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Зелені проти синіх
«Зелені проти синіх» – переклад українською мовою американського бестселера за списком «Нью-Йорк Таймс». Дія відбувається під час війни в Афганістані (2001–2014). Це є правдивий глибокий, суворий твір про те, якою насправді є сучасна війна. «Війна – це омана», – сказав колись пророк Мохаммед. Але де вона – та межа, коли закінчуються військові хитрощі і починається зрада, віроломство? Як знайти межу, де закінчується боротьба за власну територію і свої права й починається бізнес? Елліот Акерман – у минулому стажер програми Білого Дому, колишній морський піхотинець, брав участь у п'яти військових експедиціях до Іраку й Афганістану, зараз працює журналістом, спеціалізується на висвітленні подій громадянської війни в Сирії. Є автором романів "Зелені проти синіх" (2015) та "Темрява на перехресті" (2016), останній присвячений останнім подіям у Сирії. Статті Акермана як журналіста публікувалися на сторінках багатьох видань, зокрема в журналах "Нью-Йоркер", "Атлантік", "Нью Репаблік" і "Нью-Йорк Таймз Мегазін", а його оповідання ввійшли до збірки "Найкращих американських оповідань". Військові нагороди: Срібна Зірка, Бронзова Зірка за мужність і Пурпурне Серце.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published February 17, 2015
134 people are currently reading
2797 people want to read
About the author
Elliot Ackerman
19 books732 followersELLIOT ACKERMAN is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Halcyon, 2034, Red Dress In Black and White, Waiting for Eden, Dark at the Crossing, and Green on Blue, as well as the memoir The Fifth Act: America’s End in Afghanistan, and Places and Names: On War, Revolution and Returning. His books have been nominated for the National Book Award, the Andrew Carnegie Medal in both fiction and nonfiction, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize among others. He is a contributing writer at The Atlantic and Marine veteran who served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Purple Heart. He divides his time between New York City and Washington, D.C.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews
February 2, 2015
This is sad and brutal and more than likely filled with a lot of truth given that this first time author Elliot Ackerman , has served five tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq . He must , I'm convinced , be bringing the awful and ugly realities of the war in Afghanistan to life in these pages. The perspective is an interesting one as we see the war through the eyes of a young Afghan boy , Aziz .
Of course we know that villages were destroyed, families were killed , people are injured and maimed and young boys are trained to be soldiers. We've read the news and seen the TV clips but there is something that seems much more brutal and real here as we follow Aziz on his journey in this war because the brutality of it all is sustained as Aziz's story unfolds and it is not just that 30 second clip we saw on TV .
Early on we are introduced to the death and violence and horrific losses for two young Afghan brothers . To insure that his older brother Ali gets the medical care he needs after he is maimed by a bombing in a market place, Aziz must give of himself to serve as a soldier ; he is recruited by the Americans. There are other rag tag orphans who are training and fighting because they too have lost their families and their homes .
I felt the intensity after a few pages as Aziz trains and goes to the mountains to fight . Going on missions that these young boys seem so ill prepared for , they fight sometimes not even knowing who the enemy is . But Aziz fights for nang , his honor and for badal , revenge and this young boy not yet a man is brought into what seems like a futile situation where enemies can be mistaken for allies.
I have to admit that I just didn't know much at all about the places in this book and did search the internet a bit to try to get a better understanding . In Time Magazine of October 27, 2003 , Tom Mcgirk writes in his article , Battle in the "Evilest Place " : "The American soldiers at the Shkin firebase in Afghanistan live precariously on the front line, a target for al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters who launch frequent strikes from camps in nearby Pakistan. This border area is an unforgiving landscape of rocky hills and scrub pines where the enemy can nestle into position at close range while remaining invisible ...As U.S. Army Colonel Rodney Davis puts it, "Shkin is the evilest place in Afghanistan." Shkin is the place I looked up because that is where Aziz fights .
I was also quite confused about who was his enemy and who was not , about who Aziz should trust and I can't help but think that this is what the author wants to convey - the complexity of it all. And the story does get more complex as Aziz must make decisions without knowing all there is to know about this war.
I couldn't help but like Aziz and feel for him as he tries to do what is right for his brother and eventually for the young deformed girl , he has come to love . I also really liked Mumtaz , the old man who befriends Aziz.
This is an impressive , thought provoking debut .
Thanks to Scribner and NetGalley
February 11, 2015
This was a very raw account of the struggle Afghan citizens endure trying to navigate this senseless war. There is no "fluff" to this story... the struggle came across authentically in Ackerman's writing. The suffering of these people for financial and political gain is appalling and disturbing. I truly hope for some resolution to this awful wastefulness.
March 17, 2015
I think given the situation on the ground in Afghanistan, the publishers could have more accurately titled this novel, 'Green on Blue, Green on Green, Blue on Blue, and Green on Blue on Green on Blue on Green on .....' The title and colors mentioned refer to the uniforms worn by American and Afghan soldiers. Green on blue means an unexpected attack by allied Afghan soldiers occurred against American soldiers.
According to the bio in the book, Elliot Ackerman, the author, served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Purple Heart. He lives in Istanbul with his wife and two children and he is writing currently (2015) about the Syrian War.
