The Good Soldiers

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Genre(s)

Historical Nonfiction

Age Range

14+

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2 reviews

Overall rating

3.5

Writing Style

3.5(2)

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The Good Soldiers

December 16, 2010

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3.0

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Reader reviewed by Seth Henley

The Good Soldiers

The Good Soldiers by David Finkel is a very good book about soldiers in

the 2-16 in modern war Iraq. Finkel mainly focuses the book on Lt. Col. Ralph

Kauzlarich he is a leader who is optimistic, loves to be in the combat, and has

soldiers in the 2-16 that are 17 years old who are way more mature than they

should be for their age. Finkel got to know some of the soldiers in 2-16 when they

came back from Iraq on their breaks.

Finkel had spent eight months in the 2-16. The 2-16 surge lasted for fifteen

months resulting in fourteen deaths and seventy five purple hearts, the average age

for these soldiers was nineteen. Lt. Col. Kauzlarich wanted to have a balanced

secure and self-sufficient life for the Iraqi people. 2-16 was not stationed in a

green zone or safe zone but rather stationed in a city that was in war called

Rustamiya. When Kauzlarich visits his soldiers in the hospital ward they are

brutally injured and have mental stress, some want to commit suicide because of

what happened to them.

Finkels book The Good Soldiers captured what war was like in modern

times and had a first person perspective on it along with his emotional point of

view. This is a book that you should read if you like to read about war stories or

want to find out how war can immensely impact your life if you are looking to joining the army.

Guest #1 Reviewer

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Great book about "The Surge"

December 15, 2010

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Reader reviewed by Chad Leland

Leland 1

Leland, Chad

Ms. OBrien

English II

16, December, 2010

Book Review: The Good Soldiers

By David Finkel

The book my group chose to read and review is called, The Good Soldiers by David Finkel. David tells this story in a very unique way, he tells it in which there are no cover-ups and no censored content. He tells it like it was and how it happened. My favorite quote is located on the rear cover above the summary and it reads, Let me be direct: The Good Soldiers is the most honest, most painful, and most brilliantly rendered account of modern war Ive ever read.-Daniel Okrent. His book tells a true story about a large group of soldiers, specifically the battalion of the 2-16s or known as the Rangers, through there rigorous, 12 month tour of duty. This book affects me personally because its not like most books where the author stands back and observes from a distance or reads about there topic. David on the other hand was right there with the soldiers when the IED or EFP went off and put his life on the line, along with the other soldiers, to write this book and maybe give the people of the world a hint of what our servicemen and women are going through over in Iraq.

The main topic off this book, or what the soldiers are trying to accomplish is to bring stability and order to a country than is full of crime, violence and corrupt dictators. The name of the mission is know as The Surge. In the Surge some of which 1.6 million soldiers where deployed to Iraq and about 807 of these soldiers were members of the 2-16 mentioned in this book. I really enjoyed reading this book and watched a video of him talking about his book, and he explained what is was like to be over there. He had mentioned that a couple of times he had to fly back to the states because he couldnt take the pressure and stress that the soldiers were constantly under, not knowing if a mortar was going to hit there bunks or if they were going to get hit by and IED or shot at etc. He repeatedly explained the routine the soldiers go through and the emotion toll it is taking on the soldiers well being. Overall I really enjoyed reading this book and hope others will enjoy it as much as I did.

Leland 2

My brother and my dad commonly ask a question, do you think the Surge was worth it? I would always reply saying yes. Whether you disagree or agree with me I think that the United States of America has achieved something that has no such this as a shortcut or easy way out. It could not have been done without hard work and extreme loyalty and commitment of the American People. It could not have been done without proper leadership and proper technology the army offers today, and it could not have been done without the men and women of the armed forces in which some gave their lives for their country and for the better of the Iraqi citizens.

Guest #1 Reviewer