De Afghanistan-Missie

War Torn #1

by Andy McNab, Kym Jordan, Jacques Meerman (Translator)

Sergeant Dave Henley is met het 1e peloton van de R-compagnie op missie in de provincie Helmand in Afghanistan. De nog onervaren militairen gaan het gevecht aan met een vijand die meestal ongrijpbaar is en onverwacht toeslaat met bermbommen en hinderlagen. Geconfronteerd met de keiharde realiteit van een oorlog die door de politiek als opbouwmissie wordt bestempeld, groeien de groentjes uit tot een hechte eenheid. Jenny Henley woont vlak bij de andere echtgenotes en vriendinnen van de militairen van het 1e peloton. Elke dag wachten de vrouwen, die een sterke band met elkaar opbouwen, in angst op dat bericht dat ze nooit hopen te krijgen: dat hun man gewond is geraakt of is gesneuveld. Maar wat is zo'n leven eigenlijk waard als de man die van je houdt vrijwillig zijn leven op het spel zet? Als hij de trouw aan zijn eenheid belangrijker vindt dan jullie toekomst samen?

Genres: Fiction, War, Thriller, Military Fiction, Ebooks, Action, Suspense

448 pages, Paperback

First published January 24, 2010

About the author

Andy McNab joined the infantry in 1976 as a boy soldier. In 1984 he was badged as a member of 22 SAS Regiment. He served in B Squadron 22 SAS for ten years and worked on both covert and overt special operations worldwide, including anti-terrorist and anti-drug operations in the Middle and Far East, South and Central America and Northern Ireland.

Trained as a specialist in counter terrorism, prime target elimination, demolitions, weapons and tactics, covert surveillance and information gathering in hostile environments, and VIP protection, McNab worked on cooperative operations with police forces, prison services, anti-drug forces and western backed guerrilla movements as well as on conventional special operations. In Northern Ireland he spent two years working as an undercover operator with 14th Intelligence Group, going on to become an instructor.

McNab also worked as an instructor on the SAS selection and training team and instructed foreign special forces in counter terrorism, hostage rescue and survival training.

Andy McNab has written about his experiences in the SAS in two bestselling books, Bravo Two Zero (1993) and Immediate Action (1995). Bravo Two Zero is the highest selling war book of all time and has sold over 1.7 million copies in the UK. To date it has been published in 17 countries and translated into 16 languages. The CD spoken word version of Bravo Two Zero, narrated by McNab, sold over 60,000 copies and earned a silver disc. The BBC's film of Bravo Two Zero, starring Sean Bean, was shown on primetime BBC 1 television in 1999 and released on DVD in 2000.

Immediate Action, McNab's autobiography, spent 18 weeks at the top of the bestseller lists following the lifting on an ex-parte injunction granted to the Ministry of Defence in September 1995. To date, Immediate Action has now sold over 1.4 million copies in the UK.

McNab is the author of seven fast action thrillers, highly acclaimed for their authenticity and all Sunday Times bestsellers. Published in 1997, Remote Control was hailed as the most authentic thriller ever written and has sold over half a million copies in the UK. McNab's subsequent thrillers, Crisis Four, Firewall, Last Light , Liberation Day , Dark Winter , Deep Black and Aggressor have all gone on to sell equally well. The central character in all the books is Nick Stone, a tough ex-SAS operative working as a 'K' on deniable operations for British Intelligence.

McNab's fiction draws extensively on his experiences and knowledge of Special Forces soldiering. He has been officially registered by Neilsen Bookscan as the bestselling British thriller writer of the last year.

Reviews

[Brendan · Rating 5 out of 5]

War Torn is a fictional Military book about a British squad entering Afghanistan. Their mission is simple protect the civilians at the Forward Operating Base (FOB) so that they can dig for that precious resource oil. Within minutes of heading towards the FOB they are ambushed and lose two men who have to be sent back.

The book mostly follows the viewpoint of Sergeant Dave who is in charge of this platoon. His mission is to train these new recruits into formidable fighting machines. The viewpoint switches many times, from each soldier in the platoon to the wives and families back home and the dramas arising back there.

The authors both McNab and Kym Jordan really make you feel like you are in the battle zone as well as back home with the families. The way the FOB is described makes you feel a part of it, like your just another soldier wondering around this platoon. The episodes back home are much better than any episode of EastEnders as they are believable and you could actually see it happening.

Overall I loved this book from the onset, I did find it difficult to begin with as I kept trying to figure out who each character is but once you do it is a beautiful written book, let us hope for a sequel.

[Johnny 'Kobe' · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't have a proper understanding of the living conditions which soldiers are situated today in both their native country and foreign (Afghanistan) since I do not have first-hand experience but despite that fact Andy McNab has certainly helped me gain a greater perception on the lives of our present warriors. it was a really brilliant book, loved every page and currently reading the sequel.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Andy McNab book. I’ve been collecting them for a while. I was not disappointed, as I greatly enjoyed the story. Not being from GB, did not pose a problem, as slang and logistics were not major issues. The minefield portion of the book was some of the most intense writing ever. I look forward to the rest of the series!!

[Mick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story which showed the difficulties with being at war and family's struggling at home .
Well written and gripping from end to end

[Oscar · Rating 5 out of 5]

War torn is a wonderful book by Andy Mcnab and Kym Jordan.

