roxannestclair

This book was a great insight into the life of a British solider. It was written very well and really increased my admiration for what the armed forces do. I unfortunately discovered the glossary when I had finished the book, which would have been helpful to know about before, as there are a lot of acronyms. Hennessey keeps the pace moving and writes some great descriptions of characters; his observations of people, systems and cultures are very interesting. All the way through, though, I was waiting for him to reflect on how it feels to have killed people, and he didn't - for a book that describes the making of a soldier, right from the start, this seemed lacking to me. I also found his reasons for joining the army a little unclear, for someone who is clearly so intelligent and would have had many career options available to him. I also wanted to hear his opinions about the wars that he fought in, whether they were justified or not. Occasional comments seemed slightly sceptical, but that was as much as was included; then again, perhaps this is a reflection of the role of the soldier, which is not one to question but to follow. All in all, a really good read.

2020-09-19 22:16