox. As they get farther from the front, they realize their behavior has to shift. What's normal at a MASH unit is unacceptable elsewhere. Those who are serving in the army but are on the outskirts simply cannot relate.
A rather short story about a few men in Korea that played at being insane to stop from going insane. Told in a series of vignettes centered on antics, the reader only captures brief sights of the horror or war and of forced participation, and is also very much stuck in the time it was written when it speaks of women or the native Koreans. The book is better than the movie, but no where near as good as the show.... but it sets up the perfect premise for it, so I've got to give credit where its due to Richard Hooker. Now lets go catch some mermaids.
This is hilariously funny - I enjoyed listening (great one for travelling!) Audio was done well and enjoyable.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
funny
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I am a huge fan of the show and the movie is certainly decent. The book is definately what spawned the movie more then the show. As such it is very period accurate in terms of racism, homophobia, and other horribly fumbled and not at all looked into topics. I can definately see why the author of the book hated the show but
Sucks to suck, Hooker. The show is far better in more ways then just writing.
The writing style is pretty easy to pick up and read through but not particularly good if thats what youre looking for. I prefer books that read how the writer would speak.
Downsides of this book is largely down to lack of plot. While i think broken up vignettes are fine, i could have benefited from a bit more focus.
Sucks to suck, Hooker. The show is far better in more ways then just writing.
The writing style is pretty easy to pick up and read through but not particularly good if thats what youre looking for. I prefer books that read how the writer would speak.
Downsides of this book is largely down to lack of plot. While i think broken up vignettes are fine, i could have benefited from a bit more focus.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Medical content, Sexual harassment