Fallen Angels

Very heavy war book focused on a young man from Brooklyn fighting in the Vietnam War.

The audiobook was wonderfully narrated and the pacing is fast and heart pounding. I genuinely didn't know if the MC would make it or if the ending would be abrupt, further highlighting the atrocities of war.

I'm surprised this isn't a mandatory read, but I could see how others would advocate against this book. By highlighting the atrocities of war, this may discourage many from enlisting in future wars.

I read this book, and taught it to my remedial English summer school class. It's a very real book, reflecting not only the modern American enlisted man's mindset; I say modern because, despite being set forty years ago, you can walk onto any army post, any camp, and hear exactly these same thoughts espoused, in roughly the same language. I do plan on reading Myers' companion piece, Sunrise Over Fallujah, and I expect roughly the same: a coming-of-age story, mixed with life-and-death struggles, that says something true about the nature of a war that is fought by youth.

This heartbreaking story was so good! I think I might even still have it in my garage somewhere...