Saving Private Ryan

by Max Allan Collins, Harry Naus (Translation)

Het is 1944: de Duitsers hebben Frankrijk bezet, en de gallieerde invasie in Normandië is in volle gang. In het Pentagon in Washington ontdekt een ambtenaar dat van de vier zoons uit één gezin er drie aan het front zijn gesneuveld: hun moeder zal vandaag drie telegrammen tegelijk ontvangen. Onmiddellijk besluit een generaal op het Amerikaanse ministerie van Oorlog ervoor te zorgen dat mevrouw Ryan haar vierde zoon ongedeerd in haar armen zal kunnen sluiten.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, War, World War II, Military Fiction, Media Tie In, Historical

222 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Received the Shamus Award, "The Eye" (Lifetime achievment award) in 2006.

He has also published under the name Patrick Culhane. He and his wife, Barbara Collins, have written several books together. Some of them are published under the name Barbara Allan.

Book Awards
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1984) : True Detective
Shamus Awards Best Novel winner (1992) : Stolen Away
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1995) : Carnal Hours
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1997) : Damned in Paradise
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (1999) : Flying Blind: A Novel about Amelia Earhart
Shamus Awards Best Novel nominee (2002) : Angel in Black

Japanese: マックス・アラン・コリンズ
or マックス・アラン コリンズ

Reviews

[W]

In this case,the movie seems to have been made first,and the novelization came later.

The movie does have a great opening sequence,and all the blood and gore of the Normandy landings is masterfully depicted.

After that,however,it becomes a routine war movie for quite a while,until the ending,which is a good one.Tom Hanks gives a fine performance,as usual.

However,that same year,another war movie,The Thin Red Line,was also released.Both were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar,though neither won.

Saving Private Ryan has a rather fanciful plot,as a group of soldiers are ordered to save Private Ryan,as he is now the only surviving son in his family.

The Thin Red Line,however,depicts the moral and military chaos of the war,in a more sustained and intense way.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Currently crying in the library.

Saving Private Ryan is one of the best war films of all time, in my opinion. This book conveys the story in a different yet still heartbreaking way. We get to see deep on the characters' minds and feelings. I read it right after watching the movie but I still was heartbroken over the end.

[Rêbwar · Rating 4 out of 5]

جنگ در بسیاری از فیلم‌ها یا افتخاری باشکوه است یا جهنمی بی‌معنا. اما در «نجات سرباز رایان»، استیون اسپیلبرگ چیزی میان این دو می‌سازد: دوزخی عینی که در آن قهرمانی وجود دارد، اما قهرمانی از جنس عرق، خاک، و اضطراب. قهرمانی نه در شعار، بلکه در خون. فیلمی که با شکوهی آغاز می‌شود، اما خیلی زود شکوه را لخت می‌کند و چیزی جز استخوان و گلوله باقی نمی‌گذارد.

از همان دقایق ابتدایی و سکانس مشهور نبرد نرماندی، مشخص می‌شود که قرار نیست با یک جنگ‌نمایی معمولی روبه‌رو باشیم. دوربین روی شانه، ضرباهنگ تند، صداهای کرکننده، و هرج‌ومرج مطلق. این جنگ نیست، این آشوب است؛ این شکستن استخوان انسان است زیر فشار چیزی که از او بزرگ‌تر است. و همین واقع‌گرایی در فرم، نشانه‌ای است از واقع‌گرایی در مضمون.

داستانِ گروهی از سربازان که مأمور شده‌اند تا یک نفر را نجات دهند ـ فقط چون برادرانش مرده‌اند ـ در ظاهر ساده به‌نظر می‌رسد. اما زیر این طرح، سؤالاتی بسیار جدی خوابیده:
ارزش یک جان چقدر است؟
آیا برای نجات یک نفر، باید جان چند نفر را فدا کرد؟
آیا معنا دادن به مرگ، می‌تواند معنای زندگی را هم تغییر دهد؟

کاپیتان میلر، با بازی خیره‌کنندهٔ تام هنکس، مردی است خسته، انسانی است گرفتار در معمایی بزرگ‌تر از توان تحملش. او نه قهرمان است، نه پست. صرفاً کسی‌ست که سعی می‌کند تا پایان راه، انسان باقی بماند. و در همین تلاش است که فیلم، از سطح یک اثر جنگی، به فیلمی دربارهٔ اخلاق، وظیفه و بار سنگین تصمیم بدل می‌شود.

