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Summary: Watch the rabid right come out in force.
Review: This book is the simple story of an average American who joined the military to obtain an education and the chance at a better life. As a veteran I can identify with that, as well as with the sense of duty toward one's compatriots that over-rides any misgivings about war and the reasons behind war.Ms. Lynch in her story and in her interviews is modest, telling us the straight story, no matter how embarrasing some of it is to her - or how contradictory it is to the Pentagon's and GOP's preferred version of events. As a result of her integrity and honesty, by giving credit where it's due (the Iraqi doctors, the Special Forces who brought her out) - and by not allowing the record of propaganda to go uncorrected - Ms. Lynch now finds herself being attacked by the very people who used her as a symbol of all that is good about Americans (see the reviews below). My heart goes out to this young woman, who demonstrates she knows more about honor than all the so-called patriots who now insult and disparage her. I originally bought this book because I wanted support a fellow veteran, but in the process Jessica Lynch has reminded me how important the truth really is. Pfc Lynch, you've done your duty well.
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Summary: Likable person, but not much of a story
Review: Jessica appears to be a very likable person, honest about her shortcomings as a "brave soldier" she has been portrayed by the "too much in a hurry to learn the truth American media." However, I don't see the story here and feel that readers will waste their money. All they have to do is listen to the TV interviews and they will get the entire story. And, this book certainly does not give any insight into Iraq, which should have been important to the writer and the publisher. (I heard Rick Bragg say that he didn't have "time" to go into Iraq to research for the book. A shocking oversight if the writer is serious about the subject.) There are several other books that are much more compelling and give information most Americans should seek: I highly recommend "Naked in Baghdad" and "Mayada, Daughter of Iraq" over this book. I particularly liked "Mayada, Daughter of Iraq" since the subject of the writer was an Iraqi woman who had been through about everything a human being can live, all under the Saddam regime. I wish every soldier could read it, as it gives a good idea of how treasured freedom is to the Iraqis released from Saddam's mad grip.
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Summary: Fellow Soldier
Review: Alright, Everyone needs to give this poor young woman a break! As other reviews stated, she did not assk to be thrust into the public spot light. She was simply doing her job. The code of conduct says that if you are captured that you sshould try at all costs to escape and evade. Although this was impossible for her, she did manage to fight off the doctors who tried to amputate her leg. The author obviously took a lot time in doing the research for this book, conducting what must have been hours upon hours of interviews. For anyone to say that we have made to big a deal over this, I say to them, walk a mile in my shoes. Walk a mile in her shoes. We are just doing our job and it is our job that allows you to say those things. Read the book. It is a great book, welll written , and very herat felt. This review says I am reviewing the audio cd. That is not the case. I did read the book!
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Summary: Great Job, Rick Bragg!
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I think Rick did a great job projecting the voice of Jessica and her family. I appreciated the shift in Rick's writing style when he was described Jessica's home town and its inhabitants: he shortened his sentences, and chose simple words to reflect their down-to-earth values and demeanor. I admire the honesty throughout the story. It is obvious that neither Jessica or Rick were appeasing the U.S. military, considering their viewpoints on the shortcomings of M-16s in the desert and the PR spin of the rescue. The close call Jessica faced when her leg was nearly amputated, and the damage her kidneys and other internal organs sustained were heart-wrenching to read. I wish Jessica and Ruben a happy life together, and offer my condolences to Lori's family. Jessica makes no bones about it: Lori was definitely her hero.
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Summary: The Jessica Lynch Story
Review: This book is just one more reason I will forever look for the works of Rick Bragg. He is one of the few people I read that is capable of "down-home-speak". He says what has to be said and does NOT perceive something that is not there. The way he portrayed the people of West Virginia and the Lynch Family can only be described as (for the lack of a better phrase) "the way they are". I felt I was there experiencing every hope, prayer and tear of those wonderful people. Family, God and Country are all very well portrayed in "I Am A Soldier, Too". For me, it was such a good read, I could not put it down after I started it.In fact I am reading it for the third time right now as there are still some things I need to pound into my mind regarding the above mentioned God, Family and Country, mostly Country. Just as in "Ava's Man" and "Shout'n", Dorothy's son has written another inspiring book of the Heartland of America; and he's done it in the language thereof. Thankyou so much, Rick Bragg. P.S......If I may ask, whats next on your agenda, Mr. Bragg?? And yes, Good luck Miss Jessica. You most definitely are a Hero for what you have endured and for allowing Rick to do the Book precisely the way it was.
