The Thin Red Line
by James Jones
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Book Summary Information
Author: James JonesEdition: Paperback
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 1998-02-09
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 528
Book Reviews of The Thin Red Line
Book Review: Thin Red Line is the ultimate historical fiction novel
Summary: 5 Stars
The story follows members of Jones's beloved C-for-Charlie company, who ascend the beaches of Guadalcanal to fight the Japanese. I'll admit, it was hard for me to get past the first chapter or two. But for some reason, after Charlie Company arrives and begins to explore the land, Jones's writing seemed to change, and he was able to completely drag me in. It was after this point that the book became personal, I didn't leave home without it, and finished it in about a week. The reason it becomes very personal is because Jones magnifies each character individually. We see their reactions to the horrors around them, which often turn out to be very uncomfortable for the reader (sexuality is a stand-out theme here). Unlike the recent film version, the novel centers mostly around Fife, a solitary, shy soldier who has an especially hard time adjusting to the violence and lifestyle of war. Witt (the main character in the movie) does appear here, and he's an interesting character, but he comes and goes. There are handfuls of other characters that you come to know and love (or hate). I knew from the beginning that everything the author said and explored would have to be believable because he went through the ordeal himself in the 25th Infantry Division. With that in mind, the way Jones jumped seamlessly from character to character, sharing their true thoughts and actions, was incredible. I've never experienced anything like it. There was nothing at all about the book that dissapointed me; in fact, I plan to read it again. My only regret it that I saw the movie first, and while the two are similar, they shouldn't be compared at all.
Since completing it, it's now hard for me to believe this book was written all the way back in 1962. James Jones comes off as a genius, a modern genius. Created into two movies, I don't think anyone should dream of going without reading this book, unless you're someone who has a hard time stomaching very dramatic themes. Jones explores issues of sexuality, violence, death, loneliness, and a variety of other serious emotions that do create a disturbing novel. An amazingly-written book.
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