اسپیلبرگ، برخلاف بسیاری از کارگردانانی که جنگ را به صحنهٔ نبرد میان خیر و شر تقلیل می‌دهند، اینجا خاکستری عمل می‌کند. آدم‌بدها و آدم‌خوب‌ها بی‌چهره‌اند. دشمن، اغلب بی‌نام و نشان است. خشونت، بی‌هدف است. مرگ، ناگهانی است. و قهرمانی، از دل تناقض بیرون می‌زند، نه اطمینان.

فیلم در میانه، گاه‌به‌گاه کند می‌شود، اما این کندی یک جور توقف انسانی است: لحظه‌ای برای فکر کردن به این‌که اصلاً چرا باید ادامه داد؟ چرا رایان باید زنده بماند؟ و چرا دیگران باید بمیرند؟ پاسخ‌ها روشن نیستند، و فیلم هم تلاشی برای روشن‌کردن‌شان نمی‌کند. تنها کاری که می‌کند، این است که همه‌چیز را آن‌قدر صادقانه نشان دهد که ما را به واکنش وادارد.

در پایان، آن‌چه از «نجات سرباز رایان» باقی می‌ماند، نه فقط چند صحنه‌ی مهیب جنگ، بلکه حس سنگینی‌ست که روی سینه‌ات می‌نشیند. حس اینکه آدمی، میان مرگ و زندگی، همیشه گیر کرده است. و شاید تنها کاری که از دستش برمی‌آید، این است که بعد از نجات یافتن، از خودش بپرسد: آیا زندگی‌ام ارزش این همه مرگ را داشت؟ و این سوال، همان‌قدر که سرباز رایان را دنبال می‌کند، ما را هم رها نمی‌کند.

[Michael S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot, it really taught me what the beaches of normandy were like. Also I learned how gruesome it really was when they were fighting. I would've liked the book a little more better if kit went into the background of the main character more. But other then that I rate it 3 stars.

[Patricia · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF! Ik hoop dat ik niet de enigste ben die er echt met geen mogelijkheid doorheen kwam en uiteindelijk gekozen heb om er mee te stoppen 🙈🙊

[Thom Swennes · Rating 4 out of 5]

“War educates the senses, calls into action the will, perfects the physical constitution, bring men into swift and close collision in critical moments that man measures man.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson) Most screenplays (and the consequent play or movie) are based on novels; this novel is based on a screenplay. The screenplay was written by Robert Rodat and was used in the likewise named film directed by Stephen Spielberg and starring Tom Hanks. When I started this book I knew it would be a daunting task to outdo its celluloid predecessor. From the suspenseful hours of fear through uncertainty to the terrifying hours of death and carnage with the storming of the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944 through the never-ending nightmare of war, this book puts the reader on the front line and in the trenches. When Captain Miller receives his orders to save the life of the last remaining Ryan brother, his conscience told him it was the right thing to do but his intellect whispered that it might well be the last thing he and his small complement of men would ever do. Most movies that originate from books never equal them but fall far short of the mark. This book just might be the example that a book based on a movie screenplay equals and possibly surpasses its source. I can only conclude that it was a great movie and a (maybe even) greater book. Certainly a story for the masses!