I really liked the novel 'Green on Blue'. It is well-written and I found it difficult to put down once I began to read it. It is a fast read - I finished it in one day. The characters represent the different male archetypes Westerners meet in Afghanistan: the Warlord, the villager, the Afghan soldier, the American black-ops soldier, the Taliban. Basically, the book is a simplified, but realistic fable about an Afghan lad's coming-of-age in a world of endless tribal war, endless Afghan religious and political hypocrisy, and endless Afghan poverty. It may or may not reflect how Afghans see their conflicts, but it definitely reflects my view as a Western armchair participant (reads newspapers while drinking hot chocolate with stocking feet propped up). There is a female character, but she is emancipated for an Afghan woman, i.e., her guardian is kind and provides her with all of the opium she desires.
Aziz grows up, at least until maybe 11 (Afghans don't really do birthdays), as a happy village kid. He and his older brother Ali play and work in the only world they know until bombs and attacks by soldiers strike their isolated mountain village. After the deaths of his parents and later the crippling of Ali, Aziz becomes the breadwinner. To continue the 'rehabilitation' (not really) of Ali, Aziz joins the Afghan Army. By the end of the book, Aziz understands the conflicts of his country better. As a Western reader, I feel the book is an accurate representation of 'The Big Picture' in Afghanistan.
I have the deepest respect for American soldiers, who willingly joined an all-volunteer force to help themselves and their countrymen, especially when they go where they are ordered without having clue. However, I think it is a disgrace when the leadership doesn't have a clue either.
I have read at least four books about Afghanistan: one written by a journalist, two by Muslim writers, one by an ordinary American Christian entrepreneur. They have varied in tone and in depth. Three were novels. What they all have in common is references to the confused tribal alliances and the nature of a culture based on 'Honor' rituals (as in saving face) with death as the penalty for an insult.
As an ordinary American myself, what is clear to me is we need to avoid 'crusading': in countries which are not countries by any definition (especially with no centralized governance); in places with hundreds of multiple primitive non-literate small village tribes that practice a religion which is still practiced as it was around the turn of the century - the 8th century; and a culture which understands the occurrences of accidents, social misunderstandings and the breaking of religious rules as insults demanding the immediate penalty of murder or torture or slavery to satisfy a 'justice' which is nothing like Western culture's definitions or logic.
I'm reminded of a fable: http://www.snopes.com/critters/malice...
or more plainly,
A scorpion, being a very poor swimmer, asked a turtle to carry him on his back across a river. "Are you mad?" exclaimed the turtle. "You'll sting me while I'm swimming and I'll drown."
"My dear turtle," laughed the scorpion, "if I were to sting you, you would drown and I would go down with you. Now where is the logic in that?"
"You're right!" cried the turtle. "Hop on!" The scorpion climbed aboard and halfway across the river gave the turtle a mighty sting. As they both sank to the bottom, the turtle resignedly said:
"Do you mind if I ask you something? You said there'd be no logic in your stinging me. Why did you do it?"
"It has nothing to do with logic," the drowning scorpion sadly replied. "It's just my character."
Afghanistan is literally a medieval country. Period. They have no interest in the 21st century. Full stop.
The West got justice by killing Osama bin Laden (in Pakistan). Now we need to leave countries like this alone to their own ideas of governance. Yes, if my country is directly attacked, I think we should attack back. In the case of non-state terrorism directed against my country, yes, I would like to see the perpetrators caught and brought to legal justice, if possible. As an educated female Westerner, I am appalled and horrified by the culture of Afghanistan and other Muslim theocracies. Nonetheless, time and experience has proved - PROVED - Westernized beliefs cannot be imposed on other cultures, no matter how beneficial we think Western culture is.
I am VERY happy I was born into a mostly secular Western nation. I am VERY sad that women and children suffer from living in theocracies. I hate theocracies of any kind.
If you are an Afghan, this book is a great read to see how a sizable group of Westerners see Afghanistan and how they see American involvement is playing out there. It is a very simplified, sound-bite understanding, true, but that is how it is.
It is not that we Western citizens can't see how a war economy is corrupting Afghanistan, or how deep our ignorance is, and that we don't know we are ignorant of Afghan culture, but the novel shows the 'street' Western understanding of how corrupt Afghan tribal politics was and is, in the first place, LONG before the West invaded. We Westerners intensified what was already there. The economies of many neighboring Muslim countries surrounding Afghanistan are opaque, stratified and manipulated, but Afghanistan is a special case of impoverishment and systemic ignorance. The fact that different Muslim theocracies have different levels of education and wealth, even when tribes share cross-border family genealogies through marriages and births, appear to indicate governance policies have some contribution to the ignorance and poverty of a theocracy.
I personally don't believe the West can fix this on ANY level.
According to the bio in the book, Elliot Ackerman, the author, served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. He received the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Purple Heart. He lives in Istanbul with his wife and two children and he is writing currently (2015) about the Syrian War.
I really liked the novel 'Green on Blue'. It is well-written and I found it difficult to put down once I began to read it. It is a fast read - I finished it in one day. The characters represent the different male archetypes Westerners meet in Afghanistan: the Warlord, the villager, the Afghan soldier, the American black-ops soldier, the Taliban. Basically, the book is a simplified, but realistic fable about an Afghan lad's coming-of-age in a world of endless tribal war, endless Afghan religious and political hypocrisy, and endless Afghan poverty. It may or may not reflect how Afghans see their conflicts, but it definitely reflects my view as a Western armchair participant (reads newspapers while drinking hot chocolate with stocking feet propped up). There is a female character, but she is emancipated for an Afghan woman, i.e., her guardian is kind and provides her with all of the opium she desires.
