Last One In (P.S.) by Nicholas Kulish

by Nicholas Kulish

On the very day he s to leave to cover the war in Iraq, James Stephens, the seasoned war correspondent of New York s second-ranked tabloid, the Daily News, gets hit by a Snapple delivery truck. With the war about to begin, the paper s wily editor decides to send its popular gossip columnist of the same name in his place. Plus Jimmy Stephens, whose new shameless stories have landed the paper a pile of legal action, owes him one. Shipped off to Iraq and embedded with a group of foul-mouthed marines, Jimmy has a baptism by fire into military life and battlefield reporting. His cowardice is perhaps only matched by his clumsiness, but he slowly befriends his Marines and gets up-close and personal with the invasion of Bagdad. Written with the expertise of an eyewitness (Kulish was embedded with a Marine helicopter unit for the Wall Street Journal) and the imagination of a gifted fiction writer, LAST ONE IN is, in the words of one early reader, a a war story told with wit and sympathy sharply written, fast-paced and instantly engaging.

Genres: Fiction

Paperback

First published June 26, 2007

Reviews

[Sue Whitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gossip columnist sent to Iraq as a war reporter

[Gurdaur · Rating 3 out of 5]

The dark humour in this novel is what sold me. Nicholas really added a strong punch in dialogue and humour. Especially even when some parts of this book are down right depressing. Some of my favourite lines come from when he becomes prisoner and he interviews another prisoner who talks about his time in America and how he misses the diners. "They keep bringing you coffee, but you only pay once.” I never really appreciated something like that until I read that line.

Nicholas has a really distinct way of writing and describing the moment. He is able to add every bit of reality even in his fictional work. In “Last One In” you enter the life of a rookie journalist Jimmy who has been sent out to Iraq to write on behalf of the Daily Herald. His intentions were to remain undercover and hope he doesn’t lose his jobs and not become a loser to the marines serving around him.

This book somewhat puts a different spotlight on situations, despite it being of war, the humour between marines and the citizens of Iraq I can’t dismiss that it’s hard to accuse why one does what one has to do. Some choose it between becoming homeless or being able to see their child, wife, and family, some do it to defend somebody else’s decision. In this day and age it seems many fighters end up in another person's fight without the ability to think on their behalf but simply because the system can do whatever to their citizens as they are birthed into the product of this planet.

[Brian Hodges · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fairly cool book about the most recent war in Iraq. Told from the point of view (and the suspension of disbelief plot point) of a gossip reporter who gets embedded with a marine division, the main thrust of the book is to give a commentary on just how badly the press screwed up their coverage of the war. Overall an easy read with some interesting points to ponder about the way the media and the 24-hour news networks operate in this country.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I read last year. Deals with a NY Times Gossip columnist that gets himself embedded with a marine corps troop at the beginning of the Iraq War. Starts a little weak, almost a weak imitation of "Love Monkey". Stick with it. What starts out as very smarmy and silly quickly develops into an insightful character study of both the writer and the Marines he lives with. Astonishing, highly recommended.

[John Luiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A terrific comic novel about a gossip columnist who embeds with a Marine unit during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Jimmy's ineptness early provides great comic fodder, but his unexpected bonding with the Marines, who are wonderfully individualized characters really lifts the novel into being something much more than you initially expect.

[Carly · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't bad but it wasn't great. I didn't feel like the characters were developed well and I didn't care much about them. I love dark humor so that kept me interested and you do see in a different light regarding soldiers in Iraq.

[k.n. · Rating 2 out of 5]

eh... it took me a bit to get into it, and once i was there i thought it was ok. it could be described as humorous, but certainly not lol funny. very implausible, and seemed to miss what i considered to be great opportunities presented in the plot.

[Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The reviews for this book said it was like a Catch-22 for the Gulf War II set. Not even close - it has elements of that book, but is not nearly as rich, particularly short in character development. A good, quick read, but not a classic, either...

[Dolores · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book follows the invasion of Iraq through the eyes of a gossip columnist masquerading as an embedded war correspondent. I really enjoyed its satirical take on not only the invasion but the media coverage of it.

[J.B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice little book about the absurdity of war, especially the current one. I think he ran out of steam towards the end, but all in all a great modern satire.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty funny book. alot of the events seem to be ripped off by Generation Kill. but it's probably coincidence. different look at the Iraq invasion.

[Ngchang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very snappy, fresh look at one Journalist's entrance into the Iraq war. I'm not a big "war book" person but the author's humor kept me coming back for more. A quick read.

[Michal Wigal]

I wouldn't say it's as funny as the cover suggests but it is a fun read about early Iraq.

[Chris]

Bookclub is biased because we are one and two degrees of separation from Nick Kulish, but I think this novel stands on its own as a fast-paced, relevant, entertaining read.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I heard a piece on NPR with the author of this book. I think it sounds like a great read.

[Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great satire of war and journalists' relationship to it, set during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It was written by a journalist who was embedded with a unit at that time.