The Majors

Rating:
Summary: Rather dull
Review: After reading books I and II of the "Brotherhood of War" series, I came to this one, and it was definitely a dull read. If you're looking for an exciting novel with lots of action, look elsewhere. Other readers may like it for its other virtues, but I found it dull. Also, by the time you get to this book, the limitations of Griffin's writing will become more and more glaring. So if you're a relatively sophisticated reader who likes to dip into adventure/action fiction, you'll really start to be distracted by Griffin's repetition of certain phrases and scenes. For example, if I have to read one more time about how some senior officer returned a salute with "a vague wave of the hand in the general area of his forehead," or words to that effect, I'm going to vomit. I think Griffin must have programmed a macro into his word processor that lets him write this phrase with a push of a single button, since it appears so much in all of his novels.

Rating:
Summary: BORINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
Review: As usual, another boring book added to WEB's endless stream of dribble! Next time take a shower instead of wasting time on this garbage.

Rating:
Summary: BORINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
Review: As usual, another boring book added to WEB's endless stream of dribble! Next time take a shower instead of wasting time on this garbage.

Rating:
Summary: Take it easy on w.e.b.
Review: Ever since my wife bought me the fighting agents two weeks ago, I have been on a tear regarding griffin's books. The reason is simple: enjoyable characters. In the Brotherhood series, I am currently reading The Majors. Other than "mouse" who I could care less about, I am facinated by Lowell and what may come of him. I could do without all of the drinking (that's all they seem to do) and Griffin's constant references to previous novels. I'll be the first to agree he is no Clancy. But, his books move smoothly for the most part and develop their characters well. I look forward to the remainder of this series and also to the Corps series which I have yet to read.

Rating:
Summary: Vintage W.E.B, Griffin
Review: If you're a Griffin fan, you've probably already read this book and series. The continuing saga of Lowell and company. It's still my favorite of all his series.

Rating:
Summary: Vintage W.E.B, Griffin
Review: If you're a Griffin fan, you've probably already read this book and series. The continuing saga of Lowell and company. It's still my favorite of all his series.

Rating:
Summary: Brotherhood of War Part 3
Review: The third book of W.E.B. Griffin's Brotherhood of War novels, "The Majors", contenues to follow the careers of Bob Bellmon, MacMillan, Sandy Felter, and of course anti-authority Creig Lowell. It is set during the late 1950s, and it is becoming clear to those in the know (the higher up of the militery and govenment) that the U.S. will shortly become involved in the conflict in Southeast Asia. The military then starts experimenting with the fledgling concept of Army Aviation. On the more personal side of things, Griffin seems more concerned with Major Lowell than any of his other characters. Lowell always seems to be in trouble. Some of it is not his fault (like the relationship with a senator's wife), but a lot of it is; disobaying direct orders and basiclly doing whatever he wants are just two examples. He manages to coast by most of the time because of his brilliant military record from Greece and Korea, but is when he isn't fighting and bored that he gets into trouble. I have met a lot of soldiers just like Lowell (although they were enlisted) and I know that for some odd reason the Army has a high tolerence for men like him. Then there is those other characters who suffer from Griffin's loving attention to Lowell. Do not get me wrong; Lowell is a facinating character, very complicated and fully realized. But there are other very interesting characters who I would like to know more about. For example, Sandy Felter is a professional Army spook; very good at his job, if somewhat inattentive to his wife. Bellmon and MacMillan are there only to try to convince higher brass to keep Lowell on. Greer seemed too much like a Lowell clone. The ease with which some of these men got thier ranks are more than a little disturbing, considering all the back scratching and favoritism involved. The underhanded politics that were going on while the Army was trying to develop a combat aviation program was interesting (because I was also in Army avation). I admit that if you were expecting a lot of fighting than the backroom deals probably will try your patience. In fact there are only a few battles in this book, and they are only minor skirmishes (the initial jump into Vietnam and the fight with the V.C., and the terrorist bombing of a civilian tourist bus in Algeria being the highlights). I realize that this series is gearing towards how Army Aviation was developed just in time for the Vietnam War, and so it is kind of interesting, unless you were expecting something Clancy like.

