DIFFERENT TAKE
One of the reasons I like the book reviews by the New York Review of Books is that they often review a series of books on a given subject. This obviously offers a terrific overview of a given subject, often giving both pro and con views.
One such review is this one titled "Iraq: The Hidden Human Costs", which covers half a dozen recent books on the soldier's viewpoint of the Iraq war. As the article points out:
"In no other war have so many books by soldiers appeared while the fighting was still going on—accounts written not just by generals like Tommy Franks but also by lieutenants, sergeants, reservists, and privates.
Such works have been largely ignored by the mass media, which is too bad, for they provide a grunt's-eye view of the war that is often far richer, and rawer, than anything available in our newspapers or on TV."
The article really packs a punch, regardless of one's view on the war. It really does give a view of the war most of us have not seen in any traditonal media coverage over the last six years.
It especially gives an up close and personal look at "collateral damage". Not easy reading.
All the six books are being added to my reading list, Kindle or not.
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