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American Warrior
Alternate cover edition for ASIN: B00ENL8C6G
The year is 1961. America has a new president, named John F. Kennedy, and a new era the newspapers are calling the Dawn of Camelot. But for ten-year-old Paul Brett, dealing with an abusive father and the immigrant gangs roaming his slum neighborhood of China Slough, America is only a small, dead-end place he is struggling to survive.
That is, until the night a mysterious stranger comes out of the darkness to his rescue, and initiates a journey—an unforgettable odyssey—beyond his wildest imagination.
From his unlikely beginnings in a brutal California migrant camp, into the darkest underbelly of a distant and unpopular war, to his final and, perhaps, most deadly struggle for survival inside the bowels of a near-medieval military prison, American Warrior follows one young man's breathtaking and mesmerizing journey into hell.
The year is 1961. America has a new president, named John F. Kennedy, and a new era the newspapers are calling the Dawn of Camelot. But for ten-year-old Paul Brett, dealing with an abusive father and the immigrant gangs roaming his slum neighborhood of China Slough, America is only a small, dead-end place he is struggling to survive.
That is, until the night a mysterious stranger comes out of the darkness to his rescue, and initiates a journey—an unforgettable odyssey—beyond his wildest imagination.
From his unlikely beginnings in a brutal California migrant camp, into the darkest underbelly of a distant and unpopular war, to his final and, perhaps, most deadly struggle for survival inside the bowels of a near-medieval military prison, American Warrior follows one young man's breathtaking and mesmerizing journey into hell.
Kindle Edition
First published December 28, 2004
148 people are currently reading
1098 people want to read
About the author
James Snyder
9 books64 followersJames Snyder was born in Memphis, Tennessee and lived in many parts of the United States before settling with his family in Napa Valley. Among a variety of careers and occupations, he was a soldier with a tactical mobile operations unit in Germany, as well as an executive for a Fortune 500 company.
He has published short stories in the Houghton Mifflin Black Mask anthologies, the Ginosko Literary Journal, and was a finalist in the New Letters’ Alexander Patterson Cappon Prize for Fiction. He is the author of the military thriller AMERICAN WARRIOR, the suspense thriller DESOLATION RUN, the literary coming-of-age THE BEAUTIFUL-UGLY, and the short story collection TALES OF THE LATE TWENTIETH CENTURY
He occasionally blogs at jamessnyder.net and currently lives in Texas where he writes full time.
@jamessnyder22
www.JamesSnyder.net.
He has published short stories in the Houghton Mifflin Black Mask anthologies, the Ginosko Literary Journal, and was a finalist in the New Letters’ Alexander Patterson Cappon Prize for Fiction. He is the author of the military thriller AMERICAN WARRIOR, the suspense thriller DESOLATION RUN, the literary coming-of-age THE BEAUTIFUL-UGLY, and the short story collection TALES OF THE LATE TWENTIETH CENTURY
He occasionally blogs at jamessnyder.net and currently lives in Texas where he writes full time.
@jamessnyder22
www.JamesSnyder.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 21, 2014
This war novel is a winner! It's an intense story about overcoming difficult situations, often painfully emotional, and defending one's self from the enemy. Paul Brett grows up around bullies who pick on him and make him feel helpless. As a small child, Paul senses an inner desire to find someone who will teach him how to defeat a strong enemy. He trains privately, year after year, with Draeger the old Dutchman, who pounds him with helpful drills, fighting moves, and mental perseverance. After high school, Paul joins the military and becomes a Green Beret. His callused hands and training has paid off. But he soon learns that war is more than fighting; someone is selling them out. With moles and spies and unwise leaders, he experiences losing good teammates while understanding the nature of true survival and a bigger sense of the word loyalty. He questions who has been running the lousy operations, and then he suffers through the responses. He becomes a significant 'nothing' to defeat the enemy. This book has adult content. Paul Brett is a survivor, a defender, and a flawed hero who will fight until the very end.
