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The Phony Marine
Veteran newsman and acclaimed novelist Jim Lehrer exposes worlds both intimate and universal, builds suspense with an accomplished hand, and reveals a savvy understanding of the modern social landscape. With The Phony Marine, Lehrer dives into a highly controversial topic–and delivers his most compelling character portrait to date.
Hugo Marder is about as unremarkable as they come. On the floor of the Washington, D.C., branch of Nash Brothers, one of the country’s most respected men’s stores, Hugo is a wise, reserved salesman. At home, he is a solitary, divorced fifty-year-old with few friends and an eBay addiction. But he has always wanted to make more of his life, dreaming of becoming an artist or a cartoonist. When he was younger, he’d always wanted to be a marine.
Late one night, Hugo stumbles upon an online auction for a Silver Star, the medal awarded for bravery in battle. He bids and wins. But it is only after he places the lapel pin on his jacket that he realizes the enormity of his actions. Suddenly, ordinary people begin to treat him differently, with dignity and respect. Is he really going to pretend the honor is his own?
As Hugo wrestles with his conscience, a transformation begins to take place. He studies the life of a marine, learns the military terminology, body-builds at the gym, even gets a crew cut. When he is reborn as a former marine, his life immediately changes. Is it possible that his deception has unlocked the man he always wanted to be? Through numerous challenges and more than one terrifying ordeal, Hugo Marder must prove his worth. And in the end, he must ask What is a hero?
Alive with detail, emotional depth, and unexpected twists of plot, The Phony Marine is a tense, revelatory work of fiction that will cause every reader to consider his or her own stance on what truly makes someone great.
Hugo Marder is about as unremarkable as they come. On the floor of the Washington, D.C., branch of Nash Brothers, one of the country’s most respected men’s stores, Hugo is a wise, reserved salesman. At home, he is a solitary, divorced fifty-year-old with few friends and an eBay addiction. But he has always wanted to make more of his life, dreaming of becoming an artist or a cartoonist. When he was younger, he’d always wanted to be a marine.
Late one night, Hugo stumbles upon an online auction for a Silver Star, the medal awarded for bravery in battle. He bids and wins. But it is only after he places the lapel pin on his jacket that he realizes the enormity of his actions. Suddenly, ordinary people begin to treat him differently, with dignity and respect. Is he really going to pretend the honor is his own?
As Hugo wrestles with his conscience, a transformation begins to take place. He studies the life of a marine, learns the military terminology, body-builds at the gym, even gets a crew cut. When he is reborn as a former marine, his life immediately changes. Is it possible that his deception has unlocked the man he always wanted to be? Through numerous challenges and more than one terrifying ordeal, Hugo Marder must prove his worth. And in the end, he must ask What is a hero?
Alive with detail, emotional depth, and unexpected twists of plot, The Phony Marine is a tense, revelatory work of fiction that will cause every reader to consider his or her own stance on what truly makes someone great.
- GenresFictionMilitary Fiction
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
5 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Jim Lehrer
43 books39 followersJames Charles Lehrer was an American journalist and the news anchor for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer on PBS, known for his role as a frequent debate moderator during elections. Lehrer was an author of non-fiction and fiction, drawing from his experiences and interests in history and politics.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 12, 2017
Main character buys a Silver Star online and becomes a new man and a real hero, end is a little weak, but a good quick read, with an interesting idea.
January 2, 2008
"Wow," I thought, "a book by The Man himself!" Right up there with Walter Cronkite and Daniel Shorr, Jim Lehrer is the quintessential 'serious white news guy' in Joaquino's World. Until I saw this book on the shelf at the library I had no idea he was also a fiction writer. And not just a dabbler in fiction writing - the guy's churned out almost 20 books!
From reading the dust jacket, this book had a lot of themes of personal interest to me: military service and the mark that leaves on people; the meaning of being a hero; grappling with self-identity and attempts to come to terms with and change it; cool people doing cool things I didn't know they did.
Unfortunately, I was left with a ho hum feeling after finishing the book. It's the story of a disappointed, middle-aged salesman (kind of like the main character from Death of a Salesman, only he doesn't commit suicide in this one) who purchases a Silver Star medal on eBay and then creates an identity for himself where he earned the medal as a USMC Vietnam vet. This external transformation leads to a more permanent internal one. Now that I think about it, the medal plays exactly the same role as Dumbo's black feather. He doesn't need the medal/feather - it's just a catalyst to help him release the hero/flying elephant that's already inside.
This is an enjoyable, clearly-written, light read that doesn't get too deep anywhere in particular. Sort of like an easy recovery workout between more intense, targeted exercise.