[Lance Dunbar · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Saving Private Ryan", by Max Allan Collins, follows Captain John Miller on his search for Private James Francis Ryan during World War II. The novel begins with Captain John Miller on a boat on his way to storm the beach at Normandy, France. He gets off the boat and is immediately shot at by machine gun turrets. He makes it to the beach and takes cover and watches as many of his fellow soldiers are shot. He manages to fight his way up the beach with some other soldiers and take out the machine gun turrets thus taking control of the beach. Later he receives a message stating that his next mission is to find Private James Francis Ryan, who's three brothers have just been killed in the war, and tell him the news and tell him that he gets to go home and be relieved of duty. Captain Miller and a group of six soldiers go to Neuville to look for Private Ryan. Once they get to the city one of the soldiers is shot and killed by a German sniper. The sniper in Miller's group kills the German and they compose themselves and continue on to Vierville to look for Private Ryan. On the way there they get in a fight with a group of Germans and another one of the soldiers in the group is killed. They eventually find Private Ryan and tell him about the deaths of his brothers and the deaths of the two soldiers who died looking for him. He is very distraught after hearing about the deaths but decides that he wants to stay at his post at a bridge and defend it. Captain Miller decides to stay and take command and help defend the bridge. A large group of German soldiers and a tank come to try and take the bridge. Even though they are able to kill many of the German soldiers many of their own men are killed and they are eventually overpowered. They attempt to blow up the bridge but Captain Miller is shot and mortally wounded in his attempt. An American airplane then flies over and bombs the bridge killing the Germans and destroying the tank. Private Ryan is able to hide from the bombs and reinforcements arrive and save him. The end of the story goes to present time and Ryan is an old man now and is visiting the grave of Captain John Miller and salutes him.
Throughout the story the main character John Miller remains relatively the same until the very end. Miller just wants to do exactly what he is told to do in order to have a good reputation and make it more likely that he will be sent home so he can see his wife again. He puts his men through hell in order to accomplish his mission to find Private Ryan but once he finds him he changes. He decides to help Private Ryan and defend his post. This leads to the death of Miller and his last words are telling Ryan to earn his right to go home.
Overall I think that this is an excellent book despite the fact that I have seen the movie for it many times. Even though the movie is able to depict the graphic images of war a lot better than the book, the book is able to give you a wider view of what's going on in the story and it allows you to become more connected to the character's and understand their emotions more easily. I would recommend this book to anyone because even though it is filled with explicit content it is extremely well written and gives the reader an incredible view into what it must have been like being in World War II.

[P.S. Winn · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than just a war story, although readers will find plenty of war in the pages. This is the story of a platoon searching for a young man who is the sole surviving son in his family. Along the way the group of soldiers learns a little about war and a lot about themselves.

[Ricky McConnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book , that pretty much follows the movie. I had seen the movie before reading this, and there were very few surprises. I think you will still enjoy it even if you have seen the movie, and there are no boring parts to get through in this book.

[Luke Padgett]

Saving Private Ryan is a historical fiction novel written by Max Allan Collins, which follows the main character, Captain John Miller, and his group of soldiers. They're getting sent on a mission to go find and rescue a lost paratrooper named James Francis Ryan. Miller and his team, behind enemy lines, have to face many challenges and decisions while doing so. This book reveals the horrors and sacrifices that these soldiers must endure. This book was written after Collins read about the true story of the Niland brothers. Collins wanted to show the more emotional side of the war and the life the Niland brothers went through. Collins wrote this book for WW2 veterans and for the younger generation to be able to see what these people went through and did in the horrors of war. One big theme in this book is the value of life. Miller's team was sent in with eight people to save one, and in the end, only two people made it out alive. The book shows how people will choose the death of others just to save one life. During the book, they talk about whether it's worth it to go in and try to save the life of only one person when they all risk their own lives just as much. At the end of the book, only one person from Miller's team lived, and Private Ryan made it out alive. Captain Miller changes a lot throughout the book because at the beginning of it, he is a fearless leader who is committed to his mission no matter what happens. As the book goes on, he becomes more and more broken down. Miller starts to think about how many men he sent away to their deaths. At the end of the book, he decided to stay and help defend the bridge even though his mission is done because he wants to “earn” the lives of his men by not letting the germs take over. One thing I was to evaluate deeper is when Miller told Ryan,” Earn this”(Collins 97). I think this is a big part of the book because it is right after one of the main characters dies, and he's telling Ryan to make everything they did just for you to make it worthwhile. Just to save this one guy, six people died. Ryan has to finish the battle at the bridge and make it home, or in other words, he has to earn his way home. I think anyone who is interested in war and wants to learn more about it would love this book. I also feel like this would be good for anyone to read, just so people can learn about the horrors and decisions people have to make in the heart of war. I would give this book an 8/10.

[Ida Galsøe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mega smuk bog. Bogen er meget bedre end filmen. Kæmpe anbefaling herfra!👍

[Abe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The movie is one of the best ever made. Period. However, this film novelization is nothing special. The writing is mostly bland, but the story is too good to give the book fewer than three stars here. Lucky author.

[Meshua Arcieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5⭐️

Conoscevo il film per il grande successo ottenuto ma ammetto di non averlo mai visto. Ero quindi molto curiosa quando ho scoperto dell’esistenza del libro, che è stato scelto per un GDL.

