Johnny's War

by Jim Braly

“Johnny’s War” tells the story of Johnny Cutter, a 20-year-old Oregon man who joins the military in 2004.  As an Army private with the amazing salary of $18,000 a year fueling his dreams, Johnny foresees a bright future that includes a new car and marriage to his girlfriend, Halley. But the Iraq war changes Johnny’s plans.  He survives harrowing missions in Fallujah and Baghdad, then loses his basic training battle buddy to an explosion.  Relentlessly, Johnny’s former life recedes amid escalating chaos and random death.  The terror is not always on the battlefield; sometimes it's in the battlefield operating rooms, where surgeons do whatever it takes to save wounded soldiers, succeeding in nine out of ten cases. For many of the survivors, however, life changes in agonizing ways.   Johnny's tour of duty ends when he is maimed by a roadside bomb.  As a double amputee in Ward 57 at Walter Reed hospital, he asks himself a horrible Is it better to live or die? In rehab, Johnny builds a bond with a lesbian nurse, Rochelle Rochambeau.  She doesn’t ask and doesn’t tell, and allows him to go AWOL from Ward 57.  Johnny embarks on a mysterious road trip, heading home, finding solace in the Northwest’s natural grandeur.  Ultimately, the trip answers his question.    Journalism failed to uncover the full story of the Iraq war because the hearts and minds of American politicians were never on the record, and because the lives of the military men and women who were injured or killed were overlooked. Now it is left to the novelist to pursue the story, to find a different and deeper truth.

260 pages, Paperback

First published July 22, 2011

About the author

Jim Braly, a former reporter and editor at newspapers in the West, is the author of the novels “Johnny’s War” and “Invade Rinse Repeat.” He’s currently writing a play about domestic violence.

Reviews

[Jenee Rager · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was totally not sure whether or not I would like this book. I thought the cover was amateurish, and everyone was comparing it to "Johnny got His Gun" which I did not like. Yet within the first pages of the book I was totally hooked. Based on the biographies I've read from Iraq War vets I found this book to be suprisingly accurate, which was super suprising considering that the author himself is not a vet. A realistic look at the the horrors, the cost, and the waste involved in any war I find this to be a must read.

[Joann(san diego shutterbug) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book as part of first reads giveaways. Omg such a gripping powerful book. When you can feel you every emotion that the main character is feeling you know its going to be a good book. Powerful & griping. Very sad ending. I cried at the end of the book. As i was reading the ending i felt that sudden grasp of air. So powerful. I didnt understand why in certain parts in jumped from one thing to the next but i as i read the book it became clear why the author chose to do that. Very well written. excellent work on bringing the characters to life and making the reader feel everything the characters were feeling.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is by far one of the best books I've won on goodreads, and in fact one of the best books I have ever read. The story and the dialogue are so realistic that at times it felt like reading someone's journal. The way Johnny goes from an eager soldier to a depressed and disabled vet, literally brought tears to my eyes, as the mirrored my own experiences with a traumatized soldier. I think this book should be mandatory reading for any congressman/congresswoman before they vote for soldiers to go to war.

[Mirrani · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a reviewer, I must confess at the front that though my family does have military background, it is well back dealing with Korea, Japan and Vietnam and I have no personal experience with the events that take place within these pages, in modern day Iraq. I have never been to a war zone, nor have either of my parents and the stories from my grandfather, uncle, or aunt would be vastly different from those told here. This said, I found every moment of this book to be as honest as it could possibly be.

Johnny's War is a truthful and touching story about a young man who signs up to become a soldier, then serves in Iraq... and must eventually return home. Though war is a difficult subject to deal with at any time, this book finds a balance with all that is 'real'. There are moments of real laughter mixed with moments of true confusion, moments of real pain mixed with those of the deep bonds of friendship and comradery. The language between the characters is easily imagined as happening right in front of you, the wording of the story even changing slightly when the narrator, Johnny, is unconscious and the tale must be told from a different point of view.

Emotions shine through in the conversations and the thoughts of each person the reader encounters, bringing anyone holding this book deeper and deeper into the pages with each passing line. It is easy to become lost in the thoughts and feelings of Johnny and his friends, easy to experience their lives through their eyes, easy to feel their emotions as our own.

This should be read by anyone who wishes to understand what life is like in modern-military times. Additionally, if you have seen the National Theatre of Scotland's stage production, "Black Watch" you will find many similarities and be reminded of your experience in the lives of those soldiers as well. War should not have to be shared by everyone, but it is important to understand why the men and women serving have chosen to do what they do, just as it is important to understand how best to support them.

Note: Though this book was a free gift from the author, the content of my review was in no way influenced by the gifting. The book speaks for itself and my review would have been worded just this way even if I'd gone out and bought it. I also give bonus points for Text To Speech enabling on Kindle format.... but that also wasn't a factor in the above review.

[Beckie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've ever read. And I've read a lot of books. Jim Braly makes John Cutter, the main character in "Johnny's War" seem so real, I was surprised that he wasn't. I actually looked to see if the author was an Iraq vet and expected the novel to be semi-autobiographic. It's not at all. Jim Braly is a newspaper writer. Now he is a superb novelist.
The novel is told in three parts. The first being Cutter's time in Iraq, 2006, as a private in the American army. He is new to the desert. He is niave and soaking it all in like a spong. His buddies and leaders are tremendously developed. The second tells his time in during recover from extensive wounds. He travels from Iraq to Germany and on to Walter Reed. The author holds nothing back when writing on the injuries Cutter sustanes. His nurse is a hoot. The third tells of his AWOL/vacation across America. He hits the sights with his army buddy and learns to care for himself. He also learns what he can and cannot handle with his new life. And for some reason he doesn't want to see Kansas. (but it's so exciting) The research of army life is detailed and descriptive. The characters seem so real that the reader will take each disappointment and achievement personally. It is hilarious, it is thought provoking, sad, AMAZING. I was hooked instantly. I received this e-book for free from www.librarything.com.