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Summary: ~I never cry nor read as much as i should but...
Review: ...this book had me in tears and enthralled! I let it envelop me as i read the whole book in one day. ~The way it is written is disliked by some, but one must realize that the lack of punctuation is needed to produce the in-mind feeling, or flow of concinseness that, with out, this story would be nowhere. This IS the tail of a young soldier whose life is TAKEN from him in World WarII... and though he still lives, he "lives" as a deaf-and-dumb quad-amputee with a crator for a face and less than stumps for limbs. ~This story is a "collection" of delusional thoughts/memories/dreams of a drugged stump. Unable to communicate or even really know what is going on, he is left with nothing but his mind- That which he explores extensively. ~It opened my eyes to things other than just the brutalities of war, but to the brutalities of life in general, things that are all to easilly ignored and forgotten by all that live confortably. ~This novel is well written as it switches back and forth from "the present time" to the boy's colourful past life as "told/remembered" by him. ~Though this writting may sometimes give the feeling of detatchment from the "real story" to some, one must realize that it all really does tie in with the overall meaning (which is... well, i'll let you derive that on your own). Though all of it is "seen" throught the "eyes" of a heavily sedated hunk of thinking flesh- one does not have to be drugged out of mind to comprehend it for ones' self. ~The things that take place during the "present time" allows one to know what it is that the boy is going through, as the flashbacks give insight into the charachter of this boy and the situations he had been in to make him as such in character. You, as the reader, are at his bed side through out it all -the whole duration- with no desire to leave him. ~The author expertly employs everyday emotion and thought to draw/let the reader into this soldier's incredably small, yet bitterly lonely world. The blunt reality is shocking yet presented in such graceless tact it amazes. ~I read this book during the summer following my Freshman year in highschool. Still, as i suspect it always will be, it is welcomed in to haunt my thoughts occasionally. ~I liked it.
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Summary: Johnny Got His Gun
Review: "Johnny Got His Gun"is a wonderful book about things that happened during WW2 that you would never hear about on the news or any place else accept when you hear it from the solgier himself. This book really makes you stop and think if all of the fighting and war crimes that have taken place throughout the years were truly necessary because this story only focusses on one man's story so you can only imagine what happend to thousands of other people just like him. "Johnny Got His Gun" is about a young man from Colorado who lives a normal teenage life. He goes out at night with his friends and lived a life just like any other teenager does. He tells us many stories of how he used to work in a bakery with all of the other guys and the different girls he has gone out with and how he moved with his family from Colorado to California. There was always one girl, Kareen, who he had a special place in his heart for but little did he know that once he went away from her he would never be comming back. One day when he was about twenty years old he was called to war and had to go fight. He was not crazy about the idea but he knew that he had to go, so he said his good-bye's and got on the train with all of the other men and they were off to go defend their country. As time went on and he fought he was brutally injured, the next thing that he knew he was in a hospital bed blind, deaf, and had half of a face, no legs and no arms. He did not know if he were dreaming or this was real but soon he realized that this was real and that all of this had happened to him and he was going to have to live with it. Not being able to talk, move, or hear made him realize that all he had left in life was hi brain so he began to think, he soon learned how keep track time in his own way, weather or not it was right there was no way for him to know. He learned how to figure the weight and size of his nurses by the vibrations of their footsteps and he would count the minutes between their visit to bathe him and change his sheets. As time went on he began to realize that he was never going to see any of his family or friends ever again and the fact that they probably did not even know where he was or if he were even still alive. He began to replay his entire life in his head and everything he had ever learned or done and he realized that had he have learned more he would have more to think about and had he paid close attention to everythig he had read he would have been able to re-read everything in his head but by now it was too late he was no longer going to be able to read or write or communicate with the outside world and he had one last idea of how he might be able to communicate with the outside. He thought that maybe if he tapped his head the taps would soon have a meaning and then people would be able to understand him. He thought about how boats would use morse code and SOS for an emergency he thought just maybe if I kept tapping my head I too would be able to communicate with others, so he waited until the nurse came in and he began tapping like crazy but she did not understand she just patted his forhead to try to calm him down than he tried it with a doctor and the doctors would just inject him with drugs to make him drowsy, he thought that their was no hope all that he wanted was to go outside and feel the outside air on what little skin that he had left. Finally his chance came and someone understood him but all they said back was that it was against regulations. This story makes me angry because it is not fair that someone so young has to suffer because all he was doing was fighting for his country. So many innocent people lost their lives to war. in Vietnam, WW1, WW2, and many other battles but going beyond war this book also makes you think about violence. Even though right now there is no war taking place their is violence on the streets and in houses every single day a person is shot here and there and it does not seem as though anyone is making any type of effort to do anything about this problem. Just because there isn't a war going on between countries there is a war going on in your own communities and country and it is about time that someone does something about it because "Johnny Got His Gun" is just a small example of what goes on in everyday life.