Aziz grows up, at least until maybe 11 (Afghans don't really do birthdays), as a happy village kid. He and his older brother Ali play and work in the only world they know until bombs and attacks by soldiers strike their isolated mountain village. After the deaths of his parents and later the crippling of Ali, Aziz becomes the breadwinner. To continue the 'rehabilitation' (not really) of Ali, Aziz joins the Afghan Army. By the end of the book, Aziz understands the conflicts of his country better. As a Western reader, I feel the book is an accurate representation of 'The Big Picture' in Afghanistan.
I have the deepest respect for American soldiers, who willingly joined an all-volunteer force to help themselves and their countrymen, especially when they go where they are ordered without having clue. However, I think it is a disgrace when the leadership doesn't have a clue either.
I have read at least four books about Afghanistan: one written by a journalist, two by Muslim writers, one by an ordinary American Christian entrepreneur. They have varied in tone and in depth. Three were novels. What they all have in common is references to the confused tribal alliances and the nature of a culture based on 'Honor' rituals (as in saving face) with death as the penalty for an insult.
As an ordinary American myself, what is clear to me is we need to avoid 'crusading': in countries which are not countries by any definition (especially with no centralized governance); in places with hundreds of multiple primitive non-literate small village tribes that practice a religion which is still practiced as it was around the turn of the century - the 8th century; and a culture which understands the occurrences of accidents, social misunderstandings and the breaking of religious rules as insults demanding the immediate penalty of murder or torture or slavery to satisfy a 'justice' which is nothing like Western culture's definitions or logic.
I'm reminded of a fable: http://www.snopes.com/critters/malice...
or more plainly,
A scorpion, being a very poor swimmer, asked a turtle to carry him on his back across a river. "Are you mad?" exclaimed the turtle. "You'll sting me while I'm swimming and I'll drown."
"My dear turtle," laughed the scorpion, "if I were to sting you, you would drown and I would go down with you. Now where is the logic in that?"
"You're right!" cried the turtle. "Hop on!" The scorpion climbed aboard and halfway across the river gave the turtle a mighty sting. As they both sank to the bottom, the turtle resignedly said:
"Do you mind if I ask you something? You said there'd be no logic in your stinging me. Why did you do it?"
"It has nothing to do with logic," the drowning scorpion sadly replied. "It's just my character."
Afghanistan is literally a medieval country. Period. They have no interest in the 21st century. Full stop.
The West got justice by killing Osama bin Laden (in Pakistan). Now we need to leave countries like this alone to their own ideas of governance. Yes, if my country is directly attacked, I think we should attack back. In the case of non-state terrorism directed against my country, yes, I would like to see the perpetrators caught and brought to legal justice, if possible. As an educated female Westerner, I am appalled and horrified by the culture of Afghanistan and other Muslim theocracies. Nonetheless, time and experience has proved - PROVED - Westernized beliefs cannot be imposed on other cultures, no matter how beneficial we think Western culture is.
I am VERY happy I was born into a mostly secular Western nation. I am VERY sad that women and children suffer from living in theocracies. I hate theocracies of any kind.
If you are an Afghan, this book is a great read to see how a sizable group of Westerners see Afghanistan and how they see American involvement is playing out there. It is a very simplified, sound-bite understanding, true, but that is how it is.
It is not that we Western citizens can't see how a war economy is corrupting Afghanistan, or how deep our ignorance is, and that we don't know we are ignorant of Afghan culture, but the novel shows the 'street' Western understanding of how corrupt Afghan tribal politics was and is, in the first place, LONG before the West invaded. We Westerners intensified what was already there. The economies of many neighboring Muslim countries surrounding Afghanistan are opaque, stratified and manipulated, but Afghanistan is a special case of impoverishment and systemic ignorance. The fact that different Muslim theocracies have different levels of education and wealth, even when tribes share cross-border family genealogies through marriages and births, appear to indicate governance policies have some contribution to the ignorance and poverty of a theocracy.
I personally don't believe the West can fix this on ANY level.
June 26, 2016
**I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.**
This is a story of two brothers in Afghanistan after their parents are murdered in a militant strike.
It's not a very moving story but it is a story.
I felt as though I was reading a book report on a series of events rather than reading a story about two brothers.
There isn't much character development. A lot of characters are introduced quickly & without details that would give the reader a sense of the characters' personalities.
As a result I didn't really care about the brothers or the choices that Aziz is forced to make throughout the book.
Most of the decisions made by characters in this book are made based on revenge. The characters are so driven by revenge that I expected to feel more invested.
Revenge is such a strong emotion that it must to be explained & described in detail to assist the reader with feeling it along with the character rather than simply stated.
There are quite a few instances where the book simply states "Character A killed character B's brother/son/cousin/dad and as a result character A must take revenge in order to restore the family pride."
Perhaps the reader would feel more invested if the writer had provided more background information related to the events that inspired such strong vengeful feelings & led each individual to join the US funded militia or the rival Afghan groups.
The book attempts to portray the conflicts of interest found in US funded militias in Afghanistan but they are portrayed at a very basic level.
The book explains that if all sides in a war prosper then the war will never end. There are clear examples of this for each of the groups (the Taliban, the US funded militia & the mountain village).