From reading the dust jacket, this book had a lot of themes of personal interest to me: military service and the mark that leaves on people; the meaning of being a hero; grappling with self-identity and attempts to come to terms with and change it; cool people doing cool things I didn't know they did.
Unfortunately, I was left with a ho hum feeling after finishing the book. It's the story of a disappointed, middle-aged salesman (kind of like the main character from Death of a Salesman, only he doesn't commit suicide in this one) who purchases a Silver Star medal on eBay and then creates an identity for himself where he earned the medal as a USMC Vietnam vet. This external transformation leads to a more permanent internal one. Now that I think about it, the medal plays exactly the same role as Dumbo's black feather. He doesn't need the medal/feather - it's just a catalyst to help him release the hero/flying elephant that's already inside.
This is an enjoyable, clearly-written, light read that doesn't get too deep anywhere in particular. Sort of like an easy recovery workout between more intense, targeted exercise.
January 27, 2023
This was a very interesting tale. A tale of a man that fabricates a new life for himself. Things come to a head several times as his fabricated life is called into being. The ending was kind of expected but really got me. I liked this book. It is about a dude who seems happy with who he is yet he just strives to be more. A simple E-Bay purchase kind of sends him down a rabbit hole. And than, BOOM!, reality smacks him in the face and he must come to terms with his fabrications. The book builds, the story gains steam and set match 1 we are back into normality. Cool read. Onto the next adventure!
November 10, 2018
A light-hearted story of a man who tries to better himself by impersonating a war hero. At times unrealistic, I was able to identify with the subject, as I think we all dream sometimes about what our lives could be like if we were somebody else, somebody different who may not have the shortcomings that we see in ourselves. Slow to start, in soon gets juicy and is an easy short read.
February 8, 2017
This is my 14th Lehrer book - each one is just a great look at interesting parts of everyday living. He could write on any subject and I'd love it - who could imagine I would be enamored with the Marine Corps, but I was!! Sempre Fi!!
December 14, 2013
Fifty some year old Hugo Marder leads a pedantic unremarkable life. Divorced, he works as a salesman in a Washington, D.C. men’s store. He’d has wanted to do more. He had wanted to be a marine, but missed out during the Vietnam War when he purposely avoided military service. An online auction for a Silver Star medal changes his life. He bids and wins. He discovers that wearing the pin on his lapel brings attention he has never received. People begin to respect him and treat him like a privileged one. He likes the attention, but is torn when his own conscience tells him to do the right thing. Conscience loses. Hugo now goes through a process of looking like and speaking like a Marine. Physical training sessions to tone his flabby body, buzzed hair, a new talk and a new walk make him attractive even to his ex-wife. He is challenged to keep his secret benefits of being a hero begin to show. One day, however, he is actually given a chance to become a hero on his own.
This book held my interest as Lehrer brings out the themes of heroism, prevarication, and, finally, doing the right thing. It is simple reading, but the story, despite the book’s short length, dragged on at times. I never won the Silver Star and never served in the Marine Corps. Three with whom I served won Silver Stars through the army. I do not recall any lapel pins to be worn with civilian clothes accompanying their Silver Stars or my lower awards. There was a medal and the accompanying ribbon, the former to be worn on full dress uniforms which most enlisted personnel did not have. The latter was worn on class “a”s. I guess the Marines are different or the Silver Star winners I served with hid the lapel pins. Nevertheless, most of the people I run in to would not recognize it anyway. The book is a bit passive. Still this is worth the read, as Lehrer covers some very important themes.
This book held my interest as Lehrer brings out the themes of heroism, prevarication, and, finally, doing the right thing. It is simple reading, but the story, despite the book’s short length, dragged on at times. I never won the Silver Star and never served in the Marine Corps. Three with whom I served won Silver Stars through the army. I do not recall any lapel pins to be worn with civilian clothes accompanying their Silver Stars or my lower awards. There was a medal and the accompanying ribbon, the former to be worn on full dress uniforms which most enlisted personnel did not have. The latter was worn on class “a”s. I guess the Marines are different or the Silver Star winners I served with hid the lapel pins. Nevertheless, most of the people I run in to would not recognize it anyway. The book is a bit passive. Still this is worth the read, as Lehrer covers some very important themes.
February 27, 2013
Published in 2006 by Random House
Jim Lehrer, best known as the host of PBS's NewsHour is also an author of fiction (and a former Marine). In this briskly-paced short book Lehrer introduces us to Hugo Marder, a clothing salesman at a high-end men's store. Hugo has lived an utterly unexceptional life and we join him as he is perusing eBay looking for cuff links to add to his collection. Yes, this is a man who collects cuff links - he is that boring.
