Review of The Funny Thing About War

[Jelani Trotter]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Funny Thing About War" by Al Campo.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Christopher Columbo, from a middle-class Italian family living in Long Island, New York, is an intelligent man who scored as one of the best in high school. He wanted to be a pilot and decided that the U.S. Navy might be the best for that. He took the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship exam, applied to various schools offering the NROTC program, scored well, and was finally stuck between two choices of schools: the University of Missouri, which offered him a scholarship, and Villanova, which was close to home. Chris, as he is called in the novel, has a girlfriend called Cassie, which makes him want to choose Villanova as it is close to home, but due to the finances of his family, his dad forces him to go to the University of Missouri. After a while at school, Chris came home to find out that Cassie was cheating. This made him crash out and start drinking and taking drugs, and his school grades dropped until he had to drop out. He lost confidence in himself.

Chris continued with his drug use and bad life habits, mingled with the wrong people, and was barely able to escape arrest until the Navy called him up for duty. Even though he dropped out of school, he had to pay his Navy service as it was a debt owed. Chris resumed active duty as a Seaman 3rd Class, and he could have become an Ensign officer had he completed his education. Chris was assigned to the USS Lawrence (DDG-4), which moves from Subic Bay in the Philippines to Vietnam, Hong Kong, and other places they were assigned to. Read The Funny Thing About War by Al Campo to learn about how ships work, what the ship crew do when they are not fighting a war, how the ship crew relate with each other even though there was tension in those days between the Black and white and their sexual and nightlife escapades, to state a few, through the eyes of Christopher Columbo.

It was quite interesting to see how Navy life works, their rules, and the names they give to some of their activities. Here, everyone has their duty, which could change depending on the season and period they are in. They used “chow” instead of eating anytime they wanted to, and there is a hierarchy that must always be respected; if not, they get on report and are assigned extra duties. I learned how life at sea can be calm one moment and, the next, chaotic, whether due to the weather or actual bullets flying. I never knew they could refuel a ship at sea, like a car getting refueled. The process could be complex, though, and requires the crew’s concentration. Chris also mentioned a morality poem, and it was my first time hearing it, and it was about a sailor senselessly killing an albatross. Albatrosses are believed to be a sign of good luck at sea.

Also, I got to know an admiral named Zumwalt, who promulgated several changes that improved racism and sexism. He was held in high regard by the Navy crew in those years. I liked how, while telling the main character’s story, the readers could still learn about the workings and happenings of the ship. I got to know that there’s an electronic countermeasure that can be used to throw the ship’s signals off the enemy’s radar. It made it difficult for the enemy to detect their ship. Chris was quite an interesting man who got along well with his mates and even helped and advised a younger crew member, Mazzarelli, who was not handling the enlistment well.

I saw quite a number of errors while reading. Also, there’s one thing I didn’t like, which is the overstretching of the novel; some activities became monotonous and repetitive. I believe some of it could have been cut out as they had already been written before.

This, being a story about people at sea, has a lot of profanity and explicit content. So, if you are not comfortable, you can skip it. I rate this 4 out of 5 stars because of the errors and my dislike. If you would love to read about the Vietnam War from the perspective of a veteran who not only used his story but added that of other veterans like himself, this is for you.

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The Funny Thing About War
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[Park Cherri]

​"The Funny Thing About War" by Al Campo provides a detailed portrayal of life aboard a U.S. Navy destroyer during the Vietnam War, offering readers an authentic glimpse into the daily routines and challenges faced by sailors. ​

[Temi Book]

Through the character of Christopher Columbo, the novel delves into the personal struggles of a young man grappling with academic failure, personal loss, and the rigors of military service, highlighting the complexities of human resilience and redemption. ​

[Joseph Phoebe]

The narrative effectively captures the racial tensions of the era, providing insight into the social dynamics aboard the ship and reflecting broader societal issues of the time. What a nice review you have here.

[Chris Sharon]

Wow, Interesting. Christopher's love for Cassie was so much that lost hope in himself because he found her cheating..

[Neto Onuoha]

The story about a young man and his personal struggles in life. It was sad to see how his life turned out after he wasn’t able to handle himself properly but gets to live a life he wouldn’t have lived if things turned out ok. But he is able to make the most of his new life at sea and his new companions. The story also highlights things like racism and the events of the war.

[Mark Lazarus]

It sounds like a raw and immersive glimpse into Navy life, offering both the highs and lows of military service during the Vietnam War. The blend of personal struggle and historical insight seems compelling, though the repetition and errors might make it a bit frustrating at times. Still, it could be an eye-opener for anyone interested in the experiences of veterans.

[Barry Jones 2]

Thanks for this interactive eveluation. The book sounds informative about Navy traditions.

[Barry Jones 2]

Thanks for this interactive eveluation. The book sounds informative about Navy traditions.

[KeishaMoore]

Christopher's breakdown is a testament to the fact that our actions doesn't only affect us but the people around us. And I feel like he threw his life away over someone that didn't deserve his love. I understand that his love for Cassie might be the reason why he found it hard to move on.

[Amanda Gibbs]

I was struck by Christopher Columbo's journey from a promising high school student to a troubled young adult struggling with addiction and lost opportunities. It was like he was on a downward spiral.

[Kaidynn Frazier]

I couldn’t help but sympathize with the character of Chris. I enjoyed reading about his journey and learnt a lot from it .