The book doesn't touch on the religious extremism or other reasons such as the decades of wars that have been occurring in Afghanistan that are also factors in the war in Afghanistan. To not address the myriad of other contributing factors leaves the reader with the simplistic impression that the individuals are solely driven by revenge, poverty and/or how their group may prosper from the war.
It's not a horrible book...it's just not a fantastic book.
This is a story of two brothers in Afghanistan after their parents are murdered in a militant strike.
It's not a very moving story but it is a story.
I felt as though I was reading a book report on a series of events rather than reading a story about two brothers.
There isn't much character development. A lot of characters are introduced quickly & without details that would give the reader a sense of the characters' personalities.
As a result I didn't really care about the brothers or the choices that Aziz is forced to make throughout the book.
Most of the decisions made by characters in this book are made based on revenge. The characters are so driven by revenge that I expected to feel more invested.
Revenge is such a strong emotion that it must to be explained & described in detail to assist the reader with feeling it along with the character rather than simply stated.
There are quite a few instances where the book simply states "Character A killed character B's brother/son/cousin/dad and as a result character A must take revenge in order to restore the family pride."
Perhaps the reader would feel more invested if the writer had provided more background information related to the events that inspired such strong vengeful feelings & led each individual to join the US funded militia or the rival Afghan groups.
The book attempts to portray the conflicts of interest found in US funded militias in Afghanistan but they are portrayed at a very basic level.
The book explains that if all sides in a war prosper then the war will never end. There are clear examples of this for each of the groups (the Taliban, the US funded militia & the mountain village).
The book doesn't touch on the religious extremism or other reasons such as the decades of wars that have been occurring in Afghanistan that are also factors in the war in Afghanistan. To not address the myriad of other contributing factors leaves the reader with the simplistic impression that the individuals are solely driven by revenge, poverty and/or how their group may prosper from the war.
It's not a horrible book...it's just not a fantastic book.
February 9, 2015
Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
**I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Scribner via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is February 17th 2015**
For a short book this is not a light read. It explores the depths of a country in the middle of a war that nobody understands and the moral questions this raises. It asks the question...can both sides be wrong? Is it possible that there are no winners in war? I know what my opinion is however I will leave that debate for the reader.
This story is a little hard to take at times as many are that deal with this subject matter. All the while it is interesting as you want to see where it will lead you. Considering that Ackerman has served several tours of duty I imagine a lot of what was laid out on these pages are pretty accurate or as close to accurate as you can get for fiction. This in itself gave an added element of credibility to the story for me.
This story did have one flaw that I unfortunately could not get past. It was in the writing style and not within the plot. The entire plot was written that the dialogue did not contain any quotation making it difficult for me. I understand that this is a fairly common practice but with this story I found myself rereading several passages to make sure I understood. It took me some time to find a flow with it and I never really got fully comfortable with it by the end. Understanding that this is an advanced copy I really hope the final product adds quotations for the dialogue. It distracts from the story as it is.
This was an interesting read for me. I would not recommend it to those who are looking for a lighter read as the subject matter is pretty serious. Those interested in the war in Afghanistan and the country in general would enjoy this pick
**I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher Scribner via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is February 17th 2015**
For a short book this is not a light read. It explores the depths of a country in the middle of a war that nobody understands and the moral questions this raises. It asks the question...can both sides be wrong? Is it possible that there are no winners in war? I know what my opinion is however I will leave that debate for the reader.
This story is a little hard to take at times as many are that deal with this subject matter. All the while it is interesting as you want to see where it will lead you. Considering that Ackerman has served several tours of duty I imagine a lot of what was laid out on these pages are pretty accurate or as close to accurate as you can get for fiction. This in itself gave an added element of credibility to the story for me.
This story did have one flaw that I unfortunately could not get past. It was in the writing style and not within the plot. The entire plot was written that the dialogue did not contain any quotation making it difficult for me. I understand that this is a fairly common practice but with this story I found myself rereading several passages to make sure I understood. It took me some time to find a flow with it and I never really got fully comfortable with it by the end. Understanding that this is an advanced copy I really hope the final product adds quotations for the dialogue. It distracts from the story as it is.
This was an interesting read for me. I would not recommend it to those who are looking for a lighter read as the subject matter is pretty serious. Those interested in the war in Afghanistan and the country in general would enjoy this pick
June 24, 2015
Take a terrific, topical subject for a novel -- the conflict in Afghanistan through an Afghan villager-warrior's eyes -- then weigh it down with cardboard characters and clichés until it sinks every hopeful expectation you had of it, and you'll end up with something like "Green on Blue." I have great respect for the author's military service and I have no doubt that he knows a heck of a lot more about the situation on the ground in Afghanistan than I do (or ever will). So why does this narrative seem so hackneyed? For example: does there really have to be a love interest subplot about a beautiful opium-smoking cripple? Does the narrator's every twinge of ambivalence have to be telegraphed with lines like, "Had I become the very thing I despised, that which I wished to destroy?" There are some potent scenes and sentences that hint at what this book could have been (regarding the absurdity of war: "The militants fought to protect us from the Americans and the Americans fought to protect us from the militants, and being so protected, life was very dangerous"; regarding an American commander's labeling of Afghan fighter squads after Native American tribes: "He thought we Afghans did not understand what it meant to be named after the Indians of his country, but we understood. To us, it seemed a small but misguided sort of insult. For our tribes had never been conquered"), which makes me lament all the more the messy whole that this book becomes. I'm hoping Ackerman's next foray into long-form fiction will be better.