It is mainly focused on the life of Sergeant Dave and his new squadron which is fresh from military training although he does get some more experienced solders during the book. The SAS(special air services)also gets involved in 2 parts of the book the first being when they assassinate a man that is believed to be an Al-quada general and the other mission being when they are sent on a rescue mission of a civilian, although the SAS are sent on this mission British solders are the ones that find the civilian after eating some fresh grapes near by.

Altogether i think this book is wonderful and give it a 10/10 rating

[Rlawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intelligent, realistic, insightful. Gets the message across without descending into melodrama.

[Neil Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book it was very well written did start a bit slow but soon picked up pace. An insightful story of what the soliders and there wifes/girlfrfiends go though.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

only just realized that i havent read it all but its still very good:)

[RH · Rating 5 out of 5]

When sent to the Forward Operations Base in Afghanistan, Dave Henley was not really prepared for the horrors he was about to face there. Tasked with the protection of civilians who are trying to find oil, they are soon in a battle with the Taliban. Day by day in the scorching heat, the men are trying to defend their outpost and the civilians from this war torn environment.

But it is not just a war abroad they are facing and fighting, it is also one at home. Disfigured or killed, their mates are sent back to their families and wives, who, across the globe, are living in constant fear of losing their loved ones. With the gossip, suspense and some unfaithfulness the situation at home might be ever harder than the one in Afghanistan.

[Trevor · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone who doesn't do fiction I was a little disappointed to find out this was exactly that when I acquired it.

Having thought, "Sod it, let's give it a go" I thought it was actually OK. I much prefer my war stories to be first hand accounts although this was somewhat more believable having been written by someone who has served in the forces in a big way!

It was well written and some good ideas put into it, it's just that fiction just isn't for me.

[Tim Corke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow 1 Platoon as they arrive baby faced into Helmand Province and take on the complex battle with the Taliban. As they experience face to face action they realise the battle is not just limited to the immediate enemy in front of them but the hidden and emotional conflict with loved ones back home. Some don’t return from the front line in the dusty Afghan mountains, but many realise the front line is more dangerous in the suburbs of Wiltshire.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining fictional account of how the lives of soldiers and their familes are affected by war. Likeable characters, good little side stories and plenty of action. Didn't clear a few things up at the end but still a good read.

[Mick Mullins · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enjoyable read made a bit more interesting by hearing from the home side of the wives left while husbands go to war.

The author has clear experience of the entire subject matters (with Kym's contributions?) bringing credibility to the stories.

[Kishan Chandrakumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great perspective on life on the frontline as well as those who were left behind at home. The book was gripping throughout.

[Alex Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a great wee read enjoyed it a lot brought back a few things

[Damian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay

Good story. The girlfriend side was not for me. I will read more of his books. First that I have read.

[Csaba Varnai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book with alot of details to get you really immersed.

[Paschalis]

elibrary

[Douglas Law · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and entertaining read.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

7

[Mr Roy Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

576 pages

[William Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good reaf

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

War Torn, as the title suggests is a novel concerning war, in Afghanistan. I wouldn't normally read a book on this topic, however, it deals with not only those out in the filed but how their famililies back home then deal with life.

Although the writing style is not to my taste, it is a book that makes one consider the realities of war and, not just the combat consequences. I have also learnt a great deal about how 'contact'/battles are approached.

As someone that has experienced this kind of separation for the last five years, there is much in here that describes the difficulties from both sides. Admittedly, I have not experienced this as an Army wife nonetheless, there are many striking and emotion similarities.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5
Found myself getting really involved in the characters. At first I thought the skips between Afghanistan and England was kind of making the story jump too much, but after a while I got involved in the wives too.
Surprisingly easy on the details.
Although.... I usually don't judge a book based on this, but most of the relationships here seemed very unhealthy, for various reasons. Even the main character Dave and his wife Jenny came off as a bit unstable, although that might be the narrative not caring about the finer points of a marriage.
And I believe everyone cried. At least once. That came as a bit of a surprise.

[Inti]

Touches every facet of a soldier’s life, the battles they fight in both theatres: Home and in the Warzone are depicted expertly. The moral and the socio political implication of the war in Afghanistan are addressed as well as insight in to the Muslim soldiers in the British Army. It’s funny, thrilling and heartbreaking. This is penmanship at its best. Andy McNab had never let me down. If I was running a terrorist training camp I would make this mandatory reading so they know that end of the day were all the same, literally!

[Marek Rokam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good showing how Brits(and maybe west in general) are stupid and fake. How they willing to commit warcrimes just becasue they love to kill or to earn money for invading countries and serving oil companies as bodyguards. All these topics are there. The reader feel no love nor hate towards characters just how they try to fulfill their low lusts. No heroism, no evil. Just "average" Brits.

[Chris Harrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took a while for me to get into it but it does gather pace throughout, would like to have heard more of the fallout of Aggies final decision at the end. Was a good book that showed different perspectives for the soldiers and how their families are every bit as involved back home.

[Tyson Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure I'd have finished this book if it wasn't an audiobook and I had many miles to drive. But the stories told about life in the army and those at home waiting for them was interesting and painfully honest.

[stan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bit different. It's set in Afghanistan ,it tells a soldiers view and also tells the wives and sweethearts at home view . I t is well written and is bang up to date.

[Julian · Rating 4 out of 5]

extremely reflective and indicative of the situations that men and women working/fighting in the region (Afganistan) or similar, experience on a day to day basis