Good book to read
January 1st 2007 00:28
Back again
Just finished reading an interesting and thought provoking book by a guy called Colby Buzzell, called My War, Killing time in Iraq. I read a couple of books a week and thought I would give this one a go, not really knowing what to expect?
Well I must say I really enjoyed the open and honest straight up style of writing. Colby served for two years, so wasn't a career soldier and his writing reflects that. From when he first enlisted 'the recruiter lied', to when he finally left 'woohoo'.
When you first start reading, it would be easy to think 'Oh yeah, typical high school drop out and he makes no apologies for this, but as you read on, you start thinking, there is more to this guy than I first thought and if you look past the swearing etc, you realise from his writing that there is much more to Colby than what appears on the surface .
It seems, he did do a blog, which rekindled my interest in starting one again, so here I am finally.
His writing captures all aspects of army life, the laughs, the mindless rountie and boredem but also the chaos and terror of battle, which is never like most of the movies etc.
Reading this book doesn't mean that you are pro bush or the war, but that you are getting another view point from the average joe on the ground, to understand a major conflict of the 21st century. It's almost on pair with the books Chickenhawk by Robert Mason and Despatches by Michael Herr, which also give a very good understanding of what war is actually about, eg chaos, bloodshed, loss, heroics etc . Another good book to read is Vulcan 607 about the Falklands War.
The one thing that came out of reading Colby's book is I thought I would look for some current blogs. Well what I found was a site detailing the casualties from both sides of the war in Iraq, with very graphic pics. Now I have some experience from time in the emergency services in the UK but these were pretty awful, made me realise what is actually going on over there
Just incase anyone thinks I might be a war junkie, that's not the case, I just like to be informed of what is happening around me and current book that I reading is called A Teaspoon and an Open Mind, The Science of Dr Who, so will let you know my opinon when I have finished it.
Oh a piece in the Christchurch Press caught my attention on Sun called 'Desperate and Dateless in Canterbury'. Its about Cantabrians leading the nation on internet dating listings and poses the question are they more computer savy or just more desperate?
Hard to say really but the experience is interesting although one quote caught my eye 'the internet was nice and discreet- important for a married man like him' . Well all I can say is hope you get caught.
Guess really need to do some editing now but then again weather has cleared up just a little so might go for a mtb ride.
Oh if you have enjoyed this please pass on details to friends, thanks
Bye for now
Hal
Just finished reading an interesting and thought provoking book by a guy called Colby Buzzell, called My War, Killing time in Iraq. I read a couple of books a week and thought I would give this one a go, not really knowing what to expect?
Well I must say I really enjoyed the open and honest straight up style of writing. Colby served for two years, so wasn't a career soldier and his writing reflects that. From when he first enlisted 'the recruiter lied', to when he finally left 'woohoo'.
When you first start reading, it would be easy to think 'Oh yeah, typical high school drop out and he makes no apologies for this, but as you read on, you start thinking, there is more to this guy than I first thought and if you look past the swearing etc, you realise from his writing that there is much more to Colby than what appears on the surface .
It seems, he did do a blog, which rekindled my interest in starting one again, so here I am finally.
His writing captures all aspects of army life, the laughs, the mindless rountie and boredem but also the chaos and terror of battle, which is never like most of the movies etc.
Reading this book doesn't mean that you are pro bush or the war, but that you are getting another view point from the average joe on the ground, to understand a major conflict of the 21st century. It's almost on pair with the books Chickenhawk by Robert Mason and Despatches by Michael Herr, which also give a very good understanding of what war is actually about, eg chaos, bloodshed, loss, heroics etc . Another good book to read is Vulcan 607 about the Falklands War.
The one thing that came out of reading Colby's book is I thought I would look for some current blogs. Well what I found was a site detailing the casualties from both sides of the war in Iraq, with very graphic pics. Now I have some experience from time in the emergency services in the UK but these were pretty awful, made me realise what is actually going on over there
Just incase anyone thinks I might be a war junkie, that's not the case, I just like to be informed of what is happening around me and current book that I reading is called A Teaspoon and an Open Mind, The Science of Dr Who, so will let you know my opinon when I have finished it.
Oh a piece in the Christchurch Press caught my attention on Sun called 'Desperate and Dateless in Canterbury'. Its about Cantabrians leading the nation on internet dating listings and poses the question are they more computer savy or just more desperate?
Hard to say really but the experience is interesting although one quote caught my eye 'the internet was nice and discreet- important for a married man like him' . Well all I can say is hope you get caught.
Guess really need to do some editing now but then again weather has cleared up just a little so might go for a mtb ride.
Oh if you have enjoyed this please pass on details to friends, thanks
Bye for now
Hal
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