James Snyder developed, in great detail, a devastating childhood for the main character. At first, he had me rooting for an underdog, and then I found myself cheering for a hero. He wrote in third person narrative using a present tense. He developed a superb war novel filled with action, violence, and adrenaline. In this book, he has mastered plot strategy, character motivation, believability, and showing the depths of war.
James Snyder developed, in great detail, a devastating childhood for the main character. At first, he had me rooting for an underdog, and then I found myself cheering for a hero. He wrote in third person narrative using a present tense. He developed a superb war novel filled with action, violence, and adrenaline. In this book, he has mastered plot strategy, character motivation, believability, and showing the depths of war.
June 5, 2014
American Warrior
It was a great book. Even though I'm more of a horror book reader, this book kept me interested in reading to see what was going to happen to Paul next. Paul's life was rough, abusive father, meeting a mentor, going off to Vietnam, then ending up back in the US in a military prison. I'm glad that I won this book, will have to check out more of James Snyder books.
It was a great book. Even though I'm more of a horror book reader, this book kept me interested in reading to see what was going to happen to Paul next. Paul's life was rough, abusive father, meeting a mentor, going off to Vietnam, then ending up back in the US in a military prison. I'm glad that I won this book, will have to check out more of James Snyder books.
February 13, 2020
Didn't mind the story
This is not my usual read but I'd heard good things about the author so I picked this one up. Not disappointed either. Well written and kept my interest the whole time too.
This is not my usual read but I'd heard good things about the author so I picked this one up. Not disappointed either. Well written and kept my interest the whole time too.
November 20, 2014
Hmmm
I tried really really hard but I just could not finish this book. It may have gotten better in the second half but I just couldn't read anymore.
I tried really really hard but I just could not finish this book. It may have gotten better in the second half but I just couldn't read anymore.
October 5, 2021
What a read.
This story is incredible. Without giving too much away it follows a skinny kid living as white trash to a soldier to a special soldier and then to a soldier who has seen too much.
There is more than a bit of Apocalypse Now, a fair bit of Full Metal Jacket, just a touch of Law Abiding Citizen and, just for kicks, throw in some Jack Reacher.
This read takes you on a ride you will not soon forget and is one of the few books that I really could not put down.
If you like your stories dark, if you like your stories with an intensity that ‘crams your brains’ and if you like your stories so fast and unrelenting it almost hurts to read - then grab this and stand by.
Some of this tale is a mixture of ‘finding’ yourself while losing yourself but the main character is worthy of your time and the storyline is just a wild ride for those who expect more than just a tale.
Wow - what a read.
This story is incredible. Without giving too much away it follows a skinny kid living as white trash to a soldier to a special soldier and then to a soldier who has seen too much.
There is more than a bit of Apocalypse Now, a fair bit of Full Metal Jacket, just a touch of Law Abiding Citizen and, just for kicks, throw in some Jack Reacher.
This read takes you on a ride you will not soon forget and is one of the few books that I really could not put down.
If you like your stories dark, if you like your stories with an intensity that ‘crams your brains’ and if you like your stories so fast and unrelenting it almost hurts to read - then grab this and stand by.
Some of this tale is a mixture of ‘finding’ yourself while losing yourself but the main character is worthy of your time and the storyline is just a wild ride for those who expect more than just a tale.
Wow - what a read.
July 4, 2020
I downloaded this book by mistake, but figured what the heck, give it a chance. Reading Part 1, I decided I was happy I hadn't deleted it. But then the war started. Way too much technical jargon and details for my taste. Which is what I had expected. So that's when the book basically lost me. I stuck with it, hoping it would return to something I could enjoy -- never really happened. I pray the story is TOTAL fiction imagination. Otherwise, what a sad, sad war -- which is was in general, but even more so if any of the story is real.
Read
October 4, 2021Brutal
Even with the brutality, I rather liked the beginning of the book when our 'hero' is a small boy learning Indonesian martial arts. But I didn't care enough to try to follow the story in Vietnam and beyond that it descends into imprisonment and torture. Really grisly scenes that I'd prefer were not in my consciousness.
