Rating: 
Summary: Sappy and dragged out!
Review: In "Flags of Our Fathers," Bradley reports the battle of Iwo Jima through the experiences of the individuals who fought it, more specifically, the individuals shown in the famous raising of the American flag on Mt. Suribachi. The book, however, should more appropriately be titled "Flags of MY Father." The true purpose of the book is clear. As a writer, Bradley lacks finesse and timing; the story is clearly a shrine to his father and less a tribute to the other Marines in the picture. Repeatedly, the modesty and courage of his father are emphasized, modesty being a recessive trait in that family. Again and again, the author attempts to elicit tears from the reader. Unfortunately, because of Bradley's lack of tact, many "emotional" segments come across as sappy and overstated. Bradley also shows a lack of respect for other men and women in branches of the military other than the marines. I do not want my harsh words to be interpreted against any of the flag-raisers. Iwo Jima was a horrific battle and I have the greatest respect for the men and women who fought on (and around) the island. However, if you are looking for a good book about the interesting battle, keep looking!
Rating: 
Summary: More than a book about war...
Review: This is probably one of the best books on WWII I have ever read. Bradley does an amazing job of discussing the tactical facts of the battle as well as bringing you close to the young men who fought and died on Iwo. One of the best parts of this book is the way Bradley covers the lives of the men who raised the flag flag from birth to death. Impossible to put down, and even harder not to break into tears when reading about the tragic end of the men who paid the ultimate price for our country.
Rating:
Summary: Astounding!
Review: If it's a scholarly tome you seek, complete with footnotes and such, this is not for you. This is no dusty retelling of facts we learned in school, compiled by some editors in a cubicle somewhere. This story, as written by the son of an Iwo flag-raiser, contained more information than I could have hoped for. Just as importantly, it reads well because it follows natural speech patterns rather than the dictates of reference material. The details recalled by veterans tell the story so compellingly that I got chills imagining the horror of this battle. For anyone who respects our nation's history and those who kept it safe, this book is a great addition to your collection. More importantly, it is a must-read for those who feel differently. See if they take our vets for granted after reading it.
Rating:
Summary: Raising the Flag
Review: I felt deeply connected to the personal stories as told in Flag of Our Fathers and I could not begin another book for weeks afterwards. This book reveals individual lives weaving in and then together, detailing the many young soldiers signing up for war without any realization of the extreme horrors. This book provides historial clarity and emotional responses. The story of what happened at Iwo Jima, as told and researched by one the flag raisers' sons, is tragic and shocking.
Rating:
Summary: Marines and Iwo Jima and No One Else?
Review: I purchased this book knowing the sort of praise it had recieved. Hence, on one lazy afternoon, I read the novel. James Bradley had the advantage over any other writer of the story since he was a child of the longest living flag raiser. So I was looking forward to the highly acclaimed novel and...Flags of Our Fathers is set up very nicely. We are introduced to the flag raisers, their families and personalities. This was vital because we needed to get an emotional grasp to the story. Bradley handled this quite well. However, once we enter onto Iwo Jima the story falls apart. Again, the Bradley shows his expertise on setting the stage, yet his lack of details and modesty bleeds through the pages. We are not immersed in on the battlefield front, but are told simply that Iwo Jima was a horrible battle, Mount Suribachi was a difficult place to get to and the Marines are the most heroic people in the armed forces of America---again, again and again. Bradley is very biased towards the Marines and it seems like the story turns from a personal, emotional narrative to a competition to which of the American forces is the best. Bradley shows no admiration whatsoever to the Army or Navy, or for that matter for those who fought in Europe. He states, "No cared about Patton liberating Germany." Within this useless debate, Bradley backs his argument with inaccurate information. Bradley writes that the Iwo Jima was America's battle simply because the most Medal of Honors were given out. The climax, the raising of the flag, is reached halfway through the book. Thereafter, we must face endless chapters of repetative information-the bond tour of the remaining flag-raisers, the modesty of John Bradley and of course the drunkeness of Ira Hayes, the Pima Indian flag raiser. The book becomes tiring and it looses what passion it ever contained. The author also tried to "ham it up" after every line which became annoying. I cannot recommend this book for the reasons I have listed, but if given the proper care, this book could have been a masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: a real eye opener
Review: I had tears in my eyes at the end of the first chapter. I've studying WWII for years, mostly the European Theatre, but this book opened a whole new experience of the war to me. Vividly told. No one who claims to know anything of the Second World War can be complete without knowing the story of John Bradley and the other flag raisers -- but most importantly the rest of the story of Iwo Jima that exists beyond "the photograph".
Rating:
Summary: Gripping
Review: I am only a 16 yr. reader and up until I had read this book, I didn't know one single thing about Iwo Jima, except it had been a decisive battle during WWII in the Pacific theatre. My mom had been the one reading it, and looking to kill time I picked it up and began to read. It without a doubt drew me in, James Bradley whose father was one of the six in that infamous photograph, did such a wonderful job of telling the stories of those famous and heroic men, and telling the story of the battles in the Pacific, and D-Day at Iwo Jima. It broke my heart of reading the horrors that took place on the Pacific's most crucial island, and looking at the pictures of the 6, three who never made off the island, and the other three that were haunted for the rest of their lives on what they had witnessed. James Bradley's father had always said that he wasn't a hero, but the men that didn't make it off Iwo Jima, those were the true heros. While that is true, every man who fought in that battle, in the Pacific and the rest of the world during WWII, those people were all true heros. Young and old alike should read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible!!!!
Review: This book was an astonishing picture of combat and heroism. Anyone who had parents or grandparents in the Pacific should read this book!! (WWII or Vietnam) It gives heartwrenching accounts of friends and losses. For me it gave a sense of what my Grandfather fought in and for. Thank you Mr. Bradley for finding a way to explain what it was like.... My Grandfather never could!
Rating:
Summary: A Terrific Book
Review: I recently finished this book and can attest that I could barley put this one down. I am an avid reader on military history and am particularly interested in the Marine campaigns in the Pacific. I can truly say that James Bradley paints a marvelous picture of the history of the six individuals portrayed in the "famous photo". I would suggest this book to anyone interested in either life in the military during WWII or the battle of Iwo Jima.
Rating:
Summary: 5 stars really isn't enough
Review: Remember that photo from Iwo Jima that you saw on your classroom wall? You thought it was four soliders planting a flag somewhere right? Read this book and you'll never look at that photo the same again. You'll learn it was actually six men...and the extraordinary story behind that photograph. This book will entertain lovers of books on war, photography and the American spirit. Buy it. Then buy a copy of the photograph for your home like I did.
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