Rating:
Summary: Honest
Review: Lynch was brave to simply admit her fear. Courage, after all, is moving in the face of fear. (And she did go into a war zone). Male soldiers often experience the same feelings she did, however, they (in some cases) play along with the government's spin - it makes them seem more heroic. All the soldiers are heroes - scared or defiant - it's a human issue. As for the race criticism (yawn, we should be so past that), to my knowledge no one has prohibited Shoshana from writing her own book.
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Summary: FAITH ,HOPE, AND LOVE
Review: ONE WORD... WOW. THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING. IT WAS SO AWESOME THE WAY THAT THE FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF JESSICA LYNCH HAD SO MUCH FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE FOR HER. THEY HOPED THAT SHE WOULD GET HOME SAFELY.PRIVATE FIRST CLASS JESSICA LYNCH GOT SO MUCH PRAYER FOR HER SAFETY BACK HOME. IT WAS LIKE IF YOU DIDN'T CALL HER PRIVATE FIRST CLASS JESSICA LYNCH YOU WOULD THE NEXT TIME YOU SAY HER NAME THAT'S HOW MUCH RESPECT YOU HAD TO HAVE FOR HER.WHEN I SAW THE PICTURES IN THE BOOK AND SAW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE THERE FOR HER HOMECOMING PARADE I GOT DOWN ON MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY (ALMOST BAWLING). AS I AM CLOSING I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT PFC JESSICA LYNCH WENT FROM BEAUTY QUEEN TO A HERO AND I THINK THAT YOU COULDN'T GIVE A BETTER PERSON A PURPLE HEART FOR BRAVENESS THAN PFC JESSICA LYNCH.
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Summary: I Am a Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch Story
Review: I Am a Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch Story is the story this country has hungered for, as told by Jessica Lynch herself to Rick Bragg. In it, she tells what really happened in the ambush; what really happened in the hospital; what really happened, from her perspective, on the night of the rescue. More than this, the collaboration between Lynch and Bragg captures who she is and where she's from: her childhood in Palestine, West Virginia, a lovely, rugged stretch of land always referred to as the hollow, where she rode horses, played softball, and was crowned Miss Congeniality at the Wirt County Fair the same year the steer she raised took a ribbon. It reveals her relationships with her older brother, Greg Jr., also an enlisted soldier, and her younger sister, Brandi; with her father, Greg Sr., a forty-three-year-old truck driver who has at times worked construction, cut hay, cut firewood, hauled timber, hauled concrete, run a bulldozer, run a backhoe, cleaned houses, and dug graves; and with her mother, Deadra, a city girl from Parkersburg who moved to the hollow and met her future husband when he was eleven and she was nine. And it describes what happened to the Lynch family in the agony of Jessica's capture and captivity; the terror and disbelief that cascaded through an entire town at the news of her disappearance into enemy hands; the joy of her rescue; and the long work of healing and recovery that lie ahead. Jessica Lynch has won the hearts and minds of Americans. In the hands of Rick Bragg, a renowned chronicler of American lives, her tale is told at last
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Summary: Women do not belong on active duty.
Review: This book enforced my belief that women do not belong on active duty. The story of Jessica Lynch is very sad. She was not prepared for the military service that came her way. Women are not mentally prepared or physically strong enough to fight a war.
I would recommend this book to understand what a young girl goes through when in the military.
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Summary: Jessica is a hero
Review: The story started a little slow (because of the author's writing style), talking about her childhood, her family and so forth, but reading about her training and what she went through during her capture was very interesting. I am so grateful for people like Jessica who volunteer to fight for and protect our country. Her family went through a terrible ordeal of not knowing her condition and the whole community pulled together to offer support. Bragg interviewed family, friends, community members and Jessica herself to complete the book. Jessica clears all the rumors and miscinceptions about what happened during the attack that led to her capture and about how she was treated in the Iraqi hospital. The story was facinating, and even more amazingly, she lived to tell her story. I thought the author, Rick Bragg, was just OK. I think it could have been written much better. Sometimes I left like I was reading his notes from the interview. If I was not already familiar with the story, I would not have been interested enough to keep reading. I know Jessica gets a lot of flack for what happened, but she did not ask to be put in this situation, she didn't ask to be a hero or to get all the recognition that she did. She was attacked and she is sharing her story. Jessica is a strong person, I am sure telling her story was a great release. I am glad she shared. I think we take our freedom and those who fight for it for granted.
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