Official Review: The Funny Side of War by Mat Vance

[Amheiser]

This is a really good review of this book, but I'm not sure I could ever really enjoy a book about the craziness of war. The anecdotes written about in this story reminded me of when I listened in on a conversation among some doctors. The doctors' conversation contained a lot of things that I would consider too gross to talk about. I think that comes from having to have a different perspective on things so it isn't as upsetting as it would be to a person who hasn't experienced anything like surgery or war. Having lost a family member to the war in Iraq in what still seems like the not too distant past, I think I am still too close to the hurt to appreciate this book. Maybe after a while, if I could ever bring myself to read it, it might make it seem like maybe there might have been some experiences that my family member found to be entertaining enough so that it wasn't all such a totally horrible experience.

[bookowlie]

Anheuser, I am so sorry for your loss. I think the anecdotes in the book were a good representation of how people cope with being in a dangerous, stressful environment day after day. Your comparison to the doctors' coversation is a very good example.

[Cee-Jay Aurinko]

Sounds like something that will have me laughing out loud on every page. I like that you mentioned that the line between funny and what is appropriate can get blurred. This one sentence actually says a lot about what this book is really about. I'm glad I read this review bookowlie. Very enjoyable.

[bookowlie]

Hey Cee-Jay (you know I love saying that!) - I read this book several months ago, but it really stayed with me. The things that soldiers do to get through the day during wartime are funny, sad, moving, and a whole lot of other adjectives. Just a hodge-podge of emotions to get through dangerous missions.