My War…

I have been scouring the web for any type of reading guide for the Jan/Feb reading selection, “My War ~ Killing Time In Iraq” by Colby Buzzell and have had little luck.  I did come across a review by Matthew Hill at the University of Maryland  as well as a great article from The New York Times called The Hemmingway Effect which discusses the troops turned writers due to their experiences in war.  Colby Buzzell himself is now a columnist for Esquire Magazine .  He’s got one article titled “The Best Years of Our Lives” which was an interesting read about life after deployment and the Army and looking at life now. 

I enjoyed this book and feel that it gave me a little more insight on the experiences going on in Iraq.  I liked reading about the day to day stuff that the troops do and the dangers that their lives entail while carrying out the “War on Terror”.  I know that it’s been a while since you finished this book but please reiterate your opinion on this book and what you took from it. 

I will be posting the new voting poll this weekend for the March/April title so be sure to check back here soon. 

“My War” Is Reading Well

Well it’s Friday afternoon and I have had my book for about twenty-four hours now and the next time I pick it up to read I will be starting Part 2.  Part 1 was a build up to Buzzell’s deployment to Iraq as a member of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.  We get to know this man who became a Soldier to make something of his bum life.  So far he’s a typical twenty-something who didn’t make much of himself when he had a chance to do it in a safer environment.  I really like the way this book reads because it doesn’t feel like I’m reading a diary/blog but more like Buzzell is just sitting with me in the local Starbucks (yes we have those here in Okinawa too) and telling me his story. 

I did like reading about the JRTC because I know some Marines who have gone through the training there before their deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan over the last couple of years.  I would love to sit down with my friends (who are safely back with their families after doing their jobs and serving our country) and ask them about the JRTC and even have them take a look at this book.

I did find Buzzell’s blog online and you can check it out at http://cbftw.blogspot.com/.  Remember that this book is taken directly from his blog so I did have a moment of “I spent money on the book when I could have just read the blog?” but oh well.  The book is easier to take with you in the car and read while waiting for friends for lunch.  You can also find an interview with Bussell at http://www.notesofadefeatist.com/2006/04/09/colby-buzzell-interview/ and here’s an article about Buzzell in The Washington Post from March 2006 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/03/13/DI2006031300993.html.  I also came across a great site operated by PBS called “America at a Crossroads” and the section called “Operatoin Homecoming: Writing The Wartime Expereince” and at the top is an excerpt by Colby Buzzell.  http://www.pbs.org/weta/crossroads/about/show_operation_homecoming_writings.html