Ambush at Fort Bragg

Rating:
Summary: An incredibly entertaining 3 hours!
Review: Academy Award-nominated actor Edward Norton doesn't just read the book - he PERFORMS it. It is worth the price just to hear him do it.

Rating:
Summary: This can't be the "real" Tom Wolfe
Review: I actually came to Amazon.com to make sure that the "real" Tom Wolfe actually wrote this. It seemed to be abridged -- there must have been more to it. Afterwards, I kept thinking of Peggy Lee -- Is that all there is?

But I did figure out who was in the next stall.

Rating:
Summary: What's the point?
Review: I can not name an author I have enjoyed reading more than Tom Wolfe, and I can not remember a less enjoyable waste of time than listening to this tape. People like the soldiers portrayed in this book exist in the South, but they are not the predominant type of personality one is likely to encounter. I suppose homosexuals sometimes engage in sexual acts as described, but so what? Having people shoot at you in a foreign country does not make killing people who are different than you okay. The press is often sleazy, but again, so what. What a terrible disappointment. I hope Tom Wolfe has not developed degenerative brain damage, because I would love to read another book as well written as "Vampire of the Vanities." I never want to hear another seedy tape like "Ambush at Fort Bragg."

Rating:
Summary: HE'S DONE BETTER
Review: I like Tom Wolfe, but this novella was a disappointment. It is surprisingly unhumorous, the story's climax comes too early, and the novella trails off at the end. The two protagonists at first seem like perfect targets for Wolfe's satiric genius. One is the TV newsmagazine producer: male, jewish, unattractive, and self-pitying. The other is the TV newsanchor: female, WASP, beautiful, and shallow. It's too bad that Wolfe gets so little comedic mileage from them.

Wolfe seems to have thrown in a pornographic section in the novella for no other reason than salaciousness. (Certainly it was not done as a plot device -- it is absurd and unbelievable.)

Edward Norton does funny redneck voices, but otherwise his narration is dull and flat.

Despite all the bad things I've written, there are some funny moments, and some of the satire hits the mark. Overall, this recording is so-so.

By the way, this novella now is in print in Tom Wolfe's new book Hooking Up.

Rating:
Summary: HE'S DONE BETTER
Review: I like Tom Wolfe, but this novella was a disappointment. It is surprisingly unhumorous, the story's climax comes too early, and the novella trails off at the end. The two protagonists at first seem like perfect targets for Wolfe's satiric genius. One is the TV newsmagazine producer: male, jewish, unattractive, and self-pitying. The other is the TV newsanchor: female, WASP, beautiful, and shallow. It's too bad that Wolfe gets so little comedic mileage from them.

Wolfe seems to have thrown in a pornographic section in the novella for no other reason than salaciousness. (Certainly it was not done as a plot device -- it is absurd and unbelievable.)

Edward Norton does funny redneck voices, but otherwise his narration is dull and flat.

Despite all the bad things I've written, there are some funny moments, and some of the satire hits the mark. Overall, this recording is so-so.

By the way, this novella now is in print in Tom Wolfe's new book Hooking Up.

Rating:
Summary: Ack
Review: I'm not going to spend a lot of time telling you not to buy this book. Mr. Wolfe didn't spend much time writing it. Where is the story? I was left thinking HUH?, that's it? Where is the climax? Who was the other guy in the stall. Now if Wolf would have turned that missing witness into a General on the base, who was covering up for the rednecks. WOW. "Honey get the tape recorder, I'm going to write me a book"

Don't let the "UNABRIDGED" fool you! This is a short story at best.

Thanks Amazon, for letting me vent.

Rating:
Summary: Ack
Review: I'm not going to spend a lot of time telling you not to buy this book. Mr. Wolfe didn't spend much time writing it. Where is the story? I was left thinking HUH?, that's it? Where is the climax? Who was the other guy in the stall. Now if Wolf would have turned that missing witness into a General on the base, who was covering up for the rednecks. WOW. "Honey get the tape recorder, I'm going to write me a book"

Don't let the "UNABRIDGED" fool you! This is a short story at best.

Thanks Amazon, for letting me vent.

Rating:
Summary: A cliche' comes South
Review: No other author in the universe could have gotten this trite piece of fluff published. I guess if I'd given Wolfe millions for his next novel, I'd feel obligated to print anything he squirted out in the meantime, too. This is tired, trite, silly, and WE'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE, TOM.

Rating:
Summary: An Unfinished Story but Still Good
Review: Sooner or later this will come out in print, but right now it is available only in audio cassette format. Listening on my long trip to work on the train, I found it an unusually compelling and at times gripping reading, very professionally performed indeed, and of a story that is current and valid in our TV age. It reminded me a lot of how John Grisham sounds on audiotape. The only difference is, Grisham finishes his story. At the end of this tape there is still much to tell. It's not something that could be put in a sequel either; it belongs in this book. Well, let it be; it was still quite an experience.

Rating:
Summary: Airborne jump without a parachute
Review: Stereotyped Forrest Gump outguns unarmed Barbara Walters in a battle of wits. Insecure television producer only now realizes life is unfair