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Brett C's Reviews > Johnny Got His Gun
Johnny Got His Gun
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I thought this was OK. The setting is an American soldier, Joe Bonham, in a military hospital during WWI. While on the front, an artillery attack blew off his limbs and left him blind, deaf, and mute. This is all experienced through Joe's perspective as he slips in and out of his present-day reality, war memories, and various memories from childhood and adolescence.
Overall the book read quickly but I had to pay attention as reality and dream intertwined without warning. I would describe the writing style as disjointed, distressed, and sometimes confusing. The narrative is written in stream of consciousness with run-on sentences and fragmented thought patterns. At times the writing was eloquent and clear; other times it mimicked anxiety and pressured speech in rate, rhythm, and tone. I would describe this similar to someone trying to express themselves while having a panic attack or having a manic episode.
About half way through I realized Born On The Forth of July by Ron Kovic was way better. Ron Kovic wrote with pain but also showed hope and wanting to heal. This book was darker in tone and the sentiment was anti-war. It's not a bad book but different. Thanks!
Overall the book read quickly but I had to pay attention as reality and dream intertwined without warning. I would describe the writing style as disjointed, distressed, and sometimes confusing. The narrative is written in stream of consciousness with run-on sentences and fragmented thought patterns. At times the writing was eloquent and clear; other times it mimicked anxiety and pressured speech in rate, rhythm, and tone. I would describe this similar to someone trying to express themselves while having a panic attack or having a manic episode.
About half way through I realized Born On The Forth of July by Ron Kovic was way better. Ron Kovic wrote with pain but also showed hope and wanting to heal. This book was darker in tone and the sentiment was anti-war. It's not a bad book but different. Thanks!
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W
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Jan 30, 2021 07:08AM
Born on the Fourth July was an excellent movie as well,with Tom Cruise giving one of his best performances.
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W wrote: "Born on the Fourth July was an excellent movie as well,with Tom Cruise giving one of his best performances."I agree, W! He gave a great performance in that one!!
Great review, Brett. I would agree that I would also give it a 1 or 2 star being as I didn't really care for it. But you are right about it being an anti-war book and that was why we had to read in in school in 1972.
Joe wrote: "Great review, Brett. I would agree that I would also give it a 1 or 2 star being as I didn't really care for it. But you are right about it being an anti-war book and that was why we had to read in..."Thanks, Joe!! I tried but I just couldn't get into the way I did Born On The Forth of July. I wonder how the public would take reading it in schools nowadays...
Now, when I read this in high school, it knocked my socks off. Talk about an indictment of the horror and pity of war!!!
Pat wrote: "Now, when I read this in high school, it knocked my socks off. Talk about an indictment of the horror and pity of war!!!"Agreed, Pat! This book shows nothing pretty about war!
