Official Review: Pachyderms by Danny Buoy

[Rosemary Wright]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Pachyderms" by Danny Buoy.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Pachyderms, by Danny Buoy, is a war novel based on a true story, and it features Dan Coobat, a young American man, as the focal character. Coobat, a college graduate, joined the United States Army, and after basic training, as an infantryman, he was attached to the military aviation unit to serve as a flight operations specialist. Later, he and some other army personnel were deployed to South Vietnam to work with an assault helicopter company.

This well-written narrative unveils the high value the United States Army places on paperwork. Sincerely, before now, I didn't know they do a lot of documentation. This book has opened my eyes to how the military aviation unit operates. Also, it has informed me of how the pilots and aircraft are assigned. Though I found it difficult to grasp some of the acronyms used, the narration has a fast-paced and suspenseful plot. The premise is very appealing.

If you're not a fan of war stories, the description of the war events and aviation activities might bore you. Hence, I strongly advise you to steer clear of this book. Nevertheless, it'll be a pleasurable read for fans of the genre because it's realistic, compelling, and action-packed. The conversations are interesting and humorous occasionally.

Furthermore, the book reveals the soldiers' daily lives in the camp and offices. It tells about their experiences while they were off-duty. For example, their crazy R&R (rest and recuperation) adventures. Through the protagonist's eyes, I could see how the American Military Aviation Unit was involved in the Vietnam War in the 1960s. Besides, they showed the anxiety the military personnel felt when their airplanes, helicopters, and camp were attacked by the enemy. In spite of it all, the soldiers remained devoted and carried out their duties efficiently.

Every character in this narrative is described in depth. The author provided enough detail for each persona to facilitate relatability. Coobat and his colleagues-cum-friends in the operations unit are high-spirited, and I enjoyed reading about them. I was impressed by their serious concern for the wellbeing of one another. They ensured that, no matter what, they stuck together.

Overall, the book is engaging and enlightening. It's vividly narrated and well edited. I didn't find any grammatical and typographical errors. This war story was a worthwhile read for me, and therefore, I have no choice but to rate it 4 out of 4 stars. I didn't find any reason to give it a lower rating.

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Pachyderms
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Like Rosemary Wright's review? Post a comment saying so!

[Dahmy 10]

I love war stories. I love the actions that beautify them. Since this novel affords more information about the operations of the army, I'll surely go for it.

Thanks for this beautiful review.

[Cecilia_L]

I don't usually gravitate toward war stories. However, your in-depth review regarding the relatability of the characters piqued my interest. I find being able to connect with the characters to be the make or break point, whatever the genre.

[stacie k]

My most recent review was on another Vietnam-era story. I’d be interested to see the similarities and differences in these two accounts. Thanks for a well-done review!

[Corhan2]

Thanks for this compelling review. I'm sitting on the line regarding this genre, but after reading your review I most certainly will have to read this one. I will also find it interesting to learn more about the aviation unit.

[AliceofX]

Nice review. Often books that try to realistically portray life end up being boring, so I'm glad that in your case that wasn't true.

[iknwuzoh]

This book is about military life and pilot career. Those who read such will want this one. The reviewer did a nice job. Thanks for the review.

[Ferdinand_Otieno]

This is an interesting historical military fiction focussing on friendship, war stories, the Vietnam war, and a patriotic protagonist. It is free on Kindle Unlimited and has an inciteful OnlineBookClub review that highlights the book perfectly. Congrats on the BOTD selection.

[skindrukas]

I don't like war but I do like war books, especially the ones that are based on a true story. It would be interesting to read about the soldiers' daily lives in the camp and offices. I suspect some funny stories are hidden under the R&R, too.

[Stephen Campana]

Love a good war story, especially one with interesting characters and a well-written narrative. I may give this one a look. Thanks for the review, Rosemary.

[Ayesha Emjedi]

I'm not all that interested in war stories, but I love books that contains relatable characters with in-depth character; and by this review, I feel like this story has exactly that. I think that the part that would interest me most from this book would be reading about the daily lives of the soldiers.

[Keith mumero]

It's interesting to read the book and I have liked it because it shows mechanism for self defense

[Tan TR]

It can seem monotonous to read yet another war-related book, yet this one seems to offer a new perspective into the military operations, such as the paperwork. It sounds interesting to discover not just the solder’s point of view from enemy attacks, but the smaller details.

[Nikolas Farmakis]

Your review is expertly written and well-structured. I think your rating is fair and objective. Good work!

[María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda]

If you're not a fan of war stories, the description of the war events and aviation activities might bore you. Hence, I strongly advise you to steer clear of this book. Nevertheless, it'll be a pleasurable read for fans of the genre because it's realistic, compelling, and action-packed. The conversations are interesting and humorous occasionally.

Thanks for the heads up, this book isn't for me, then. I enjoy learning about history, especially uncovering hidden facts. The camaraderie aspect between soldiers you mention seems endearing but I find long descriptions of battles too tiresome.
Thanks for your thorough review!