Official Review: Good for One Ride by Gary McGinnis

[ElizaBeth Adams]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Good for One Ride" by Gary McGinnis.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Good for One Ride, by Gary McGinnis, details the experiences of Theo Garrett while serving in Vietnam. Though fictional, McGinnis' novel is rooted deeply in his own experiences. Set during the 1968 Tet Offensive, the narrative is told from Theo's first-person perspective. Garrett becomes a water purification specialist. He witnesses many war atrocities during his time of service, and the reader has a window into Garrett's struggle to survive both emotionally and physically. By the end of his time in the war, his behavior becomes increasingly erratic and seemingly paranoid, depicting the psychological scars he obtains.

This book has many strengths. It is a brief read while chronicling valuable content. When telling a war story, balancing realistic descriptions of the horrors of war while not being gratuitously gory is difficult. The author achieved this balance. I liked getting the perspective of a character who experienced mid-level combat. As a water purification specialist, Garrett is in constant danger due to nearby fighting, but he is never on the front-lines. I also enjoyed the author's poetic writing style. Many of the chapters begin with a brief poem. The prose is even written with hauntingly beautiful, lyrical phrasing.

My favorite part of this story is that it challenges the reader to look intently at controversial issues: the ethical concerns surrounding the draft, soldiers' healthy and unhealthy coping mechanisms, the ways American soldiers turned the people they were defending into victims, and how living months upon months in such caustic conditions can take a lifetime to heal from. The tale is told matter-of-factly, without any apparent agenda other than to share Garrett's story. In this process, the reader can't help but wrestle with these issues along with him.

In this book, I enjoyed the ancillary characters' lewdness the least. Some of Garrett's fellow soldiers often acquired prostitutes for drunken nights of pleasure. Garrett also witnessed two soldiers taking away a little girl, apparently to abuse her sexually. Though these dark pages were cringe-worthy, McGinnis handles these topics as delicately as possible. Furthermore, these events do add value to the story. They help the reader understand the pain and guilt brewing within Garrett. While risking his life for American values, he is watching and participating in events that devalue the local Vietnam citizens. The mood throughout this entire story is encapsulated by this moral dilemma.

I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. It was well-edited. I only found a handful of concrete errors, and they did not impact my enjoyment of the book. Readers should know this novel contains strong language and sketches out some painful realities of war. I recommend this book to adults who enjoy war-time historical fiction and who wish to learn more about the Vietnam War. Also, combat veterans struggling with PTSD may identify strongly with Garrett. This could be therapeutic or horrific.

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Good for One Ride
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[JKO]

I would love to learn about the experiences of Theo Garrett while serving in Vietnam. Thanks for the review.

[J_odoyo]

Sounds like a nice read. I like it that the author achieved a rare balance of realistic descriptions of the horrors of war while at the same time not being gratuitously gory. Not my type though. Otherwise, thanks for your incredible review. Good job!

[Miller56]

Thanks for the review. I appreciate a book that can tell a story that obviously does not show our better selves. There are a lot of people who come back from wars with mental scars that they cannot come to peace with. This book sounds like it touches on the war and the scars in a meaningful way.

[Kachi_Ejiogu+_]

Great analysis. Sounds like an interesting read. The author of this book has done a great job, judging by the content of the review. I hope to enjoy it as you did. Thank you.

[Ediomis_Enwongo01]

I have heard so much about the Vietnam war in a passing. This book might grant me the opportunity to know the event surrounding the war. Great review.

[Adanna Inya]

I believe that PTSD is real especially with veterans. I'm thankful that Garrett can take us to Vietnam through his narrative.

[Mbrooks2518]

It seemss like the author did a great job writing this story. However, I'm not a fan of war novels, so I'll pass. Great review!