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A review by aeoliandeductress
The Yellow Birds by Kevin Powers
4.0
I am not generally one for war books. But if you are going to make an exception for one, this is a good choice.
The story is told by one Private John Bartle. It is a story of his time in Iraq, of his return home, and of his loss of a good friend. It is a story of guilt and of brutality. Yet in that, I do not feel this book makes a judgement on this particular conflict, so much as a judgement on the nature of war in and of itself.
The author is a poet and it's evident throughout the passages, some so dazzling lyrical you find yourself swimming in them more than reading and comprehending. Yet they add depth to our narrator's character, both emotionally and intellectually.
It's not always enjoyable reading. It's heavy and there are times when you want to shake the main characters heartily. Moreover, I'm not fond of what I feel the writer wanted me to see as the bigger tragedy. Therefore the ending did not resolve as nicely for me as it may for some.
Regardless though, this book looks at a lot of the realities of war. The tight bonds formed, the unquestioning loyalty for people that may be less than savory but who will save one's ass when needed, the utter burn to go home and yet the utter disappointment with knowing how to exist once one returns, something resembling PTSD or at least survivor's guilt, and so much more. To me this is commentary on the great equalizer more than any specific conflict and does that quite beautifully.
The story is told by one Private John Bartle. It is a story of his time in Iraq, of his return home, and of his loss of a good friend. It is a story of guilt and of brutality. Yet in that, I do not feel this book makes a judgement on this particular conflict, so much as a judgement on the nature of war in and of itself.
The author is a poet and it's evident throughout the passages, some so dazzling lyrical you find yourself swimming in them more than reading and comprehending. Yet they add depth to our narrator's character, both emotionally and intellectually.
It's not always enjoyable reading. It's heavy and there are times when you want to shake the main characters heartily. Moreover, I'm not fond of what I feel the writer wanted me to see as the bigger tragedy.
Spoiler
I'm supposed to be more upset that Murphy's mutilated body was sent down the river to save his mother a last look at a deformed son than the fact that Sterling shot and killed an innocent man, with Bartle in silent agreement? That man's death deserved more than the couple year stint in jail that was served. We can argue over the mercy of what was done with Murph's body but there is no conscience in what they did to that man. Further separation of seeing the "enemy" as less than human.Regardless though, this book looks at a lot of the realities of war. The tight bonds formed, the unquestioning loyalty for people that may be less than savory but who will save one's ass when needed, the utter burn to go home and yet the utter disappointment with knowing how to exist once one returns, something resembling PTSD or at least survivor's guilt, and so much more. To me this is commentary on the great equalizer more than any specific conflict and does that quite beautifully.