Johnny Got His Gun discussion

I don't know if I should start a discussion on a book I have never read but I'm going to. I really want to read this book. I was so excited when I got my Nook Tablet I went to download this book, but it wasn't available as an ebook. So I still have not read it, but I'm thinking I'm going to pick up a copy this weekend. So if YOU read it, what did you think? I just want to get some peoples' gereral opinions. I know there is a movie too, haven't seen it either. I'm waiting to read the book first.

It is depressing, but a great anti-war message that every congressperson should have to read before they send another person's child to war.

The story is grim but powerful. It's about an infantryman who suffers catastrophic injuries during World War II. You won't ever forget Joe Bonham, the main character, even years after you've read it. This is an incredible book and I highly recommend it.

Ought to be REQUIRED reading prior to enlisting in the armed forces, not to dissuade, but to inform. I remember being a JROTC cadet in high school (favorite recruiting grounds for officers nowadays) and I can tell you 1st hand that the naïveté among us (16-17 year olds) was rampant.

This book presents a clearer perspective of what's really at stake.

This book should be required reading for everyone, especially high school students. It is a devastating story but I'm very glad I read it. I agree that it should be read by every congressperson and every presidential candidate.

I'm glad I read it many years ago. I doubt I'll read it again, but I'll never forget it. WAR IS HELL

This book is one of the most powerful books I have ever read. I read it in high school in the 60's and it's impact on my mind is still fresh. This should be required reading for every single person in every country.

This is a fantastic book and well worth reading. I also enjoyed the documentary Trumbo which tells the story of the author. He was a screen writer that got blacklisted by McCarthy.

I read this book every few years to remind me about the price of war. I volunteer a lot for the U.S veterans and now I have a great niece in the military so I never want to forget the price that is paid for war. This book had such a profound effect on me every time I read it.

this story is amazing in it's power and profundity. one of the most depressing and horrifying books I've ever read, but fantastic.

It is definitely a memorable book, but read it alongside other books such as "Storm of Steel," and "Generals Die in Bed," and "A Farewell to Arms," "All Quiet on the Western Front," and then read some of the newer books from soldiers who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, such as "The Junior Officers' Reading Club," or "War" (by Sebastion Junger), so that you get a sense of perspectives from a variety of experiences. Dalton Trumbo never fought in a war but had views on it; views reflected in his book. Ernst Junger (of Storm of Steel) did fight in WWI and wrote about it in a different way.

I think context and comparisons will makes a big difference.

Ivory, that is an astounding comment.

Thanks Ivory, I don't agree, but now I understand your opinion.

I first read this book the summer before 8th grade at which time I was, frankly, way to young. It was hard to get through not to mention depressing, laborious, and rather boring.
Now I am able to better appreciate the intricacies of the book. It was extremely well written and conveyed powerfully the emotions of the soldier. It was incredibly moving while managing to bring up some of the uglier realities of war.
Nonetheless, I still can't get rid my initial impression. 13/14 was just way to young to read this book.

I read this book about 40 years ago and I still remember parts of it, so I guess that says something. It's not one of the incredibly exciting book, but it is a worthwhile read. Very though provocking.

I thought this was an excellent book. The pacing and the psychological insights easily draw the reader into the personal and broader tragedy of war. This is one of several books that have influenced by opinion of the "leaders" who draw young men and women into killing and dying for abstract ideals.

My Marine Corps unit (1970) had a "House" copy of this. When you got orders to go to WESTPAC (Western Pacific) you were given copy to read. Pretty spooky as you were anticipating being in Vietman within weeks. I read it, volunteered for NAM and ended up in Okinawa...

Stream of consciousness is always a bit harder to grasp but this is a book that I really enjoyed reading. The description is beyond real and is so detailed you could literally feel everything the hero feels.

I read this years ago and it stayed with me for a long time. The horror of this man being trapped in his own body made me cry. Everyone should read this book.

Makes you realize the only reality is whatever you perceive it to be and what you experience. Shows the true meaning and horror of war and what it means to "sacrifice" oneself. Powerful and disturbing.

I agree John.

I have never read a book that hooked me more than this one. While reading large amounts of time slipped by without me noticing. I was completely and utterly at it's mercy. Nothing I've seen has come close to the emotional turmoil of Bonham. I very much recommend reading this.

Gave me nightmares, but I read it again.

Yes it is a powerful book - I read it a long time ago but will never forget it. I would recommend it.

I was a Vietnam era vet, never saw combat, but this book certainly gave me a new perspective on the possibilities.

This is absolutely one of my favorite books ever. Not only does it have a great anti-war message but the way Trumbo was able to convey the main character's complete helplessness, isolation and terror in light of his injuries was nothing short of astonishing.

It's one of the most powerful books I've ever read. Amazing work.

great book. writing merry xmas on his chest almost made me cry and im a guy.... ok it did make me cry.

Through my work I've met many people with severe traumatic brain injuries, including one who had locked in syndrome. During the time spent with these individuals, I thought about Joe, the main character in this book, many, many times. Amazing how resilient the human spirit can be, but the loneliness that people must sometimes endure following severe injury or illness is incredibly sad and awful.

Vitruscan wrote: "I agree with all the sentiments. I read it and was never the same again. It was a difficult book to read, but I'm glad I did. Great character. Great resilience."

