Comments on: Back to War http://blog.booklistonline.com/2006/08/04/back-to-war/ Behind the Book Reviews--The Official Blog of Booklist Online Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:04:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Colleen http://blog.booklistonline.com/2006/08/04/back-to-war/#comment-173 Colleen Sat, 12 Aug 2006 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/2006/08/04/back-to-war/#comment-173 It looks like so far James Salter's <em>The Hunters</em> is pretty much it for Korea! There's got to me out there on that war from the perspective of the men who fought. Odd that none are coming to mind though.<br /><br />For WWI - an overlooked book about the trenches by Canadian Charles Yale Harrison, <em>Generals Die in Bed</em>. Published in 1930 it is based on his experiences and honestly I thought it was more intense then "All Quiet..." The sarcasm, the anger, the violence - much grittier than most books written about that war by veterans.<br /><br />Finally, if you're going to include Tim O'Brien (of course) then I think you need to include <em>Going After Cacciato</em>. It's amazing - the ending amazing. And such a great war novel that is more about not fighting than fighting.<br /><br /> It looks like so far James Salter’s The Hunters is pretty much it for Korea! There’s got to me out there on that war from the perspective of the men who fought. Odd that none are coming to mind though.

For WWI - an overlooked book about the trenches by Canadian Charles Yale Harrison, Generals Die in Bed. Published in 1930 it is based on his experiences and honestly I thought it was more intense then “All Quiet…” The sarcasm, the anger, the violence - much grittier than most books written about that war by veterans.

Finally, if you’re going to include Tim O’Brien (of course) then I think you need to include Going After Cacciato. It’s amazing - the ending amazing. And such a great war novel that is more about not fighting than fighting.

]]> By: The Cutbank Kid http://blog.booklistonline.com/2006/08/04/back-to-war/#comment-174 The Cutbank Kid Sat, 12 Aug 2006 00:00:00 +0000 http://blog.booklistonline.com/2006/08/04/back-to-war/#comment-174 Bill Sloan's <em>Given Up for Dead</em> covers the experience of the Marines and civillians abandonded on Wake Island shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The battle for Wake was greatly exploited by the US military as a sounding call to motivate the nation (the phrase "Alamo of the Pacific" and "WAKE UP" marketing campaign were similar to the post 9-11 phrase "Lets Roll").<br /><br />Sloan paints an accurate picture of both the conditions on the island and the treatment of the US POWs who spent the next 6 years in captivity. Bill Sloan’s Given Up for Dead covers the experience of the Marines and civillians abandonded on Wake Island shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The battle for Wake was greatly exploited by the US military as a sounding call to motivate the nation (the phrase “Alamo of the Pacific” and “WAKE UP” marketing campaign were similar to the post 9-11 phrase “Lets Roll”).

Sloan paints an accurate picture of both the conditions on the island and the treatment of the US POWs who spent the next 6 years in captivity.

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