January 6, 2016
Thank you Scribner Publishers for a copy of this book to review.
This book did take me a bit of time to read but in the end I thought it was a very good book. It is a sad and heartbreaking book that shows you how it is for some growing up in Afghanistan. Ali and Aziz are two young boys who lose their parents early in life because of the war. They live on the streets and eventually their bazaar gets bombed. Ali becomes crippled and Aziz must declare Badal, which is revenge, that Afghans believe in. In doing so he joins a militia in order to kill the man who was responsible for killing his brother. This takes him to all kinds of corrupt men and ends up being about how to just "survive" their lives the best way they can.
This book does not go too much into the muslim religion but if most of them live by Hang(honor) and also Badal(revenge), Westerners will not change them with a way "we" think is better. "Our" way is not better to them. We have only made things worse in their country and their hatred of us even fiercer.
This book did take me a bit of time to read but in the end I thought it was a very good book. It is a sad and heartbreaking book that shows you how it is for some growing up in Afghanistan. Ali and Aziz are two young boys who lose their parents early in life because of the war. They live on the streets and eventually their bazaar gets bombed. Ali becomes crippled and Aziz must declare Badal, which is revenge, that Afghans believe in. In doing so he joins a militia in order to kill the man who was responsible for killing his brother. This takes him to all kinds of corrupt men and ends up being about how to just "survive" their lives the best way they can.
This book does not go too much into the muslim religion but if most of them live by Hang(honor) and also Badal(revenge), Westerners will not change them with a way "we" think is better. "Our" way is not better to them. We have only made things worse in their country and their hatred of us even fiercer.
January 30, 2019
A good story, respectfully told. I was left with the feeling that Elliot Ackerman has a lot of empathy for the suffering of the people of Afghanistan and I respect his choice to tell this story from an Afghan boy's point of view, rather than tell yet another novel/memoir about being an American at war.There isn't a lot of art in this story--the narrative voice is very straightforward--but this felt also like a respectful decision, since the narrator is a young man with little access to education beyond his war experiences.
December 23, 2014
Not sure I can say it any better than those that have already reviewed "Green On Blue". I will say that it's a solid 5-Star rated book and "Joanne Leedom-Ackerman" review says it in a very accurate and simple way. As with most of my GoodReads wins I will pay it forward and share this book with a friend.
March 14, 2015
`I ask no man to trust me and I trust no one. Trust is a burden one puts on another.'
American author Elliot Ackerman currently lives in Istanbul and writes on the Syrian Civil War. He has served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and is the recipient of the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Purple Heart. A former White House Fellow, his essays and fiction have appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New Republic, and Ecotone, among others. With this background it should come as no surprise that GREEN ON BLUE, his debut novel. Is one of the most powerful examinations of war - both as a useless means of resolution and as a autopsy of the vicious cruelties war imposes on both soldier form the country of clash, form outside country troops, and most important, on the people of the decimated battleground.
Attempting to write a critique of this brilliant book is fraught with problems. For those of us who have been in wars it is a devastating reminder of the misery and irreparable damage war inflicts on everyone - a memory kick that is difficult to inhale. But the writing is so extraordinarily fine - especially Elliott's ability to create the language and atmosphere of Afghanistan is such a clear and uncompromising way. It is also to his credit that he places the role of the American soldiers in the Afghan war in a true light. And his election to make the story a schism of brothers polarized by the vagaries of that war is a stroke of writing genius.
For those yet to explore this novel, the synopsis is as follows: `Aziz and his older brother Ali are coming of age in a village amid the pine forests and endless mountains of eastern Afghanistan. There is no school, but their mother teaches them to read and write, and once a month sends the boys on a two-day journey to the bazaar. They are poor, but inside their mud-walled home, the family has stability, love, and routine. When a convoy of armed men arrives in their village one day, their world crumbles. The boys survive and make their way to a small city, where they sleep among other orphans. They learn to beg, and, eventually, they earn work and trust from the local shopkeepers. Ali saves their money and sends Aziz to school at the madrassa, but when US forces invade the country, militants strike back. A bomb explodes in the market, and Ali is brutally injured. In the hospital, Aziz meets an Afghan wearing an American uniform. To save his brother, Aziz must join the Special Lashkar, a US-funded militia. No longer a boy, but not yet a man, he departs for the untamed border. Trapped in a conflict both savage and entirely contrived, Aziz struggles to understand his place. Will he embrace the brutality of war or leave it behind, and risk placing his brother--and a young woman he comes to love--in jeopardy?'
Elliott Ackerman, in his first novel, establishes himself as a writer of great distinction. This book deserves attention - and awards. Highly Recommended.
American author Elliot Ackerman currently lives in Istanbul and writes on the Syrian Civil War. He has served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and is the recipient of the Silver Star, the Bronze Star for Valor, and the Purple Heart. A former White House Fellow, his essays and fiction have appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New Republic, and Ecotone, among others. With this background it should come as no surprise that GREEN ON BLUE, his debut novel. Is one of the most powerful examinations of war - both as a useless means of resolution and as a autopsy of the vicious cruelties war imposes on both soldier form the country of clash, form outside country troops, and most important, on the people of the decimated battleground.