It reminded me of "Tommy", the great album by the Who. Tommy was that "deaf dumb and blind kid", trapped by psychological trauma from an early age. Joe's situation in "Johnny Got His Gun" is even worse.

It's an amazing book and one I have read many times. It's hard to forget and changes the way you feel about war

I read this when I was in college because all my friends thought it was great. I thought it was naive to think that people wouldn't war on each other because they might be horribly wounded.

They used to show us movies of real car accidents in driver's education to scare us into driving safely. It pretty much reminded me of that.

And just to clear up any misconceptions: I am a pacifist.

I taught honors middle school literature, and a friend/colleague taught senior lit at my kids' high school. She said she thought this was the most powerful antiwar novel ever written, and my son agreed, so I read it. I don't think so. The story begins with absolute despair and since that's where you start from, you have no one to cheer for, hope for, and there can be no climax (or even let down). The bottom remains the bottom, all the way through. For an antiwar novel, I'd choose All Quiet On the Western Front. You can read this if you want to, but don't expect much.

Vitruscan wrote: "I felt a feeling of desperation and desolation as I was reading this book. It was almost suffocating. However the character and his hope saved me."

I felt that way too, and what hope? Death?

D, you weren't moved by Joe's blistering attack at the end of the novel on the sociopaths that dragged all sides into the war? Nor on his resolve to do something about it? If that's not a triumph of the human spirit, I don't know what is.

Oh. I see. I guess because I have spent my whole adult life involved in protests such as this (marched in my only available protest march against the Vietnam War when I was 12; my friend's mother left us to roam downtown, and the march went by, & we jumped at the opportunity, but mostly I was too young to get to do that)...and then grew up and joined a socialist org....and the whole "hope" I was missing has to do w/the afterlife, it sounds like, and I'm an atheist...I just needed to think outside my own box. But I still don't like the book.

D. wrote: "Oh. I see. I guess because I have spent my whole adult life involved in protests such as this (marched in my only available protest march against the Vietnam War when I was 12; my friend's mother..."

Sorry. I truly didn't mean to offend you, and I think we're in agreement on just about everything, except this book.

I recently finished Johnny Got his Gun and I have never cried more over another book in my life. Joe Bohman was a well rounded and lovable character. When I picked up this book it was just about impossible for me to put it down. Trumbo did a great job producing such touching and long lasting imagery. This is one book that I will never forget.

Sounds like you got more from it than I did. I am glad it was useful to you.

Well thanks, I just read your comment about there being no climax...but *spoiler alert* when Joe figures out how to communicate with the outside world and keep time, that's the climax...I respectfully have to disagree with you.

If you want to read a good "anti war" novel read the Painted Bird By Jerzy Kosinski. I read this book when I was 20 and it has haunted me for almost 40 years.

Be warned: This novel is harrowing to read and if you have a sensitive stomach you may want to skip it altogether.

Good luck!

Its easily the most chilling story you will probably ever read. Hard to imagine a more gruesome predicament for any human being to find themselves in. Worse than the rats in Orwell's '1984'; worse than the Ludovico Treatment in Burgess; worse than anything in Solzhenitsyn. I can't conceive of any gun-toting, flag-waving, rah-rah, Patriot-Act, protect-our-country, freedom-isn't-free, these-colors-don't-run warmonger who would be able to stand up to this kind of fate. Its a living nightmare that no one could endure with their vainglory intact.

It is a powerful book. I read it when I was in high school and never forgot it. It should be required reading for those men and women thinking about joining the military. Along with What It Is Like to Go To War by Karl Marlantes.

I think I would like it a lot better if it didn't have such a political agenda. I think it would be more powerful if it focused more on his personal growth and overcoming.

D. wrote: "I taught honors middle school literature, and a friend/colleague taught senior lit at my kids' high school. She said she thought this was the most powerful antiwar novel ever written, and my son ag..."

I agree with you about the book starting out quite low and thus having no one to cheer for, etc. (it was very hard for me to get into it because of that) but I do think that when he figures out how to measure time, that is a huge leap for him and just the beginning of the real climax.

lol Afghanistan

I Knew what this book was about before I read it. I also waited to read it after I got out of the army. I have to say when Trumbo wrote the dream sequences it was sometimes hard for me to breathe. I think I was having little panic attacks.

Oh I forgot. Jessica, Buy and read it!!!

Because a recent chat on the 'boringness' of 'The Red Badge of Courage' is fresh on my mind, I'll just say this. 'Boring' is the last adjective that can be used to describe this work.

This is another one of those 'what kind of reader are you?' type of questions that the Gatsby thread raised; that caused so much defensiveness and hurt feelings.

Seriously. A narrative about a guy practically out his mind with agony and fright and dread..a boy in the worst predicament a human being can find himself in, short of death..'boring' is just not the label to tag this novel with. No way, no how. Not now, not then, not ever.

In any case where someone does; its their attention-span which is at fault. Their lack of sensitivity. Let's get real here.

A little more than a week ago, I gave a presentation to a writers' group on how to write consistently within the point of view of whoever is the POV character at the moment. I used this novel as an example, because the character is deprived of all his senses except touch. What a colossal challenge this must have presented to Trumbo. Sheer brilliance. I think Trumbo further challenged himself by avoiding first person narrative and telling it strictly in third person.