The Thin Red Line by James Jones Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $10.54 You Save: $1.41 (12%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.46 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Thin Red Line
Book Review: An American Warfare Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
The Thin Red Line is one of the few warfare novels that entertains the reader with both gripping combat descriptions and believable, developed characterizations. It is at once both adrenaline-pumping and psychologically engaging, and somehow never loses momentum, even when the action stops. James Jones' simple, vulgar, and addictive prose sucks the reader into the world of the soldier, and he'll want to come back only to reassure himself that he's at home, safe and sound. Set on the island of Guadalcanal at the beginning of WWII, the novel centers about C-for-Charlie Company, a group of soldiers thrust into combat for the first time. The soldiers do not, however, enter into combat immediately. First they must travel through the oppressive tropical jungle, getting closer and closer to the fighting as they go, all of them dreading what is to come and wondering how they, themselves will react to combat. When they do fight, very few of them react as they thought they would. Some find they are cowards, some conquer their fear and become heroes, and all the while the reader shares in their apprehension, their terror, and their exultation. Like all great books, The Thin Red Line is highly thematic. Through the soldiers' thoughts, Jones discusses a number of topical issues, from the ethical to the political to the sexual. One of the most important recurring issues is the question, "How much difference can one man make?" Others include governmental authority, homosexuality, and how men act vs. how they think. The depth of the soldiers' thoughts gives us insight into their characters and is truly what sets this novel apart. Any reader will enjoy the novel for its characterizations and the mental stimulation it provides, and the enthralling action puts icing on the cake. The Thin Red Line is truly an American warfare classic.Book Review: Amazing descriptions...
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Thin Red Line" is one of the best books I've ever read. Even from the first pages the book took a hold of me and I could hardly put it down (eventually you've got to sleep at least a few hours...). Jones descriptions of the different persons thoughts and psychology is amazing. The only negative thing about the book was that the last part didn't really match the first 2 thirds of the book. But still it's a great book.If you enjoyed this book also take a look at "Das Boot" by Lothar-Günther Buchheim. The true story about a German submarine crew during WWII as the author experienced it first hand.
Book Review: As true to life as they get...
Summary: 5 Stars
The Thin Red Line is a book that dives deep into the minds of the men fighting on Guadalcanal. It begins by getting inside the heads of the men of C-for-Charlie Company. Through the varied personalities, the reader sees what it's like to fight against Japanese and to kill them. Men like Corporal Fife undergo a complete transformation by the end of the novel. The soldiers learn many tough lessons such as the fact that every man is replaceable. This novel is so unique when compared to other war novels because of the graphic realism it portrays. Everything I had ever believed or thought I knew about war has been completely reversed by this book. There was such a human element that made it so compelling to read. The men slowly become dehumanized as the numbness of combat sets in. I challenge anyone who enjoys learning about war to read this book. I doubt that anyone could come away from it unchanged. War becomes an aspect of life that one can only understand if they experience it. This novel proves once and for all that no one should want to experience it... only read about it to gain a new appreciation for the men that fight for freedom.
"One day one of their number would write a book about all this, but none of them would believe it, because none of them would remember it that way."
Book Review: attention to detail
Summary: 4 Stars
Several Reviewers have missed the point that Charlie Company is composed of the peacetime army regulars. I would view Charlie Company as an oufit that had been garrisoned at Schoffied Barracks before the attack on Pearl Harbor. Thus the mindset and the motivation of these men as professional infantry is quite different than the draftees who came into the army after Pearl Harbor. Moreover, James Jones is the first novelist I know who describes the phenomenon of the Pacific Theatre "slit trench". Particulary the reluctance of soldiers to dig a slit trench that would serve as protection against Japanese bomber planes. However when Charlie Comapany suffers a night air raid. The next morning all the soldiers are out digging their trench. I have heard about this reluctance to dig trenches and the alacrity in digging them the next morning from several south pacific veterans Another nice touch is the cost of whiskey in the South Pacific theatre. A hundred years from know how many historians will know that a bottle of whiskey could cost up to $50.00, except from a novel like The thin Red Line. It is the small details that give this book its authenticity. I also suspect that James Jones probably understated some of the brutality of this campaign, simply because he knew many readers would never believe the truth about Guadalcanal. Likewise, it is only the lunatics who stay in the combat infantry. At the end of the book all the sane soldiers manage to get themselves evacuated out of the combat zone. Only lunatics like Welsh refuse the opportunity to leave the war. Jones implies if you are engaging in war you are either insane or you will go insane.Book Review: The Thin Red Line between bravey and cowardice
Summary: 5 Stars
James Jones writes of war as few novelists can. The chararcters in The Thin Red Line could be any man in any given war. There is no black and white or right and wrong in this novel. Here is a book that examines the lack of distinctions that exist when we exit the safety of our homes and throw our lives into the ugly trough that is warfare. One of the most compelling themes in this novel is the exploration of cowardice and bravey. Through the use of internal monologue the reader discovers that all of these men question their courage, fear the stigma of cowardice, and must contend with their self doubt as they face a reality more frightening than anything faced before in their lives. What we learn from James Jones is a simple lesson that no man should forget....there are NO cowards in war. There are men who are frightened and there are men who pretend not to be frightened. But cowardice is ridiculous. Each soldier has only his own life in his own hands and must decide how to conduct himself given his dire circumstances. This is a novel in which the anatgonist is not the soldier who turns and runs when faced with combat, but instead is the entire revolting circumstance that was the Pacific Theater. This is a lesson that only a master storyteller and WWII veteran can teach.