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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A group of men seperated and driven to the edge. Male relationships in groups is a main theme of the book. It would be quite interesting to find out how plausible the book is and how much like real war it is. There is quite a bit of racism, antisemitism and misogyny. Mainly the book talks about one particular platoon, their missions and exploits but there's also sections that delve into the history of the individual characters of the book and I think I probably enjoyed those sections the most. It took me a long time to read it, more than a week and I've put some long hours in, but I'm glad that I've read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, Antisemitism
I first came across The Naked and the Dead in my college history course on World War Two, and after hearing praise about the book from both my professor and family, I had high hopes that I would enjoy this war novel. I did not. It was terrible.
My many problems with the novel included: It has almost no plot (it takes 430 pages for anything to really start happening); the characters were not distinguishable from one another (they are all angry, horny, insecure, morally bankrupt without purpose, and they view women as sexual objects); the stakes of the invasion never seemed too high (i.e. all of the victories came so easily to General Cummings and his soldiers); Mailer's writing of dialect was just awful; the "Time Machine" sections approached nonsensicality; the "Chorus" sections were useless; and the philosophizing revealed nothing meaningful about the human condition. In short, the book was a slog. I would not recommend it.
My many problems with the novel included: It has almost no plot (it takes 430 pages for anything to really start happening); the characters were not distinguishable from one another (they are all angry, horny, insecure, morally bankrupt without purpose, and they view women as sexual objects); the stakes of the invasion never seemed too high (i.e. all of the victories came so easily to General Cummings and his soldiers); Mailer's writing of dialect was just awful; the "Time Machine" sections approached nonsensicality; the "Chorus" sections were useless; and the philosophizing revealed nothing meaningful about the human condition. In short, the book was a slog. I would not recommend it.
A different take on the war in the Pacific. The human condition portray in this context provides the range of things a man is capable of, both good and bad.
Realistic portrayal of battle for a fictitious Pacific Island during WWII. Insightful psychological profiles of many characters in the American invasion force, from the general on down. Very impressive work.
This is regarded as one of the first great novels written about the Second World War. It draws on Mailer’s own experiences in the Pacific campaign to describe the battle to capture a Japanese island from the point of view of a platoon on the ground as they land ashore and undertake duties and patrols. There is a huge cast of characters and Mailer handles each at length. Long passages of this novel are spent developing the backstories and mentalities of each of these different soldiers and the way they interact with each other, the jungle, the war and their own ambitions, fears and resentments. It does mean that the actual story often moves along at a labouring pace and you empathise with the default position of those in the book in waiting for something to happen. Some characters, such as Croft, are very well rounded while others play more minor roles and yet Mailer still dedicates long sections to their detailed backstories. I found this a little tiring as I didn’t necessarily care enough about these particular characters to feel the need to learn about their childhood. There are more than a few moments of brilliance however. The initial chapter covering the build up to landing on the island and the frantic moments coming ashore is breathtaking. Mailer also successfully captures the depth of the soldiers’ struggle against the jungle and the landscape as much as against the Japanese army. Overall it’s a book worth reading. The journalistic style can make it hard going at times, but Mailer does manage to create an empathy with the soldiers, and the often mundane and menial ways they pass the time in war between the fighting.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4 1/2 stars. Unlike other readers, the "racism" and false cursing didn't bother me. The latter was to accurately depict soldiers' speech in a time when putting expletives in would have gotten the book banned, if not kept it from being published. To the former, I think the readers that can't get past it are simply putting on rose-colored glasses. The language is, from what other texts I have read, and my understanding of the times, actually a bit light on the ethnic slurs. If you think it's done for no reason, then you're not reading the book. The slurs are used by men on each other...who depend on each other for their lives. The author makes a point to show occasions when a soldier who has denigrated or insulted another comes to respect or rely upon that soldier.
All that aside, it's a heavy read, but never slow. Despite it's length, you don't have the 20 pages of explanation of a valley, or 6 pages on a man's thoughts. The book is moving, and the flashbacks are done well.
All that aside, it's a heavy read, but never slow. Despite it's length, you don't have the 20 pages of explanation of a valley, or 6 pages on a man's thoughts. The book is moving, and the flashbacks are done well.
It seemed to him now that he was very near a fundamental understanding of himself, and he felt a sense of mystery and discovery as if he had found unseen gulfs and bridges in all the familiar drab terrain of his life. “You know,” he said, “life is funny.”
I often loved this account of anxiety and failure, though I remain certain that Mailer robbed Hemingway -- particularly -- For Whom The Bell Tolls. The jungle affords reflection on sexual incongruity and soured ambition. The Japanese don't appear for most of the book, obviously absorbed in their own angst and ennui.
I often loved this account of anxiety and failure, though I remain certain that Mailer robbed Hemingway -- particularly -- For Whom The Bell Tolls. The jungle affords reflection on sexual incongruity and soured ambition. The Japanese don't appear for most of the book, obviously absorbed in their own angst and ennui.
THANK GOD its finally over…dude i don't think i can handle another one of his “pang of fear…felt a bit of resentment in the pit of his stomach…” nonsense, that was like half the book, take it OUT. Time machine sections were a good change of pace. Cummings sections were very good. there WERE great sections in the book (attack at the river, start of the final patrol) but omg like 50 pages of dragging a dude through the jungle and describing all the stupid shit he felt in the most boring way