Even with the brutality, I rather liked the beginning of the book when our 'hero' is a small boy learning Indonesian martial arts. But I didn't care enough to try to follow the story in Vietnam and beyond that it descends into imprisonment and torture. Really grisly scenes that I'd prefer were not in my consciousness.
October 21, 2020
Suck off!!
No on on no boo no no no non . I won't do this job!! I am not wasted, wasting my time ! Just let me loose and give me a book! When you change that option, then I will do this!! You don't pay me for my opinion kohl!!!!!
No on on no boo no no no non . I won't do this job!! I am not wasted, wasting my time ! Just let me loose and give me a book! When you change that option, then I will do this!! You don't pay me for my opinion kohl!!!!!
September 12, 2018
Read it
This book was very interesting to read.Plenty of action and some interesting characters.I would recommend this book to everyone. Thanks
This book was very interesting to read.Plenty of action and some interesting characters.I would recommend this book to everyone. Thanks
October 26, 2018
Decent story
To me it seemed like it took a long time to get the plot and story line going but I finally got into this book and ended up enjoying the book.
To me it seemed like it took a long time to get the plot and story line going but I finally got into this book and ended up enjoying the book.
July 21, 2019
Good book
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much . Shelley MA
You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much . Shelley MA
October 5, 2021
A very enjoyable read. Recommended.
December 30, 2013
by James Snyder
Paul is the under-sized son of an abusive father who will not allow him to read books in his own home. In a neighbourhood where low man on the totem pole gets beat down he is at the bottom of the pecking order. First day on his new paper route he finds a dead body. When an old customer rescues him from a beating and robbery in the barrio he persuades his benefactor to teach him an ancient Javanese Martial Art. The story moves on as the title suggests to see him choose the military over jail and given the period involved he ends up in Vietnam with an elite green beret unit operating in a theatre that officially does not exist. Unlike so many others he thrives on the action.
The book makes no moral judgments in describing the action. Paul is a soldier who is good at what he does. Betrayed by his inept leaders he finds his way home and ironically into the military prison system he joined to avoid. There he is tortured and subjected to psychological warfare. The injustice of training a man in black ops and then being embarrassed to have him around outraged this reader. Another writer depicts how America botched the war in Vietnam and betrayed the soldiers it sent to wage it.
Paul is the under-sized son of an abusive father who will not allow him to read books in his own home. In a neighbourhood where low man on the totem pole gets beat down he is at the bottom of the pecking order. First day on his new paper route he finds a dead body. When an old customer rescues him from a beating and robbery in the barrio he persuades his benefactor to teach him an ancient Javanese Martial Art. The story moves on as the title suggests to see him choose the military over jail and given the period involved he ends up in Vietnam with an elite green beret unit operating in a theatre that officially does not exist. Unlike so many others he thrives on the action.
The book makes no moral judgments in describing the action. Paul is a soldier who is good at what he does. Betrayed by his inept leaders he finds his way home and ironically into the military prison system he joined to avoid. There he is tortured and subjected to psychological warfare. The injustice of training a man in black ops and then being embarrassed to have him around outraged this reader. Another writer depicts how America botched the war in Vietnam and betrayed the soldiers it sent to wage it.
June 13, 2015
Not the book I expected but one I would read again. One child and his abusive alcoholic father, the child a runt to begin with and there can be little in the way of great expectations for this waif. But real life can take many turns and sometimes merely because of what fork in the road one chooses, and not chosen by conscious decision but more by a mental coin toss. Add one gruff old man who takes the child under his wing and imparts his experience based knowledge with a tough love demeanor. And so begins a journey of hard knocks, betrayals and setbacks that would be debilitating to most but inspiring determination to the warrior. From the childhood scuffles to the jungles of Viet Nam to incarceration at the “Castle”, the prison at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard the Warrior draws upon the teachings of his childhood mentor, teachings that serve him well. As my personal enjoyment increases with any book from which I glean bits of knowledge I found this book to be a most enjoyable and enlightening read, the more so when I finished it and then scrambled for the internet to seek further information or to verify certain details. A five star for this bookworm.
