christmaskid 's review for:

Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo

3.5

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

---

This is a difficult read to give a numbered rating. The narrative is difficult to follow in places because it drifts in and out of dream states between past, present, reality and dream. However: a very necessary read when historical context is taken into account as well as the way the novel holds itself today - ‘you point the way and we will point the way.’ Beautiful prose forges a powerful anti war message, especially in Trumbo’s forward and his last few pages

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, War, Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Blood