Attempting to write a critique of this brilliant book is fraught with problems. For those of us who have been in wars it is a devastating reminder of the misery and irreparable damage war inflicts on everyone - a memory kick that is difficult to inhale. But the writing is so extraordinarily fine - especially Elliott's ability to create the language and atmosphere of Afghanistan is such a clear and uncompromising way. It is also to his credit that he places the role of the American soldiers in the Afghan war in a true light. And his election to make the story a schism of brothers polarized by the vagaries of that war is a stroke of writing genius.
For those yet to explore this novel, the synopsis is as follows: `Aziz and his older brother Ali are coming of age in a village amid the pine forests and endless mountains of eastern Afghanistan. There is no school, but their mother teaches them to read and write, and once a month sends the boys on a two-day journey to the bazaar. They are poor, but inside their mud-walled home, the family has stability, love, and routine. When a convoy of armed men arrives in their village one day, their world crumbles. The boys survive and make their way to a small city, where they sleep among other orphans. They learn to beg, and, eventually, they earn work and trust from the local shopkeepers. Ali saves their money and sends Aziz to school at the madrassa, but when US forces invade the country, militants strike back. A bomb explodes in the market, and Ali is brutally injured. In the hospital, Aziz meets an Afghan wearing an American uniform. To save his brother, Aziz must join the Special Lashkar, a US-funded militia. No longer a boy, but not yet a man, he departs for the untamed border. Trapped in a conflict both savage and entirely contrived, Aziz struggles to understand his place. Will he embrace the brutality of war or leave it behind, and risk placing his brother--and a young woman he comes to love--in jeopardy?'
Elliott Ackerman, in his first novel, establishes himself as a writer of great distinction. This book deserves attention - and awards. Highly Recommended.
December 7, 2014
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley. I must admit that it took me an unusually long time to read this book, and that I got stalled in the middle. But it was well worth the read. Ackerman has written a very compassionate book depicting the stark and brutal reality of the Afghan people -- especially young men -- caught in an endless war. Written from the perspective of a young Afghan man, Ackerman portrays a war that has very little to do with principle but rather in which people's actions are fuelled by necessity and a culture of revenge. While the story is focused on the narrator and other Afghanis, to the extent that the role of Americans is touched on, they are primarily shown as hapless and interfering. There is the obvious issue of a book written by a North American author from the perspective of an Afghani, but Ackerman who spent a lot of time in Afghanistan seems to bring a lot of knowledge, sensitivity and compassion to the subject. It will be interesting to see the reaction once the book is published early next year. For my part, I am grateful that I had a chance to read this book even though it was hard to read at times and doesn't give much scope for optimism. Kudos to Ackerman for taking on this difficult project and for doing it so well.
July 28, 2015
Ackerman, an American vet who served five tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, produces a nuanced and haunting work about the intractable nature of war in Afghanistan and America's role in the ongoing catastrophic conflict there. This book surprised and engrossed me, and is the best work of fiction that I've read about OEF thus far.
The story focuses on the life of orphaned brothers Ali and Aziz. After a terrible incident, the boys become separated, and Aziz winds up an Afghan soldier working for the Americans.
What makes the book so compelling is Ackerman's ability to reveal the complex ways in which both this war neither has clear "good guys" nor bad and that war has become irrevocably intertwined with much of Afghan society and culture.
This heartbreaking and somewhat bleak work will force you to confront your own biases and assumptions about the meaning, message, and legacies of America's involvement in Afghanistan and the difficulties of waging successful wars in the twenty first century.
A must read for anyone interested in understanding America's involvement in Afghanistan, learning about
Afghan society and culture, or considering the changing nature of war and its meaning.
Four solid stars - after a novel full of sparkling prose and an engaging plot, the final chapter felt hasty and sour.
The story focuses on the life of orphaned brothers Ali and Aziz. After a terrible incident, the boys become separated, and Aziz winds up an Afghan soldier working for the Americans.
What makes the book so compelling is Ackerman's ability to reveal the complex ways in which both this war neither has clear "good guys" nor bad and that war has become irrevocably intertwined with much of Afghan society and culture.
This heartbreaking and somewhat bleak work will force you to confront your own biases and assumptions about the meaning, message, and legacies of America's involvement in Afghanistan and the difficulties of waging successful wars in the twenty first century.
A must read for anyone interested in understanding America's involvement in Afghanistan, learning about
Afghan society and culture, or considering the changing nature of war and its meaning.
Four solid stars - after a novel full of sparkling prose and an engaging plot, the final chapter felt hasty and sour.
January 7, 2017
Beautiful and moving story that unfolds complex issues and emotions through the simple story of a young Afghan boy. A must read.
September 2, 2021
Elliot Ackerman è stato un militare, statunitense, al comando di reparti speciali in Irak e Afghanistan, prima di dedicarsi alla scrittura. Quindi ne deduco che conosca bene ciò di cui narra in queste pagine. Se la storia è romanzata non lo è il contesto: un Afghanistan in preda a bande armate che pensano al potere, a spartirsi soldi, alleandosi quando occorre anche col nemico.
Un nemico che conosce i punti deboli della mentalità afghana, che sfrutta la fame, le credenze, la religione, a favore dei propri interessi. Un libro in cui nemmeno gli americani fanno una gran bella figura, e meno male, alla luce di quanto sta succedendo in questi giorni.
La scrittura non è male, la storia ben congeniata, la personalità del personaggio principale, con i suoi dubbi e le scelte che paiono obbligate, interessante.
Ma tutto il centro del racconto sviluppato attorno alle esercitazioni militari ho capito quanto non sia la mia tazza di thé, per questo sono solo tre le mie stelline.
