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A review by blevins
Flyboys: A True Story of Courage by James Bradley
4.0
This riveting, hard to read in places non-fiction book attempts to tell the story of what if was like to be a pilot for the USA in the Pacific campaign during WW2. It also deals a lot with Japan, their culture and the "spirit warriors" that made their soldiers infamous for sacrificing themselves for the emperor. They are also known for a lot of horrific things they did during WW2--millions raped and killed in China, encouraged beheadings and torture and mass cannibalism! American soldiers weren't saints by any means, but it's hard to fathom some of the things that were done all in the name of country and flag. Frightening, gruesome stuff.
I'd never read so much on the American napalm bombing campaign that took place, but the devastation the B-29s caused on the largely wooden cities in Japan was so extreme that giant swathes of cities were leveled. More gruesome reading.
Bradley is not the greatest writer--he labors too much, is at times too heavy handed, calls some historical figures by their first names (I just found that irritating) and sticks himself into the story at time (also irritating!). But this story is just so interesting, brutal and hard to put down--overcame some of the flaws in it.
I'd never read so much on the American napalm bombing campaign that took place, but the devastation the B-29s caused on the largely wooden cities in Japan was so extreme that giant swathes of cities were leveled. More gruesome reading.
Bradley is not the greatest writer--he labors too much, is at times too heavy handed, calls some historical figures by their first names (I just found that irritating) and sticks himself into the story at time (also irritating!). But this story is just so interesting, brutal and hard to put down--overcame some of the flaws in it.