August 5, 2015
I received a free copy through Goodreads.
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I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I picked this up. There was a lot of fighting (bullying, the war and eventually the prison), which is all very graphic and gritty. But hey fighting is dirty and underhanded, so this is definitely very realistic in that sense. The book basically focuses on 4 chapters of Paul's life, from when he was an abused child, to a man enlisted in the army, to a prisoner while the government decides what to do with him and his knowledge and where he finally has enough and wants to leave it all behind.
It was quite fascinating reading about the Javanese Martial Art that the Dutchman was teaching Paul throughout the years and how it somewhat helped shape his character through all the challenges that lies ahead. The author takes you through every detail and thoughts that goes through Paul's mind and every bit is important instead of being glossed over.
This definitely isn't my type of book, but overall it was a decent read, even though there were a few sections here and there that I struggled through. But that twist ending, wow didn't expect that!
---
I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I picked this up. There was a lot of fighting (bullying, the war and eventually the prison), which is all very graphic and gritty. But hey fighting is dirty and underhanded, so this is definitely very realistic in that sense. The book basically focuses on 4 chapters of Paul's life, from when he was an abused child, to a man enlisted in the army, to a prisoner while the government decides what to do with him and his knowledge and where he finally has enough and wants to leave it all behind.
It was quite fascinating reading about the Javanese Martial Art that the Dutchman was teaching Paul throughout the years and how it somewhat helped shape his character through all the challenges that lies ahead. The author takes you through every detail and thoughts that goes through Paul's mind and every bit is important instead of being glossed over.
This definitely isn't my type of book, but overall it was a decent read, even though there were a few sections here and there that I struggled through. But that twist ending, wow didn't expect that!
February 28, 2015
From looking at it, this would be a book my boyfriend would pick up instead of me. Though, when I received this book, I dived into it and was transported and immersed in the world that James Snyder had created.
American Warrior hits the plot and takes us through the story without the annoying length of a story that takes part in a lifetime, like with other books. The book let people see the main character through the trials of his life, not through the details that fans really don't care about.
Was I glad that this was my first war novel that I've read? Yes.
Should you check this out if you're new to the war novel genre? Yes.
Is James Snyder an amazing person? Yes, and thank you James for my signed copy of the book. It's perfect for my collection.
*All review are my own and not influenced that I was sent this book. I'm not that lame for raving a book because I got it free. *
American Warrior hits the plot and takes us through the story without the annoying length of a story that takes part in a lifetime, like with other books. The book let people see the main character through the trials of his life, not through the details that fans really don't care about.
Was I glad that this was my first war novel that I've read? Yes.
Should you check this out if you're new to the war novel genre? Yes.
Is James Snyder an amazing person? Yes, and thank you James for my signed copy of the book. It's perfect for my collection.
*All review are my own and not influenced that I was sent this book. I'm not that lame for raving a book because I got it free. *
August 13, 2015
This was a kindle book I received for free from Amazon. I started reading it long after I'd gotten it, and forgot what it was about. It started out very good! Here is a poor, abused boy who learns to fight from his elderly neighbor. I was engrossed and read it very quickly, but then the whole book changed. Suddenly it was only about him being a soldier and was strictly a war novel. A very detailed war novel, all about exactly every little thing happening as they fought in the Vietnam war. If you love war books and movies, this book is for you. I don't. I started skimming it, hoping to get back to a real story, but it just wasn't coming. This may be a good book for some, but not for me. You might want to just read the first half for a good book, and then stop like I did.
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May 1, 2014James Snyder had written a deeply thoughtful story. His treatment of the war is respectful and realistic. The plot is well designed and fulfilling. Snyder's characters are full of human flaws and hopeful growth, just as they should be.
'American Warrior' is a novel of a boy becoming a man, coming to know himself through an intense life full of abuse, self defense and ultimately overcoming his fears and desires to do what must be done to survive. Paul's life is not an easy one to read about. The war is not the end of the tale, and what becomes of him is terrible and intense. Can he survive?
