Reviewed by my husband, Jesse.
Crossing the Wire- Bob Kornhiser
From Goodreads: Crossing the Wire - G.I. slang for leaving base - is set in the current war in Iraq. An American 1st Lt. has an illicit romance with an Iraqi professor of English, defying military regulations, as well as the professor's aristocratic, religious family. Thrown into combat, the lieutenant does his best to survive, while trying to make sense of the complex Arab/Islamic culture of his lover.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I really enjoyed reading this book, at first when my very beautiful wife asked me to read it I asked her what it was about she told me it was about a soldier in Iraq. Being a U.S Army veteran, as soon as she said that it peaked my interest but when she said it also had a love story I said 'oh crap'. I knew it was too good to be true, a book without a love story in it. With football season just over and basketball season just getting under way I decided to go ahead and read it and I'm glad I did. I was totally wrong about the sappy love story, it wasn't the lovey dovey story I expected, and Mr. Kornhiser gave a real good insight to what it's like being an American soilder deployed in Iraq.
Mr. Kornhiser really hit the nail on the head with a lot of the challenges our military personal face from death of fellow soldiers to the 'Dear John' letters many men recieve over there. Thats one thing I never understood, why rip a man's heart out and hand it to him in a letter, when the enemy is trying to do the same thing, one battle at a time please.
The connection between the American soldier, James Robert, and the Iraqi woman, Laila Amari, was done very well. First it shows how love doesn't discriminate against cultural differences, religious backgrounds, or political views. Bringing these two characters together also was a great way of showing how religion plays apart in the war. The story of love, war, and religion was very well intertwined through these characters. I also liked how the author included the rise and fall of Saddam Hussein throughout the book.
I felt it was a very unbias look at the war in Iraq. Very good book, in the words of my two favorite reviewers, Siskel and Ebert, "Two thumb up".
eta: not bad for his first review...
Mr. Kornhiser really hit the nail on the head with a lot of the challenges our military personal face from death of fellow soldiers to the 'Dear John' letters many men recieve over there. Thats one thing I never understood, why rip a man's heart out and hand it to him in a letter, when the enemy is trying to do the same thing, one battle at a time please.
The connection between the American soldier, James Robert, and the Iraqi woman, Laila Amari, was done very well. First it shows how love doesn't discriminate against cultural differences, religious backgrounds, or political views. Bringing these two characters together also was a great way of showing how religion plays apart in the war. The story of love, war, and religion was very well intertwined through these characters. I also liked how the author included the rise and fall of Saddam Hussein throughout the book.
I felt it was a very unbias look at the war in Iraq. Very good book, in the words of my two favorite reviewers, Siskel and Ebert, "Two thumb up".
eta: not bad for his first review...
Aww, what a sweet husband. =)
ReplyDeleteGreat review.. like that it accurately portrays what it's like to be a soldier over there. I'll have to look into this.
Thanks, Jenny. He was so excited to see a comment.
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