Carrying

by Theodore Weesner

Theodore Weesner’s final novel, Carrying, is a gritty and realistic work that throws the reader into the detonating heart of the first Iraqi war. With unapologetic candor, Weesner navigates the psychological minefield surrounding South Boston native Jimmy Murphy, a young soldier who pens a secret journal to his old English professor, Herman Roth. Jimmy’s life pulsates with rage, racial prejudice, and unfulfilled desire as he fights to become the top gunner of the elite 2nd Cavalry Tank Division. His rapid rise through the ranks gives him a sense of purpose and order, even as the war descends into chaos, and Iraq transforms into a wasteland of burning oil wells and charred corpses. But when it’s all over, will he really be able to leave the war behind? This timely novel inserts itself into the zeitgeist of the young soldiers who return home, but never quite leave the battlefield, carrying the deepest wounds of shock, fear, and aggression. With his signature penetrative style, Weesner beautifully renders one soldier’s heart breaking coming-of-age journey in the midst of terror and endless war.

318 pages, Paperback

First published March 12, 2015

About the author

American author and Professor at Emerson College.

Reviews

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was asked to review this book by Librarything.com.

For the author's fan this book has been an 8 year wait.

This book explores race and class in America and continues on the story of Jimmy Murphy from a teenager attending school to being a trained soldier. The books sees Jimmy mature and a mentorship emerges with his professor as jimmy is engulfed in a war zone.

This was an unusual book for me but for readers out there who are interested in war fare and military novels this will be right up their street.

The author writes well and has researched his subject well.

[Stace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carrying follows the life of Jimmy Murphy, from South Boston, as told by his ex teacher and friends Herman Roth.

The plot follows Jimmy’s life from a young 14 year old to an amateur boxer through to a serving soldier deployed to the gulf war. It then follows his life outside of the army, after serving for his country.

I must say straight off that I had quite a hard time reading this book. I really wanted to love it as the Gulf War was something that I studied and was interested in. I kept journals of events and newspaper cutting, etc, so it was a war I knew a thing or two about.

However, I found the book hard to swallow. There was a lot of racial and expletive language, and also a few words that when translated into British English had a completely different meaning, which took some getting used to.

The book opens quite slowly building up to the war, and I felt like it dragged on for a little too long. The part where Jimmy served in the Gulf War was the most interesting and was quite action packed.

Unfortunately, I didn’t connect with the characters, and I feel this is one of the reasons that I found the book hard to read.

I’m sorry to say that this book really wasn’t something I could get my teeth into, even though I really wanted to. In the right hands this book could be a five star rating, for me, I’m afraid it is only three stars.

Reviewed by Stacey at www.whisperingstories.com