'American Warrior' is a novel of a boy becoming a man, coming to know himself through an intense life full of abuse, self defense and ultimately overcoming his fears and desires to do what must be done to survive. Paul's life is not an easy one to read about. The war is not the end of the tale, and what becomes of him is terrible and intense. Can he survive?
November 27, 2014
A gritty version of the karate kid
If you enjoyed the karate kid as a child, the adult mature you will be on the edge of your seat as you immerse yourself in Paul's story. The character's sheer will to survive in unbelievable situations and his strength to endure make him without a doubt an AMERICAN WARRIOR worthy of a four star rating. It would have gotten five, but in my opinion it was too verbose and would have benefited from some well placed editing.
If you enjoyed the karate kid as a child, the adult mature you will be on the edge of your seat as you immerse yourself in Paul's story. The character's sheer will to survive in unbelievable situations and his strength to endure make him without a doubt an AMERICAN WARRIOR worthy of a four star rating. It would have gotten five, but in my opinion it was too verbose and would have benefited from some well placed editing.
December 10, 2015
This could ALMOST be described as a western, but no, it is not. It is a story told of what happens to some (fictional) men when they have been to war, and when they come home and find the promises made by their Government to be filled with holes.
The author takes on the 'tone' of each character as he tells of his pieces of the tale. It's really quiet beautifully written, although is not at all a happy story.
It made me THINK, a lot, about our Veterans, today and of the yesterday wars.
The author takes on the 'tone' of each character as he tells of his pieces of the tale. It's really quiet beautifully written, although is not at all a happy story.
It made me THINK, a lot, about our Veterans, today and of the yesterday wars.
January 22, 2015
I won this book in a giveaway from goodreads!!
This was a very interesting book. From childhood to adulthood, this is the story of Paul. Paul does not have many dull moments!! I think men in particular would really enjoy this story. It pulls you in from the first chapter and keeps your wondering what's going to happen next!
This was a very interesting book. From childhood to adulthood, this is the story of Paul. Paul does not have many dull moments!! I think men in particular would really enjoy this story. It pulls you in from the first chapter and keeps your wondering what's going to happen next!
May 19, 2014
James Snyder American Warrior was a page turner. Loved how he respectfully handled the war. He created a character with depth that will leave you rooting for him. I would highly recommend this book to anyone it is worth a read.
July 23, 2014
This book was given to me as a goodreads first reads book.
I love how real this book is. You feel like you are reading about a real guy in america. All his struggles and ups and downs are so well described that you feel like you are there with him.
I love how real this book is. You feel like you are reading about a real guy in america. All his struggles and ups and downs are so well described that you feel like you are there with him.
December 22, 2014
a great read
I really enjoyed this story. I liked how the character evolved from an abused child to a special forces soldier. He learns martial arts from a master and through this training discovers who he is. It is a great novel with plenty of action.
I really enjoyed this story. I liked how the character evolved from an abused child to a special forces soldier. He learns martial arts from a master and through this training discovers who he is. It is a great novel with plenty of action.
March 5, 2015
Too gory for me...obviously it is meant to be authentic, but I prefer the historical biographies / autobiographies with less emphasis on gruesome details. The story itself is pretty incredible. If you don't mind the super gritty stuff- you may enjoy giving this a go.
November 4, 2016
I think this book was great I recommend it to people who love hero books. It was a hard time for the protagonist because he had an abusive father , I can't relay to that because my parents love me. Also it was a hard time for him in vietnam
April 19, 2014
It is really interesting, Paul gave us so much to root for. I love the Dutch man that takes interest in Paul. Great read !
December 1, 2014
tedious
Lost interest and couldn't really get into the book. The life of this man couldn't have been any more awful.
Lost interest and couldn't really get into the book. The life of this man couldn't have been any more awful.
November 26, 2015
Beautiful words about an ugly war.
I will be reading the author's other books.
I will be reading the author's other books.
November 26, 2014
This was absolutely fantastic! A page turner for sure! I hope for a sequel!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews