Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk in Around the World in 80 Books

Aug 13, 2012 Sam rated it did not like it

Shelves: young-person-protag, read-2012, reviewed, 1-contemp-literary

I’d happily fall in love with a book that was trying to capture and examine our contemporary reality. Politically, I absolutely agree with the themes highlighted (to death) in this book about the calculations behind going to war, about our society’s inane ‘priorities,’—everything. But Ben Fountain never lets me forget that he’s communicating his messages, that he’s making these oh-so-important statements. Instead of telling a good story or giving us a meaningful character study, all Mr. Fountain I’d happily fall in love with a book that was trying to capture and examine our contemporary reality. Politically, I absolutely agree with the themes highlighted (to death) in this book about the calculations behind going to war, about our society’s inane ‘priorities,’—everything. But Ben Fountain never lets me forget that he’s communicating his messages, that he’s making these oh-so-important statements. Instead of telling a good story or giving us a meaningful character study, all Mr. Fountain did was use his characters like they were action figure toys that he’d inject into *set pieces* as a way to introduce unsubtly yet another example of how hypocritical, ignorant, superficial, or greedy some people are. There is not one section in the book where I couldn’t see the author’s clumsy hands all over each page. There's nothing artful or literary about this at all. Instead of getting lost in the story, lost in Billy’s meditations, I just felt like the author was punching me in the face with messages that weren’t even very deep.

He wants to raise important questions, but how come his treatment of them is so trite? The same themes are repeated over and over and over and over again, in the EXACT same way each time. It is not as if, in revisiting the same themes again and again, we are peeling back different layers of meanings and perspectives. No, the author doesn’t open our eyes to any new dimensions. Seriously, after the first 100 pages (maybe even less), you don’t gain any new insight into Billy, into war, or our superficial culture that the author didn’t already make in the first few pages. Moreover, most of the characters are crude stereotypes, except for Billy (kind of)—and maybe Dime.

If a book doesn’t work for me, then it just doesn’t; there’s no need for extra, special outrage. Most of the time, I’m self-aware enough to chalk up it up to differences in opinions and tastes. Everything’s subjective anyway; yes, I understand. But allow me to be immature here, just this once. In this case, there is a need for extra, special outrage. HOW IS THIS BOOK CONSIDERED WELL-WRITTEN, ENGAGING FICTION???? Why so many people, whose opinions I trust, have trumpeted this as *the* book of the year baffles me to no end.
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Oct 22, 2016 Sera rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, own, literary-fiction, kindle, 1st

This book is about American soldiers who return to a heroic home welcome from Iraq only to go back for another tour of duty. The author really nailed the disconnect between the views of the Americans at home from those who actually fight in the war abroad. The story is an uncomfortable one, and it made me sad as a reader. Although the soldiers are now treated differently by Americans who support them, rather than treat them with disdain as they did after the Vietnam war, the level of their stres ...more

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Jul 19, 2016 Nikki Morse rated it liked it

I wanted to like this more than I did. The glimpse into the service members experience of patriotism and questions about the war, the use of these soldiers to drum up support for the war before sending them back - felt resonant and powerful. The Texas cheerleader fantasy was a bit much and didn't enhance the story (I bet it did for the writer though, hoo ah). A somewhat unique story though, and interesting to return to an issue I spent so much time working on. ...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Lara rated it it was amazing

Incredible and such a pleasure to read.

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Nov 04, 2012 Sherry rated it it was amazing

Shelves: politics-political-satire

Excellent satire and commentary/sweeping panaorama of U.S. culture, the marketing of the military establishment, the role of the soldier in post- 9-11 world, and major cultural-commercial events and sites.

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