Rating:
Summary: Adequate Entry in a Solid Series
Review: There are two kinds of book series: Ones that can more or less be read in any order (James Bond comes to mind), and ones that work better when read in order of internal chronology. Griffin's "The Brotherhood of War" is the second kind of series, and it's virtually impossible (and certainly unfair) to review one of its "middle" books *except* as part of the larger series. _The Majors_ doesn't match the standard set in _The Lieutenants_ and _The Captains_, but it's a workmanlike entry that keeps the series moving.

"Brotherhood of War" is, as another reviewer said of a different volume in the series, a "military soap opera." It's concerned, for the most part, not with battles but with the rhythms of Army lives and careers: changes of post, changes of assignment, promotions, decorations, unexpected reunions with old comrades, and so on. The series has, by now, upwards of three dozen significant continuing characters . . . six or eight of whom qualify as major (in significance, not rank). That's a lot of fictional lives to keep straight and a lot of storylines to keep in motion, but Griffin pulls it off with considerable skill. _The Majors_ keeps you abreast of all the main players from the earlier books, and adds several new ones. Its a fast, satisfying read, and left me eager to pick up _The Colonels_.

That said, _The Majors_ is a step down from _The Lieutenants_ and _The Captains_. There're a few gunfights, but no big combat scene like the mountain battle in Greece (Bk. 1) or the commando raid into North Korea (Bk. 2). Craig Lowell and Sandy Felter, whose growth as people and as officers gave the first two books much of their depth, are less compelling in _The Majors_. Felter has become more of a plot device than a person. Lowell is in danger of becoming what he threatened to be early in _The Lieutenants_: an insufferable twit with more money than brains. The rest of the main characters fare better, but none of them has the kind of life-changing story arc that Felter got in Book 1 or Lowell got in Book 2.

If you loved the first two books in the series, _The Majors_ will have plenty to keep you interested. If you found yourself wishing that the first two books had more shooting and less soap opera, you'll be even less satisfied this time around.

Rating:
Summary: Adequate Entry in a Solid Series
Review: There are two kinds of book series: Ones that can more or less be read in any order (James Bond comes to mind), and ones that work better when read in order of internal chronology. Griffin's "The Brotherhood of War" is the second kind of series, and it's virtually impossible (and certainly unfair) to review one of its "middle" books *except* as part of the larger series. _The Majors_ doesn't match the standard set in _The Lieutenants_ and _The Captains_, but it's a workmanlike entry that keeps the series moving.

"Brotherhood of War" is, as another reviewer said of a different volume in the series, a "military soap opera." It's concerned, for the most part, not with battles but with the rhythms of Army lives and careers: changes of post, changes of assignment, promotions, decorations, unexpected reunions with old comrades, and so on. The series has, by now, upwards of three dozen significant continuing characters . . . six or eight of whom qualify as major (in significance, not rank). That's a lot of fictional lives to keep straight and a lot of storylines to keep in motion, but Griffin pulls it off with considerable skill. _The Majors_ keeps you abreast of all the main players from the earlier books, and adds several new ones. Its a fast, satisfying read, and left me eager to pick up _The Colonels_.

That said, _The Majors_ is a step down from _The Lieutenants_ and _The Captains_. There're a few gunfights, but no big combat scene like the mountain battle in Greece (Bk. 1) or the commando raid into North Korea (Bk. 2). Craig Lowell and Sandy Felter, whose growth as people and as officers gave the first two books much of their depth, are less compelling in _The Majors_. Felter has become more of a plot device than a person. Lowell is in danger of becoming what he threatened to be early in _The Lieutenants_: an insufferable twit with more money than brains. The rest of the main characters fare better, but none of them has the kind of life-changing story arc that Felter got in Book 1 or Lowell got in Book 2.

If you loved the first two books in the series, _The Majors_ will have plenty to keep you interested. If you found yourself wishing that the first two books had more shooting and less soap opera, you'll be even less satisfied this time around.