Anyone read Jarhead by Anthony Swofford?

[m-jean03]

I know there is a lot of controversy. The left has embraced this book while amazon.com is full of naysayers on the military side. What do you think?

Myself, I didn't think I was such a cowardly civilian I wouldn't be able to handle this book, but after the first chapter I'm debating whether to go on. It's really upsetting. I thought reading it would broaden my worldy knowledge, but it just makes me too sad. Anyone else react this way to war literature and film? It is like there is somethinginside of me, a too-sympathetic reaction, strongly compelling me to abandon these things whenever I make an attempt to read or watch them. Other examples of this happened with Rumor of War and Apocalypse Now. Everyone I know seems able to handle these things but I just hurt.

[Fenris]

1. Is that Swofford's book?

[m-jean03]

2. Yes by Anthony Swofford

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. I read excerpts from it in a magazine

Seems like a very good book. I'll read it once it gets to paperback.

[Red_Storm]

4. War Is Hell

[geniph]

5. My husband, who is an ex-Marine combat veteran,

read it and found it very moving. He was in tears several times. He thought it was an excellent book, very true to the Marine mindset - not gung-ho and jingoistic as the Hollywood image is, but very professional and loyal.