But, that night Hugo notes that someone is selling a Silver Star medal that was awarded to a Marine in Vietnam and he buys it. The Silver Star is only given for bravery in battle. This is no lightweight award and people who have not won it should not wear it. Hugo gets the Silver Star and on a lark he wears it one evening. He enjoys the attention he receives and begins to learn how to act and look more like a former Marine so that he can assume this identity.
Interestingly, along the way Hugo does change. He acts more assertive, he actually lives up to the heroic personae he has assumed - but, does that justify the fraud? Also, what happens if someone discovers what he is doing? Also, who is really what they portray themselves to be? Don't we all put up false fronts from time to time?
This book asks all of these questions and is a surprisingly enjoyable read.
http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/
Jim Lehrer, best known as the host of PBS's NewsHour is also an author of fiction (and a former Marine). In this briskly-paced short book Lehrer introduces us to Hugo Marder, a clothing salesman at a high-end men's store. Hugo has lived an utterly unexceptional life and we join him as he is perusing eBay looking for cuff links to add to his collection. Yes, this is a man who collects cuff links - he is that boring.
But, that night Hugo notes that someone is selling a Silver Star medal that was awarded to a Marine in Vietnam and he buys it. The Silver Star is only given for bravery in battle. This is no lightweight award and people who have not won it should not wear it. Hugo gets the Silver Star and on a lark he wears it one evening. He enjoys the attention he receives and begins to learn how to act and look more like a former Marine so that he can assume this identity.
Interestingly, along the way Hugo does change. He acts more assertive, he actually lives up to the heroic personae he has assumed - but, does that justify the fraud? Also, what happens if someone discovers what he is doing? Also, who is really what they portray themselves to be? Don't we all put up false fronts from time to time?
This book asks all of these questions and is a surprisingly enjoyable read.
http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/
June 2, 2009
Jim Lehrer, veteran newsman and acclaimed novelist, discusses his new novel, The Phony Marine. Exposing worlds both intimate and universal, Lehrer builds suspense with an accomplished hand, and reveals a savvy understanding of the modern social landscape. Alive with detail, emotional depth and unexpected plot twists, The Phony Marine is a tense, revelatory work of fiction that will cause every reader to consider his or her own stance on what truly makes someone great.
We met Jim Lehrer when he visited the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver. You can listen to him talk about The Phony Marine: A Novel here:
http://www.authorsontourlive.com/?p=92
We met Jim Lehrer when he visited the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver. You can listen to him talk about The Phony Marine: A Novel here:
http://www.authorsontourlive.com/?p=92
October 5, 2013
Jim Lehrer has become one of my favorite authors. The more I write the more difficult it is for an author to please me, but Jim Lehrer has aced the task.
Lehrer weaves a story that is amusing and intriguing as the protangonist struggles with an age old moral issue of trying to convince people he is someone he is not.
I fell in love with the character, a mundane clothing salesperson who had been overly passive with his now ex-wife.
What could rank someone as being of distasteful character more than pretending to have earned a Silver Star? And yet Lehrer had me rooting for the guy without even knowing how he accomplished that feat.
Great job. I only hope to someday write like this!
Lehrer weaves a story that is amusing and intriguing as the protangonist struggles with an age old moral issue of trying to convince people he is someone he is not.
I fell in love with the character, a mundane clothing salesperson who had been overly passive with his now ex-wife.
What could rank someone as being of distasteful character more than pretending to have earned a Silver Star? And yet Lehrer had me rooting for the guy without even knowing how he accomplished that feat.
Great job. I only hope to someday write like this!
February 8, 2016
"This book is not a thriller along the lines of Michael Crichton or James Patterson, but I was unable to quit reading until I learned the outcome. The combination of character, story and topic made this book irresistible to me."
Read Michelle's review on the library's blog: http://carnegiestout.blogspot.com/201...
Read Michelle's review on the library's blog: http://carnegiestout.blogspot.com/201...
March 27, 2008
This was a very discussable premise for a book. How do we behave differently based on our dress/appearance, and how are we treated differently based on these things? Good book club read, and an easy read.
April 4, 2008
What a great book this was....a quick read. It's about a salesman who finds a marine pin and wears it, and finds that he gets instant recognition and respect....until he witnesses a crime and then he becomes a public hero. I've read several Jim Lehrer books, and this could be his best!
May 11, 2008
This book was okay at times a slow read but overall a pretty good book. Its about a man who buys a silver star medal and turns himself into a marine. It is worth reading. I don't want to give anything away if anyone wants to read it.
February 26, 2008
Loved this one, but I'm married to a Marine, so many of the things we found humorous were humorous becuase we "know..."
October 31, 2009
Ending is an unexpected twist.
April 5, 2019
I thought this was pretty. Since my fiance is a Marine, I know quite a bit. I enjoyed the main character.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews