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adam_mcphee 's review for:
The Short-Timers
by Gustav Hasford
Better than the movie, which surprised me because I like Kubrick. There's actually two separate sniper scenes in this which get merged to one in the film, and the training stuff is over relatively quicker in the novel.
The novel, at its best, feels like it has a drumbeat under it, propelling you forward. At its worst it's just a bunch of jarhead dialogue, collections of sayings from psycho-killers and guys just trying to survive the war, not always as pithy as the speakers think. But there's some really great stuff in here, especially how the ethical dilemma of the novel's climax, when the enemy sniper is taking out their friends. I can't remember if the movie has the same resolution or not, but damn, what an ending.
Also, finally, the bit where he's confronted about his peace pin is better in the novel. I don't think they'd be allowed to show what happens onscreen, even though it's not that violent or shocking, but it's subversive in a way that very little in American culture is ever allowed to be.
The novel, at its best, feels like it has a drumbeat under it, propelling you forward. At its worst it's just a bunch of jarhead dialogue, collections of sayings from psycho-killers and guys just trying to survive the war, not always as pithy as the speakers think. But there's some really great stuff in here, especially how the ethical dilemma of the novel's climax, when the enemy sniper is taking out their friends. I can't remember if the movie has the same resolution or not, but damn, what an ending.
Also, finally, the bit where he's confronted about his peace pin is better in the novel. I don't think they'd be allowed to show what happens onscreen, even though it's not that violent or shocking, but it's subversive in a way that very little in American culture is ever allowed to be.