From Here to Eternity discussion

Infantry! One of the biggest novelists ever, gets nary a mention these days; though in his time he was towering influence. How many here have read him? Seen the movies? Hard to believe he was once considered racy and lurid, eh?

Said to be one of the 'big three' writers of World War II: Norman Mailer, Leon Uris, and he. Ulp, wait was it Herman Wouk in there somewhere? Naaah..can't be..Wouk was a Navy man I think..Irwin Shaw? Who was the #3? I'm all mixed up..

Anyway, 'From Here To Eterrrrrnity' is a helluva read. Let's hear it for the big guy. James Jones! A man's man who wrote books for manly men.

Anyone ever been to Schofield Barracks? Read the essay by Joan Didion?

James Jones was the real deal. A greater compliment I cannot offer.

The thin red line, great book, wonderful movie. Loved that Nick Nolte, and Sean Penn

The first time I read From Here to Eternity was as a teenager who, like most kids, thought of death as something distant, abstract. I deeply identified with Robert E. Lee Prewitt as a man of character resisting a system that wanted to beat him down. When he died in the end it came as a surprise. GIs were supposed to shoot the enemy, not their own. Later my perceptions changed because I had been surprised enough by the world. Re-reading it over the years, having been in the military myself, I understood Jones' love for the army and especially for the lowly dog face. Here is a Goodreads review I wrote. Call it an appreciation. http://tinyurl.com/l3ytzkx

John Alt, You wrote a terrific review. Such depth.

John, thanks. It's always good to hear that.