Rating: 
Summary: for me the best book , read it!
Review: I read this book after to see the movie. For me the movie is very good: to see the War in a beautifull country like that is interresting because it prove that War can be "beautifull". It has enough violence, not more and it's good. The charactere Witt is very interresting I think: What Welsh thinks it's a bad Soldier? What would Witt like to go in all of the battles? I admire also The Capt. Stein because he loves his men and respect them!After saw this movie I would like to read the book, but I was afraid to don't like it. I was surprise because the book is better than the film! James Jones wrotte the best War book that I ever read. In his book, he explain the impress of the soldiers before and in the battles, the tensions before the debarquement. Can the boot explose? Where are the Japs? How lot are they?... We discover other interresting characteres like Fife, another Welsh, Don Doll... You must be read this book! (and see the movie?). I give ten stars for James Jones, thank you for your all good books! If you would like to compare your impress with me or say me what other books what I must be read, writte me! @+ Mia (excuse my bad enghish but I speak French!)
Rating: 
Summary: Without question, the worst book I have ever read.
Review: I think I was on page 118 when I realized for certain that I was, indeed, reading one of the worst books I had ever read. At that point I was already further into this book than I had ever gone into a book I didn't like, and so I made a conscious decision to finish it. I now have a "worst book I ever read" under my belt. And, it was strictly voluntary. Nothing forced on me by educators in my past compares. While it is not my greatest achievement I am proud to have endured such claptrap. Don't recall ever using that word before, but it fits perfectly, I think. If you think about it you may agree that an author who offers you fictional characters on fictional topography in a World War II battle with a real name probably has an agenda. After reading this (pardon the redundancy but I really like this word) claptrap I am convinced the author set out to denigrate the American soldier of the period as well as the cause for which they fought. Since he too is a veteran of that war it may be that he is getting even with a drill sergeant who was mean to him, a supervisor who failed to see his merits and denied his promotion or he simply sympathizes with the opposition America faced. I don't know what his agenda is/was, but I do know that I won't spend any more money on books or movies where any portion of it would go to him. When I finished this (ahem) claptrap I tried to recall one character I liked, made me proud or about whom I could care even in the slightest, and I failed on all counts. While these are not necessarily requirements for enjoyable reading, in the setting provided it should have been relatively easy considering what we know about the real battle. If you feel you have to read this book, borrow it from the library. And, return it on time. Not having spent one red cent in association with this book will be some consolation for the time you wasted on it.
Rating:
Summary: A realistic and stirring account of war.
Review: I read this book before the film came out and I loved it. Although you don't really like any of the charactors you can relate to many of the things they are feeling. This books censors none of the atrosities of war. It is very real and gripping. For the first time I began to understand why they say "war is hell".
Rating:
Summary: I really enjoyed this book.
Review: A gripping, suspense filled story of war, and one that you won't soon forget. The author is definitely forgiven for plopping a non-existent slab of territory into Guadalcanal. Each soldier, each individual grows in a way we can all relate to, and each character finds a part of themselves they were not aware existed. Despite the overwhelming number of characters the author chose to develop, the reader has no problem at all identifying with each one. This is no easy feat. I have read many war stories, and none touched my heart and my interest so greatly as this one. Five stars and a gold medal, thank you James Jones!
Rating:
Summary: A book that describes war as it is...
Review: What struck me about this book was the lack of a "message." Jones simply tells a war story without making any judgments about it. Those looking for an anti-war or pro-war message will be disappointed. This book can be read on two levels. One can read it for its hard-hitting descriptions of combat. The fighting scenes on the various hills of Guadalcanal are somewhat tedious to read through the first time, but become clearer with a further reading. The raw impressions of the members of Charlie Company (with curses and all) are also particularly effective. On another level, Jones seeks to describe the human (as opposed to the mechanized) element of war. He describes the raw feelings of the men of Charlie Company. Some can't wait to kill the enemy. Others want to get out at any cost. Most are just resigned to their fate. Shining examples of heroism are also to be found. Jones also discusses the nature of leadership, as well as the opportunism and politics that thrives in any military organization. Jones makes sure that we never forget that an army is first and foremost an organization of people, and that it is these human relationships that shape the war. "The Thin Red Line" is one of the masterpieces of American war literature. If you like "The Thin Red Line", I also recommend Jones's earlier novel, "From Here to Eternity."
Rating: 
Summary: A classic book from a great writer
Review: If more Americans would read meaningful novels like THE THIN RED LINE or THE TRIUMPH AND THE GLORY instead of hyped books about cannibals and vampires this country would be a lot better place to live in. This is an excellent book, written a few years ago, but it's theme is timeless and it's quality untarnished.
Rating:
Summary: A classic!
Review: The movie, although it certainly wasn't very well done, at least brought national attention to this fine novel. As psychologically powerful as Saving Private Ryan, as stylishly written and hard-hitting as The Triumph and the Glory, The Thin Red Line is a must read for anyone interested in war and the affect it can have on young men.
Rating:
Summary: The book was excellent, Joe Mantegna shoulda stayed home..
Review: The authors ability to express the personal feelings of men trapped in a time and place that they don't want to be in is commendable and seems to take the reader directly to the war as it occurs. Mantegna's reading was less than acceptable, I almost turned off the machine during the first tape. Someone should tell him that C as in Charlie is acceptable military language and known by all. He didn't have to repeat it over and over again throughout the reading. He sounds like a person who didn't have any military background, if he didn't have any military, he shouldn't have made it so obvious. A little pre-reading research would have gone a long way. Theres an old USMC saying, the 6 "p's", " Prior planning prevents P_ _ poor performance" GP Allen
Rating:
Summary: The Soldier as Human Being not Hero
Review: At a time when the generation that fought WWII is being canonized and worshipped, this novel is more important than ever. The men in Charlie Company fight a brutal war under inhuman circumstances. But most of the time they are scared out of their wits and often bitter at their circumstances. And, more than anything, they want to LIVE. Jones, better than any author I have seen, shows my generation (I am 29) the humanity behind the awesome deeds.
Rating:
Summary: What Everyday People Think About
Review: After what these men went through any reader should understand what courage they had and how much they accomplished. Jones shows you this not in shining heroic words but in the everyday bump and grind. They are completely human; faults and brilliance co-mingled. Their frailties, for better or worse, don't detract from their accomplishment. Jones uses the human-ness of his characters skillfully and powerfully. Enjoyed it very much.
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