Un nemico che conosce i punti deboli della mentalità afghana, che sfrutta la fame, le credenze, la religione, a favore dei propri interessi. Un libro in cui nemmeno gli americani fanno una gran bella figura, e meno male, alla luce di quanto sta succedendo in questi giorni.
La scrittura non è male, la storia ben congeniata, la personalità del personaggio principale, con i suoi dubbi e le scelte che paiono obbligate, interessante.
Ma tutto il centro del racconto sviluppato attorno alle esercitazioni militari ho capito quanto non sia la mia tazza di thé, per questo sono solo tre le mie stelline.
August 3, 2019
This is a brilliant book with a shocking but enlightening ending. I loved the sparse style of writing, that was poetic as well. This book provided me with an insight into the culture, geography and societal makeup of this place. I was writing my own novel about a region in Syria and this book helped me to feel the landscape and to gain an understanding of cultural elements and situations. Elliot Ackerman is brilliant at creating imagery in a simple yet powerful manner. I emailed him about my novel and he responded, a humble guy, and a brilliant writer. I recommend this book if you are interested in the middle east and even if you want some insight into other cultures.
April 17, 2015
2 stars. The story was a bit bizarre for me. It felt somewhat sterile and blunt so I never really made a connection with the main character. Like other reviews I read, I also had a problem with the missing quotation marks. 2 stars in that it was okay.
August 22, 2017
Поредното доста смотано заглавие от „издателството-татко“. Псевдовоенна драма, от която смърди на посредственост и проарабска пропаганда. Зле описани битки, кофти обрисувани главни герои, повествование в стил „шести клас, втория срок“. Финалът все едно е писан от а��тист. Абе... зле.
it-s-not-you-it-s-me
January 2, 2016serviceable but lackluster prose.
May 4, 2025
Елліот Акерман, «Зелені проти синіх»
Афганістан. 2001- 2014.
Історія без прикрас про війну зсередини.
Коли читала передмову, задумалася над словами Моххамеда, які автор взяв за епіграф, - «Війна - це омана».
Завершивши книжку, розумію, що саме ці слова якнайкраще її описують.
Омана, бо насправді вигідна усім сторонам.
Тому війни, якщо вже починаються, не швидко завершуються.
І око за око, зуб за зуб - не основна їхня рушійна сила - а гроші та гнів.
☑️ Відповіді на всі питання необовʼязково приходять одночасно.
Консультантом українського перекладу був Володимир Джиджора, який знає Афганістан не з книжки чи новин.
Дякую за чудовий подарунок!
От саме із таких книг, як я люблю!
#451deepreading
Афганістан. 2001- 2014.
Історія без прикрас про війну зсередини.
Коли читала передмову, задумалася над словами Моххамеда, які автор взяв за епіграф, - «Війна - це омана».
Завершивши книжку, розумію, що саме ці слова якнайкраще її описують.
Омана, бо насправді вигідна усім сторонам.
Тому війни, якщо вже починаються, не швидко завершуються.
І око за око, зуб за зуб - не основна їхня рушійна сила - а гроші та гнів.
☑️ Відповіді на всі питання необовʼязково приходять одночасно.
Консультантом українського перекладу був Володимир Джиджора, який знає Афганістан не з книжки чи новин.
Дякую за чудовий подарунок!
От саме із таких книг, як я люблю!
#451deepreading
August 29, 2025
6/10
Plays out like a C-tier Le Carre novel, with its precise amount of technical detail and spec ops know-how that only a former spook fresh out of service could employ to effect. But I also reckon I'd have a more productive time sinking my teeth into either an extensive bit of non-fiction that plunges into forensic depth about the War in Afghanistan, or a novel by an Afghan author with a bit more poetic/literary depth to it.
Plays out like a C-tier Le Carre novel, with its precise amount of technical detail and spec ops know-how that only a former spook fresh out of service could employ to effect. But I also reckon I'd have a more productive time sinking my teeth into either an extensive bit of non-fiction that plunges into forensic depth about the War in Afghanistan, or a novel by an Afghan author with a bit more poetic/literary depth to it.
September 20, 2017
Good for a war book. Dark and depressing with no sense of hope.
October 14, 2024
A gritty, uncomfortable novel about a gritty, uncomfortable place, and the monsters born of perpetual war, monsters who are also its parents and its sustenance.
June 24, 2015
This is a story of revenge or badal "a life for a life" in Afghanistan. Brothers Ali and Aziz Iqtbal are orphaned as boys. They beg on the streets. A Taliban attack during the Ashura Festival Bazaar in Orgun leaves Ali legless. Devoted brother Aziz trades his soul for Ali's life. Aziz agrees to join the Special Lashkar division to fight the Taliban for the remote town of Gomal. Gomal is a pawn in the fight between two factions trying to gain control over this remote region. Commander Sabir wants to build an outpost. Commander Gazan launched the attack on the bazaar in Orgun. Aziz wants badal on Gazan because he launched the attack at the bazaar. Atal is a man who is working both sides to whatever advantage may be the greatest to him. Fareeda is a young girl, with an ill defined disease, whom Atal is protecting because he committed badal against her uncle. Mr. Jack, the American, works both sides seeking peace in the region.
