THANKS FOR JOINING ME ON FRIDAYS FOR BOOK BEGINNING FUN!
Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author’s name.
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YOUR BOOK BEGINNING
MY BOOK BEGINNING
Despite more than a decade of occupation and armed conflict, there is one reality show American viewers are not offered. War.
-- Exit Wounds: Soldier's Stories - Life After Iraq and Afghanistan, from the author's Preface, "America is not at war. The Marine Corps is at war; America is at the mall."
Fifty men and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan talk about why they went to war and how the war came home with them. Portraits by Jim Lommasson are interspersed with some of the soldiers’ own photographs from the war zones.
Not exactly something we wanna watch. Too "real." Reality shows are about escape, in my opinion ...
ReplyDeleteHmm, I wouldn't want to watch a reality show of war, but maybe that should tell us something. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was teaching Social Studies a few years ago I made a similar comment about America not being at war but being at the movies. A student repeated it at home and I was "spoken to" about making students feel bad for being privileged. (!) Can you believe that one? It was a middle school class and I said nothing about the situation of people in the town where I teach.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like it would be a compelling and memorable book. I don't think any of us can comprehend the realities of war.
ReplyDeleteThis one seems very intense.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds really interesting, and could be a really visceral connection with the photos.
ReplyDeleteHi Gilion,
ReplyDeleteWe have our own challenges right now regarding the on-going situation, with a much delayed report about our governments actions in taking us into the Iraq war looking more and more as though it is going to be some kind of cover-up, so us seeing 'live war' programmes probably isn't going to help the families of the deceased service personnel, who look set to begin a private class action against the enquiry for the undue delay!
Therefore, a compelling book, but probably not one for me!
My lines this week come from another book which in a roundabout way concerns the Second World War, a much safer option!
'Daughters Of The House' by Michele Roberts
http://www.fiction-books.biz/first-lines/daughters-of-the-house-by-michele-roberts/
Have a great weekend and thanks for hosting.
Yvonne.
It might be one that I would suggest that others I know might want to check out but I don't think it's my kind of read. I like escapism more than realism, I guess!
ReplyDeleteThat quote really hits close to the truth, I think, because it reveals how little anyone actually enjoys war, despite governments always considering it as an option. War leaves a lot of scars on both countries and has terrible consequences and aftermaths, such as IS now. I features a thriller read, which is somehow less scary than your read I feel!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting :) I hope you have a great weekend!
Juli @ Universe in Words
Another interesting book.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Book Beginnings
Sadly, Americans focus on the wrong thing all too often.
ReplyDelete@dino0726 from
FictionZeal - Impartial, Straightforward Fiction Book Reviews
This sounds like an incredibly intense but worthwhile read.
ReplyDeleteI love that line from the Preface. It is so true. This sounds like an important book. I hope you are enjoying it.
ReplyDeleteSounds a very intense read.
ReplyDeleteCora @ Tea Party Princess
Hi Gillion,
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting book.
Have a great day!
Hope you enjoyed your book. :)
ReplyDeleteI'll bet it's thought provoking.
ReplyDeleteHmmm, I am uncertain...do I post my beginning for this week here or on the Thursday coming? Probably the Thursday coming huh? Ah well, Ive been on vacation and missed all the ones posted here, so off I go!
ReplyDelete