When I started this book, I very quickly considered quitting. The first "part" has a few descriptive sex scenes. Since that isn't something I enjoy reading, I skipped them and wondered if I really wanted to finish the book. I was sure, however, that it was supposed to be a book about World War I. Since the war hadn't appeared, I persevered. And I was rewarded when I reached part 2! There were no more sex scenes in the book, and the war dominated the story.
Stephen Wraysford is a young man who visits France about ten years before the war to inspect factories. He then returns to France during the war and is involved in a great deal of fighting at the front for many years. There are also a couple brief parts in the book that deal with his descendant. I have read war books before, but not very many dealing with the first world war. I learned interesting things and realized what I knew more fully (like the miners who dug tunnels through the war to blow mines under the enemy and the huge loss of life due to poor information and decisions). I felt much more of a connection to that time and a greater appreciation for the experience of the men who fought.
This is definitely not a book for young readers. In addition to the earlier mentioned sex, the war scenes are very violent and gory. (They are very realistic.) It can also be a bit disgusting, since the conditions at the front are very unsanitary. This book is worth the time, in spite of the first part, which I didn't enjoy. Just man up and get past it, and the rest of the book is very enjoyable!
No comments:
Post a Comment