Author Topic: Flyboys (Read 600 times)

United · « **on:** January 24, 2004, 11:18:44 PM »

I just bought the book Flyboys by James Bradley and was wondering what you all thought about it.

Bodhi · « **Reply #1 on:** January 25, 2004, 02:36:24 AM »

I enjoyed it

Eagler · « **Reply #2 on:** January 25, 2004, 01:03:47 PM »

it was ok

the history, us & japan, in the beginning was interesting as was the explaination of the jap mindset throughout the war but not enough "flying" action for me

does give you greater appreciation of the atom bomb & its implimentation when you realize just how far out in left field the jap leaders were concerning their fight to the death mentality.

Rafe35 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 25, 2004, 01:04:58 PM »

It's a good book to read

Martlet · « **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2004, 04:20:16 PM »

Got it for Christmas, and I'll let you know as soon as I finish the one I'm on now.

gofaster · « **Reply #5 on:** January 26, 2004, 09:31:47 AM »

I haven't bought it. I read some of the reviews and they pretty much said his overview of America's history of expansion, Americanism in the Phils, and the attitude towards Japan's exansion were distorted, inaccurate, and pretty much shoddy research. The only worthwhile parts, it seems, were the spoken accounts by the survivors. I decided to save my money. I may check it out from the library this Summer instead.

If you do decide to get it, wait for the paperback edition, which will contain new information on the "anonymous and unknown" airman.

midnight Target · « **Reply #6 on:** January 26, 2004, 10:30:43 AM »

About 1/4 of the way through it. Interesting read, I wonder about some items regarding the Americans in the Phillipines. If true we were barbarians to those people. If not this guy is a loon. My guess is the truth is somewhere in the middle.

It does give an interesting perspective on Japanese motivations and culture.

gofaster · « **Reply #7 on:** January 26, 2004, 11:05:56 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by midnight Target
About 1/4 of the way through it. Interesting read, I wonder about some items regarding the Americans in the Phillipines. If true we were barbarians to those people. If not this guy is a loon. My guess is the truth is somewhere in the middle.

It does give an interesting perspective on Japanese motivations and culture.

He drew his history of America in the Phils from a single source, and that source isn't without its own controversies.

A review by a history author I respect.

Nefarious · « **Reply #8 on:** January 26, 2004, 01:48:50 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by midnight Target
It does give an interesting perspective on Japanese motivations and culture.

Thats about as far as I got into it, Then I returned it to the Library.

I dont know what it is, but I need something a little more faster.
Over all, I think it's his writing style. I wanted to read about the Pilots and the War, Not Japanese and American Culture in the 1890's.

I'll defintley pick it up again though, I have a very large reading plate in front of me to finish first...

sickbird · « **Reply #9 on:** April 26, 2004, 11:09:10 AM »

I took the book on vacation with me. I'd say it was fair to poor.

I guess I wasn't that interested in hearing how barbaric our past was (and I'm not sure the author's assertions were even accurate). Combine that with a whole bunch of pretzel logic about how the Japense actions were defensible meant it wasn't a great read for me.

There was almost nothing about flying in the book.

Not to say that others won't enjoy this book, but if you want to read a book about flying --- this ain't it.

Yeager · « **Reply #10 on:** April 26, 2004, 11:18:03 AM »

I saw the cover and didnt like it so I passed on the book

sickbird · « **Reply #11 on:** April 26, 2004, 11:19:11 AM »

I wish I had been as smart.

slimm50 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 26, 2004, 01:26:23 PM »

My wife bought it for me for Christmas, so I pretty much had to read it. It almost seemed to me me Bradley was anti-American, but perhaps he was only trying to be as objective as he could be. I have always been fascinated by Japanese history and culture, as well as WWII history. So from those aspects it was an interesting read. It was not a comfortable book to read, but I definately think it was a story that needed to be told. By the end of the book I was pretty down. Afterward I had to pick up something light, like The Redwall series, for awhile.

strk · « **Reply #13 on:** April 26, 2004, 01:30:01 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Rafe35
It's a good book to read

Hey Rafe35 is that Pappy Boyington? Sure looks like him

Yeager · « **Reply #14 on:** April 26, 2004, 01:36:58 PM »

strk,

I agree it looks alot like old man Boyington!

In fact, I'm CERTAIN of it!

btw: Whos that goofy looking fella in your avatar?
Richard Gere meets Herman Munster or WHAT?

jk