Ho iniziato a leggere il libro senza alcuna aspettativa e l’ho finito con le lacrime agli occhi. Pur essendo scritto con uno stile semplice la storia che racconta ti conquista pagina dopo pagina. I personaggi pian piano diventano degli amici e ogni volta che ne perdi uno perdi un pezzettino di cuore. Non pensavo che un libro che parlasse di guerra intesa come battaglia e di soldati potesse conquistarmi così tanto.

Ciò che mi è piaciuto di questo libro penso sia il fatto che si parli di umanità: ciò che emerge dalle pagine è proprio questo. I soldati che hanno combattuto delle guerre importanti in generale vengono visti come delle figure superiori, senza sentimenti. Spesso anche io li ho visti così, pensandoli quasi come dei robot, semplicemente perché hanno vissuto delle esperienze terribili. Leggendo questo libro invece ho potuto conoscere i soldati per quello che sono realmente: persone, molto spesso ragazzi giovanissimi, che lasciano la propria famiglia e la propria casa per combattere per un ideale. Mi ha fatto molta tenerezza leggere quelli che possono essere i pensieri dei soldati nell’ultimo momento prima di morire, leggere come questi ragazzi giovanissimi non abbiamo fatto in tempo neanche a vivere il primo amore.

Il mio personaggio preferito è sicuramente quello del capitano Miller: un uomo che per il ruolo che ha deve dimostrarsi irreprensibile e pensare alla missione che gli è stata affidata, a discapito delle persone che si trova sotto il suo comando. Mi ha colpito vedere il suo conflitto interiore, che emerge chiaramente dalle pagine. Miller si trova a dover obbedire a degli ordini che vengono da dei suoi superiori portando la sua truppa probabilmente incontro alla morte, tutto per salvare un unico uomo. Da una parte emerge quindi l’irreprensibilità tipica dell’uomo d’armi, che deve obbedire agli ordini dei superiori, dall’altra invece possiamo vedere le emozioni di un uomo che si trova a dover avere a che fare con delle persone sotto la sua responsabilità.

Avrei dato 5 stelline, metto 4,5 solo per lo stile che non mi ha conquistato a pieno.

[Shahrun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed watching Saving Private Ryan more than a few times over the years. It's not a true story, even though it really feels like it should be. This book is based on the film script - but which version? I. Thinking not the final one. l'm also not sure if it was just that lots of detail was cut out film or just that the book format allowed for elaboration on events. There were some little parts of the plot that lost me. Not sure if that was because the memories of the film distracted me or if it really was the writing. If I'd not seen the film, I would probably love the book more (because the film is amazing). Despite what I've said so though, this book does feel authentic, and I have enjoyed it. Gonna take a look at the books listed in 'A Tip of The Helmet'. And I really want to re watch the film now!

[Micachella · Rating 5 out of 5]

No se cuentas veces e visto la película, teniendo un padre que cada vez que la pasaban en la tele la ponían. Nunca me ha llamado la atención pero cuando empecé a leer el libro fue impresionante la manera que me atrapó y además de imaginarme las escenas, ya habiéndolas visto. Es un libro espectacular. Me ha hecho reír varias veces y ese final, aunque uno ya sabe lo que sucede, te hace llorar de todos modos y te deja un nudo en la garganta.

[Zachary Dolbier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both the movie and the book bring tears to my eyes, the end when Captain Miller and Private Ryan are on the bridge and Miller says to Ryan: "earn this". How far would you go to save one man?

[Saurabh Patki · Rating 3 out of 5]

shows the plight of war and its impact on soldiers..shows the dilemmas-moral and psychological ..tale of grit,sacrifice, undying resolve to find one man..

[Saúl Girón · Rating 5 out of 5]

Primera vez que una película es igual de buena que el libro.
Exquisita obra para leer. Tiene de todo!

[Benjamin Stahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this couldn't possibly beat the film - even if it were an original novel, rather than a mere novelisation of the script, it would struggle to do that - this was, in my opinion, a very well-written, upsetting and readable book. It follows the movie or less, but there some scenes that don't appear in the latter - and, really, you can see why that's a good thing - and some things that are a lot more momentous in the film (such as the Caparzo's death) fall short of the whole emotional punch here.

