Review by Wokeread -- A Police Action by A. A. Freda
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Wokeread
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Review by Wokeread -- A Police Action by A. A. Freda
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Police Action" by A. A. Freda.]
A Police Action is a historical fiction novel by A. A. Freda. It features an endearing romance between two young adults. The American government is deploying soldiers to fight in a war that they refer to as a police action. James Coppi, an army draftee, is deployed to serve in Vietnam with only ten months remaining on his tour of duty. Shortly before leaving home, James argues with his girlfriend because he does not want to make any plans for the future before concluding his service with the military.
James arrives at Fort Carson, Colorado for training before deployment. On his first weekend at Fort Carson, he reluctantly agrees to go out with some old friends. Whilst at the Country Honky-Tonk in Colorado Springs, he meets Samantha “Sam” Powers. They end up spending the weekend together. Sam is in a bind and she confides in James, even though she barely knows him. James goes out of his way to help her out.
The two embark on a relationship and become extremely close. When the time comes for James to leave for Vietnam, he makes arrangements to ensure Sam will be taken care of financially, though he refuses to commit to her.
This is a story about two young people who meet when they are both flawed. Sam is trying to establish a new life for herself away from her strict parents, but in the process she makes mistakes and ends up in trouble. James is a wheeler dealer who never shies away from an opportunity to make money, even if it's by taking advantage of others’ weaknesses or vulnerabilities. He takes pride in annoying his superiors and getting away with whatever wrongful behavior he chooses to engage in.
Yet he is also extremely generous and caring as shown by his relationship with Sam and his fellow soldiers. This makes him a remarkably compelling character. Meeting James has a profound impact on Sam. She strives to turn her life around and prove her independence to him, even refusing to use the money he avails to her. Whilst I observe a lot of growth in Sam, I cannot say the same of James, whose life seems to take even more of a downward spiral due to the effects of the war. Luckily for him, a now reformed and independent Sam is there to jolt him out of his slump.
I was intrigued by the title of the book, so I looked it up. I found out that a police action is defined as a localized military action undertaken without formal declaration of war. The attitude of the characters in the book brings out the political intrigues surrounding the Vietnam War, as they constantly query its purpose and some of the decisions their superiors make. It was interesting watching the characters as they trained for deployment, moving with them to Vietnam and going on different missions with them.
The author vividly describes the events without being extremely graphic, in a way that clearly brings out the fear, agony and grief that the soldiers go through. The story is made real by an odd mix of characters, who all play a vital part in moving the plot forward.
What I liked most about the book was how the author weaved in details about the war, including political issues around it, into what is basically a love story. I especially enjoyed the relationship between the soldiers and was amazed at how humorous their interactions were, even when surrounded by death and devastation.
The only thing I disliked about the book was that the author seems to have completely forgotten James had a girlfriend back home, with whom he had argued before he left due to his refusal to commit. There was no evidence of them having broken up, even after he got back home. This story arc was incomplete and left a hole in the story.
I found the book well edited and thoroughly enjoyable. I rate it 4 out of 4. I recommend it to adult readers who like romance and historical fiction, especially stories set against the background of war. It is inappropriate for young readers due to explicit sex scenes, use of profanity and adult themes like war and abortion.
******
A Police Action
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A Police Action is a historical fiction novel by A. A. Freda. It features an endearing romance between two young adults. The American government is deploying soldiers to fight in a war that they refer to as a police action. James Coppi, an army draftee, is deployed to serve in Vietnam with only ten months remaining on his tour of duty. Shortly before leaving home, James argues with his girlfriend because he does not want to make any plans for the future before concluding his service with the military.
James arrives at Fort Carson, Colorado for training before deployment. On his first weekend at Fort Carson, he reluctantly agrees to go out with some old friends. Whilst at the Country Honky-Tonk in Colorado Springs, he meets Samantha “Sam” Powers. They end up spending the weekend together. Sam is in a bind and she confides in James, even though she barely knows him. James goes out of his way to help her out.
The two embark on a relationship and become extremely close. When the time comes for James to leave for Vietnam, he makes arrangements to ensure Sam will be taken care of financially, though he refuses to commit to her.
This is a story about two young people who meet when they are both flawed. Sam is trying to establish a new life for herself away from her strict parents, but in the process she makes mistakes and ends up in trouble. James is a wheeler dealer who never shies away from an opportunity to make money, even if it's by taking advantage of others’ weaknesses or vulnerabilities. He takes pride in annoying his superiors and getting away with whatever wrongful behavior he chooses to engage in.
Yet he is also extremely generous and caring as shown by his relationship with Sam and his fellow soldiers. This makes him a remarkably compelling character. Meeting James has a profound impact on Sam. She strives to turn her life around and prove her independence to him, even refusing to use the money he avails to her. Whilst I observe a lot of growth in Sam, I cannot say the same of James, whose life seems to take even more of a downward spiral due to the effects of the war. Luckily for him, a now reformed and independent Sam is there to jolt him out of his slump.
I was intrigued by the title of the book, so I looked it up. I found out that a police action is defined as a localized military action undertaken without formal declaration of war. The attitude of the characters in the book brings out the political intrigues surrounding the Vietnam War, as they constantly query its purpose and some of the decisions their superiors make. It was interesting watching the characters as they trained for deployment, moving with them to Vietnam and going on different missions with them.
The author vividly describes the events without being extremely graphic, in a way that clearly brings out the fear, agony and grief that the soldiers go through. The story is made real by an odd mix of characters, who all play a vital part in moving the plot forward.
What I liked most about the book was how the author weaved in details about the war, including political issues around it, into what is basically a love story. I especially enjoyed the relationship between the soldiers and was amazed at how humorous their interactions were, even when surrounded by death and devastation.
The only thing I disliked about the book was that the author seems to have completely forgotten James had a girlfriend back home, with whom he had argued before he left due to his refusal to commit. There was no evidence of them having broken up, even after he got back home. This story arc was incomplete and left a hole in the story.
I found the book well edited and thoroughly enjoyable. I rate it 4 out of 4. I recommend it to adult readers who like romance and historical fiction, especially stories set against the background of war. It is inappropriate for young readers due to explicit sex scenes, use of profanity and adult themes like war and abortion.
******
A Police Action
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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Julius_
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A nice book about a military life at the Vietnamese war. Thanks for the review.
We're all philosophers. When there's a tough choice to be made, when faced with the facts of birth,love or death or simply when thinking about what we want to do with our lives.
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