Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

A third of the way in to this book, I knew I was reading a best-seller. By using nearly all of the anti-war stereotypes, being horribly anti-Vietnam War in every sense (The author surely couldn't believe this is a neutral book), and stringing together war cliche after war cliche, he assured himself of a heroes welcome in the literary world. I didn't write a review at the time as I had a book on Viet Nam just out and I knew my opinion would just be dismissed as sour grapes. (He outsold my non-fiction book by about a million to one) Plus, the author has three attributes which I have to admire--A Marine Officer, the recipient of a Navy Cross, and he's an author. Writing books is challenging and I always hesitate to attack anyone who goes through the process. Navy Crosses aren't passed out at mail call either. This book, however, is horribly written when compared to the great war books--The Naked and the Dead, The Thin Red Line, A Rumor of War, Fields of Fire, All Quiet on the Western Front, (all of which this book has been favorably compared to) and many many more. One of the many weaknesses is the dialogue--basically the "f" word. Sure Marines talk like that. Creating readable fiction, however, is not about taking shorthand in the field so you can have accurate dialogue. The authors understanding of Marine aviation is abysmal. And insulting. Of one thing you can be sure--every ready room (where pilots gather to await missions) in Viet Nam was a hot spot of cajoling, begging, and demanding pilots TRYING to get the next mission. To even hint that Marine medevac helicopter pilots were not willing to rescue wounded Marines no matter the danger and difficulty is just blasphemy. He should be ashamed. I suspect, given his ridiculous lack of knowledge of the "throttle" of a helicopter, that he just didn't care. And bomb-bay doors on an F-4? HMMMM. Denigrating the jet jocks for missing a hilltop? He also has no idea how difficult (and dangerous) it is to drop through clouds in a mountainous area at 3 or 4 hundred knots and bomb or rocket a hilltop the size of a handball court when there are friendlies around. (Yes, I was a Marine pilot in Viet Nam and I take it personally). Mr. Marlantes characterization of almost all of the senior Marine officers as venal, alcoholic buffoons is beyond sad, and reflects more upon himself than he evidently realizes. Finally, Mr. Marlantes commits the cardinal sin (for me) in writing about the Viet Nam War--the perpetuation of two of the many myths about the war. There is no evidence whatsoever that the North Vietnamese troops were better fighters than the U.S. troops.Period. One reason, he gives, is that they were fighting for their own land. Really? Why did they call them "North" Vietnamese? They had no more right to the land in South Vietnam than Canada has to Michigan. I seriously doubt that Mr. Marlantes meant that the battle took place north of the DMZ, though that was where the North Vietnamese had land to fight for. War-memoir novels are either statements or just narcissistic entertainment. Mr. Marlantes has every right to make his 'statement.' It is an anti-Vietnam War, anti-American policy, anti-Marine Corps statement. At least call it what it is. Don't pull a John Kerry on the public, wearing your medals proudly but proclaiming that everyone else must have received theirs for horrifying, despicable acts. You can't have it both ways.