Nevertheless, the combat scenes and much of the scene-setting was remarkably evocative of the film. Some parts, such as Wade's heart-breaking death, were almost as hard to read as they were hard to watch. If you're a fan of the movie, you should enjoy most of this, for the good it has to offer anyway. Just try and overlook the occasional weakness, such as Collins' need to indulge in the trooper banter between Miller's men, to the point that (however clever and occasionally witty some of the dialogue may be) it comes off feeling like the scene in Tropic Thunder when the actors wade into the jungle, spouting cliches at each other.

I also felt like Collins overdid Captain's Miller's hardness. While in the film, he is really just a more grizzled, tired Tom Hanks, hardened by war but not to the point that he seems cold or brutish. In the book, he is depicted as too much the cliched "alright, beauty sleeps over ladies" military stereotype.

In all honesty, I feel like my love for the movie goes a long way in bolstering my enjoyment of this book. But, at the same time, I have not read a novelisation as good and impactful as this one before.

[Camden · Rating 5 out of 5]

when I started this book I honestly thought I wouldn't like it nearly as much as I do. I had heard how good of a movie it was and figured it would be a pretty good book, but wouldn't be great, just another war novel. And after the first couple of chapters, my mind hadn't changed much. but after finishing this book I think it is one of my all-time favorites. first off I feel it does a tremendously great job of putting you into the shoes of a soldier on D-day, and I remember reading the first part of this book, and not enjoying it very much, mainly because I don't like blood and gore (i can tolerate it but don't enjoy it). But after reading it I see how instead of being used as shock factor, the author uses it to show you the horrors these soldiers went through. This book also touches on the brotherhood that these people have, and I feel that it is shown in two ways, A. how any time that one of them dies, the way they react shows you how close they were, and B. whenever the person holding Carparzo's letter dies someone always goes and picked it up, and they didn't need to, but someone was always ready to take that letter and deliver it. one of the things i don't feel like this book did well, was connecting you to some of the characters, some of them like Miller, and Wade, you connected to very easily but others like Reiben or Mellish you don't connect to as much.

[Maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was alright.
I read the first half of the book, watched the movie, and then read the rest of the book, and maybe it’s because of that, but I somehow didn’t like the second half of the book as much. The first half the writing was alright, and then the second half at some point it felt too slow and boring (but that’s probably because I knew what would happen, so maybe that’s on me).
The book had some scenes that weren’t in the movie, which I quite liked, but then cut other scenes or described them differently from the movie, and I didn’t like that. I also don’t think the movie is absolutely amazing, and in some scenes I did like the book version more, but since the book is supposed to match the movie I couldn’t really get over the changes. I guess the book was really only written by the script and the movie had not been released yet and had some last minute changes? Otherwise I don’t really get how that happened.
It wasn’t horrible though. Not the best book I ever read, not the worst book, but also nothing felt really special about it and in the end it was just a decent read but not much more.

[Cole Hanson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saving Private Ryan by Max Allan Collins is an action packed book that takes place during WWII. This book is about a group of soldiers whose mission is to save a man named Private Ryan whose location is unknown. These soldiers have to risk their lives in order to save a Private because all three of his brothers were killed in combat. Saving Private Ryan is a book that portrays soldiers who are heroic, fearless, and gutsy in order to bring Private Ryan back home to his mother.
Saving Private Ryan was an incredible book because of its content and the author's style. Saving Private Ryan was never a slow book. I was constantly hooked because of the constant action. This book was also exceptional because of the author’s style. The author was very descriptive and thorough during the battle scenes. Max Allan Collins was also very successful in his way of describing the background of all the characters. The reader knows what all the soldiers did and what their family is like. I highly recommend Saving Private Ryan for anyone who likes war or action packed books.

[Deyth Banger · Rating 2 out of 5]

"June 27, 2017 –
79.0% "Everything is so bad... we even don't know from which team are we.... what in fucking hell is happening?"
June 26, 2017 –
79.0% "1:56:12"
June 26, 2017 –
60.0% "1:37:11"
June 26, 2017 –
60.0% "They use him, but they never listen into what he says...

...

Off Beloved mother and God, why do you have dices which you ain't gonna play with... pawns which you have putted on the table but you just ignore them... So tell me... so please tell me what type of sick fuck are you?"
June 26, 2017 –
50.0% "The most worst work I have ever saw, they have translator but they never use him...