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Summary: Unity
Review: This book is a wonderful anti-war book and i would reccomend it to everyone. A great story of a man suffering from the wars.Chris ~
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Summary: Johnny Got My Involvement!
Review: This is quite possibly the best book I've ever read. Gramatically atrocious, yes, but the literary content is amazing. Never before have I read a book that is so gripping; that makes you not only relate to a character, but really become one with his frustration, anger, and self. A page-turning, heart wrenching novel, Johnny Got His Gun is not to be forgotten by anyone who reads it. Love the life you lead, and count your blessings. Be thankful for the eyes you have with which to read such novels, because after reading Johnny Got His Gun, you'll cherish every word.
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Summary: Johnny Got His Gun
Review: I read the book Johnny Got His Gun as a senior in highscool. I was so touched by this controversial novel that I am now writing a college essay on it. My writing assignment was to recommend a particular book or film, and I highly recommend the book Johnny Got His Gun. I am 18 years old and this novel made me think about war in a whole different manner. The question that is raised in my mind, "What if I was drafted by the United States Governement to fight in a war?" What would I do? I would not want to face the terror that Joe Bohham faced. I also do not think I would have the courage and persistence that Joe displays in this novel. I highly recommend this novel to everyone, especially young men in my age group.
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Summary: A subtle classic you've probably overlooked
Review: The book is an amazing plunge into the human mind. The more you read, the more engrossed you become...Some of it is stomach churning, some heart wrenching...However, it feels too real for you to take comfort in saying: "It's only a book". Although a complete work of fiction, it is as real as any autobiography I've read. It is thought provoking, inspirational and has a depth that varies depending on the reader. A friend of mine read it and took a completly different meaning from it...He couldn't see what I saw so it's definately a disscusion book, one to share with your friends...My copy has been passes around and around and around and we still talk about it. I definately recommend this book, especially for teenage boys and philosophers.
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Summary: The best book i have ever read
Review: although many people would think this to be a very inapropprate book, i am a thirteen year old girl, and i would have to say this is my favorite book. it wasn't just a story, but it made you THINK about stuff, and it also sometimes makes your head spin, because unless you were in the same situation, you could never imagine what it would be like. a word of advice: if you pick it up, start reading it and get confused, keep going, the beggining doesn't make too much sense until you get farther into the story. this is not a book for someone who hates all aspects of war, fighting, hospitals, etc. this is the best book in the world!
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Summary: This book shows one of the many forbidden subjects
Review: This book shows one of the many forbidden subjects war. The U.S. government is funny towards things like these. The U.S. government has a certain way it wants to lead it's people. They want to control the American people to do what they want. They know people have a choice and if they let them know what there getting into they are afraid that they wont do what they want them to. Wars are fought for the government not the people. When ever the government wants to prove it's power it to another country by saying "Hey we got a nation of people ready to die for my cause" and the truth is if the people knew what the consequences are to prove this power. They probably wouldn't do it. Basically the U.S. government wants you to do what they want whether you consider it wrong or not (also there are thing they don't want you to do even if you consider It right or not). This book try's to show you the down side to war. Any body who thinks this book shouldn't be told because it is too gruesome is wrong. If you're a mom or dad and don't want your kids to read this book because you think it is bad. Maybe you should read it for your selves and decide if you want to ... this book took place in Colorado. There was nobody form Canada that this book was based on. It is anti-war if you get something other than the down side to war from this book you need to read it again. Nothing in this book was based on a true life story. Sincerely Chris Bender
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Summary: THE MOST MEMORABLE BOOK IN YEARS
Review: I read this book in college about 30 years ago, and I still list it as the most memorable book among the 10,000 or so adult fiction titles that I have read over my lifetime. My 17-year-old daughter read it about 2 years ago, and has not stopped recommending it to everyone ever since. I strongly suggest reading it for its excellent style, quality writing and brutal evocation of emotions focused on the "human factor". Look for a depth that reaches far beyond the concept of war, although a war's aftermath is the media through which the author states his message. It is a very provoking and emotionally draining masterpiece.
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Summary: Perhaps too one-sided, but a crucial addition to the canon
Review: I don't understand why people say that this book is anti-war. The book is based on a true story of a Canadian soldier who was a basket case. Johnny simply presents what does happen in every war--carnage. Is anyone reading this in college or high school? I'd love to hear from you.
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