Or... wait... wait... wait..."
June 26, 2017 –
50.0%
June 26, 2017 – page 0
0.0% "Are the best questions which you can ask here and they are going to get answered...."
June 26, 2017 – page 0
0.0% "What's War, what's the feeling?"
June 26, 2017 – Started Reading"

Note: Bad book as hell the same goes and for the movie...

AND WARNING SPOILERS ALERT!

[Seamus Mcduff · Rating 2 out of 5]

My impression was that the film production company wanted a "novelization" tie-in to boost the overall takings for the film. Part of the merchandising and all that. They needed it out fast, so they got the first person they thought of, or a friend of a friend to write it - quickly, gotta get it out fast - and they didn't really care if it was any good.
Such is the result. The only good bits are those from the script of the original movie - which everyone would agree is a classic, one of the best war movies made. The rest, those bits that needed to be added to flesh it out into a novel are by turns hokey, corny, cringe-worthy, and melodramatic. Mr Collins manages to hit every blood-and-guts war story cliche there is, and then some.
They needed to get it to market so fast, there was no time for any line-editing, or even spell-checking.
And that's all I can be bothered to write about it.

[Elly Stroo Cloeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ik las dit boek net rond de herdenking van D-Day en de landingen in Normandië. Daar begint dit boek (en de film) dan ook: bij de eerste landingsvaartuigen, en de enorme verliezen die er geleden werden. Hoofdpersoon is niet soldaat Ryan, maar een groepje van 8 mannen die erop uitgestuurd worden om hem in bezet Frankrijk te vinden. Ryan is namelijk de laatste van 4 broers, de andere 3 zijn nèt allemaal in de oorlog gesneuveld. De krijgsmacht in de VS weet dat wéér een gezin waarvan alle zonen sneuvelen enorm slecht is voor de reputatie van hen en de oorlog. Daarom moet de laatste Ryan terug naar zijn moeder in Iowa. Die klus is voor kapitein Miller en het restant van zijn bataljon. Hun reis en zoektocht is goed omschreven, met alle ellende van de oorlog en wat humor.

[Samantha Issa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was encouraged to read this by some online reviews that said, "Rarely do book adaptations hold up to the movie. This one does." I actually haven't seen the film yet and wanted to read this to help me write a military-related story (yeah I should probably expand and read other works for research), but I really enjoyed this book because of Collins' unique and beautiful writing, AND it was the most page-turner-y book I have ever read. It also made me cry. Those kinds of books are rare. (For a war novel, I didn't expect Collins' writing to be so poignant and clever. He is very competent with playing with language and meaning. The plot also has a lot of suspense, and it was paced well as a novel.)

[Reese Hoppe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The theme of this book is about overcoming obstacles for the greater good.

Likes:
1) Based on true story
2) Suspenseful
3) The bravery of the soldiers looking for Private Ryan

Dislikes:
1) Some died tried to find Private Ryan
2) The battles were brutal

Overall Impression:
Sometimes you have to put others before your self. Sometimes that means making sacrifices in order to help someone else. The soldiers had a lot of courage to try to find Private Ryan risking their own lives. Some were mad about risking their lives for someone else but were all able to work together in the end for a common goal of winning the war.

[CarlPatel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A group of soldiers under the command of Captain John Miller go behind enemy lines on a journey to find Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have been killed in combat. In the middle of WWII, the group runs into many obstacles that they have to face in order to save Private Ryan.

I really like this book because I like how the author expresses how he wants you to see the war in own words. I also like how he made the book sound so real that you start to question if the events actually happened.

[Thijs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Without the movie and the actors giving life to the characters, it's mediocre story. The writer tries, but the banter the soldiers have seem doubled and put in just to have something new.

The writer also changes several iconic scenes (Ryan's story about his brothers, Mellish' death scene) for this apparent same purpose, to have something different. But it doesn't help the story in any way.

If you want a good book about the second world war, there are plenty enough out there. Especially the non-fictional ones. A book adaption written from a screenplay is not the best convey this.

[Ben Cozart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book a lot. It was exiting the entire time, there were depressing times such as when guys in the squad would die. I really do recommend this book to people who like war and action. People who cant handle death and gruesome things even in books should not read this book, there are a lot of gross parts, especially in the beginning.