Aziz joins Special Lashkar, a group of thirty soldiers, and is assigned to the Tomahawks division. One night as his platoon and the Comanche platoon invade a remote home, Aziz kills Tawas, the brother of Qiam, both members of Special Lashkar. Qiam will seek badal against Aziz so he is forced to leave Special Lashkar.; however, Aziz is caught between the two worlds. He needs to continue being a soldier so his brother is cared for in the hospital. Everyone trades their lives and integrity for something else.
The reader can understand how hopeless and futile the war is in this region of the world and how it may be prolonged because of various investments, payoffs and vendettas being made to or by the soldiers and/or leaders.
"When you Americans are deceived, killed in a green on blue by the very soldiers you trained, or something else, always it is done by those Afghans whose business it is to play each side against the other."
"And Sabir makes sure that a steady stream of youths, like you, join his ranks searching for badal against men who did them harm in a war that he fuels."
"Peace isn't built by soldiers, he said. It is built by others after the soldiers are gone. Men such as Sabir and me don't know how to bring peace and don't want to."
"And as I thought of all the ways one could be killed in this war, and of all those who could do it, I couldn't think of a single way to die which wasn't a green on blue. The Americans had a hand in crafting all of it."
"You fight for badal, to avenge Ali, and to support him in the hospital., said Commander Sabir. What happens if our war ends?"
Aziz joins Special Lashkar, a group of thirty soldiers, and is assigned to the Tomahawks division. One night as his platoon and the Comanche platoon invade a remote home, Aziz kills Tawas, the brother of Qiam, both members of Special Lashkar. Qiam will seek badal against Aziz so he is forced to leave Special Lashkar.; however, Aziz is caught between the two worlds. He needs to continue being a soldier so his brother is cared for in the hospital. Everyone trades their lives and integrity for something else.
The reader can understand how hopeless and futile the war is in this region of the world and how it may be prolonged because of various investments, payoffs and vendettas being made to or by the soldiers and/or leaders.
"When you Americans are deceived, killed in a green on blue by the very soldiers you trained, or something else, always it is done by those Afghans whose business it is to play each side against the other."
"And Sabir makes sure that a steady stream of youths, like you, join his ranks searching for badal against men who did them harm in a war that he fuels."
"Peace isn't built by soldiers, he said. It is built by others after the soldiers are gone. Men such as Sabir and me don't know how to bring peace and don't want to."
"And as I thought of all the ways one could be killed in this war, and of all those who could do it, I couldn't think of a single way to die which wasn't a green on blue. The Americans had a hand in crafting all of it."
"You fight for badal, to avenge Ali, and to support him in the hospital., said Commander Sabir. What happens if our war ends?"
August 28, 2015
“The militants fought to protect us from the Americans, and the Americans fought to protect us from the militants, and being so protected, life was very dangerous.”
3.5 stars
I was on the verge on giving up several times, with this, as it’s quite dry, with a lot of description and a protagonist who doesn’t stand out for me as being hugely empathetic. But it was short, and there were ‘moments’ that reminded me of Dr Strangelove/Catch 22 (I don’t mean hilarity at all, but moments when you really see the futility of war and just how ridiculous it all is) that kept me interested.
Two brothers are made orphans by the war in Afghanistan, and take to the streets to scrounge a meagre living. A few years later, war is still raging, and a marketplace bomb changes the future of both.
One finds himself propelled towards revenge by enlisting as a soldier. His experiences in training and in war are those we follow.
This is never graphic, though there is some upsetting content, as you would expect for a novel set in a war-torn country.
There are some wonderful lines that come out of the blue and hit home:
“Some wars only feed themselves. They cannot be won, only starved.”
I could see huge potential for this debut author, himself a former armed forces member. Some lines are pithy and quotable.
Unfortunately, I just didn’t find the whole book the same, I found the array of names confusing, couldn’t quite get straight who everybody was. I didn’t find it a very appealing topic most of the time, and but for the length I would probably have stopped.
Which would have been a shame, as there are some great moments however – some insights into war in general and the more recent (and ongoing) conflicts. And an ending that ranks well with the development of the protagonist taking turns you might not have expected. Twisty.
There are very few females in the book, and they don’t have huge roles, though significant when they appear. This feel much more a ‘book for the boys’, as here, it is the men who fight a war, though as one woman says, this just isn’t true.
It feels worthy, it has some good lines, out of the blue. It has a good ‘did that just happen?’ ending that turns the tables, but it’s just not quite ‘classic war story’ material, in my eyes.
3.5 stars
I was on the verge on giving up several times, with this, as it’s quite dry, with a lot of description and a protagonist who doesn’t stand out for me as being hugely empathetic. But it was short, and there were ‘moments’ that reminded me of Dr Strangelove/Catch 22 (I don’t mean hilarity at all, but moments when you really see the futility of war and just how ridiculous it all is) that kept me interested.
Two brothers are made orphans by the war in Afghanistan, and take to the streets to scrounge a meagre living. A few years later, war is still raging, and a marketplace bomb changes the future of both.
One finds himself propelled towards revenge by enlisting as a soldier. His experiences in training and in war are those we follow.
This is never graphic, though there is some upsetting content, as you would expect for a novel set in a war-torn country.
There are some wonderful lines that come out of the blue and hit home:
“Some wars only feed themselves. They cannot be won, only starved.”
I could see huge potential for this debut author, himself a former armed forces member. Some lines are pithy and quotable.
Unfortunately, I just didn’t find the whole book the same, I found the array of names confusing, couldn’t quite get straight who everybody was. I didn’t find it a very appealing topic most of the time, and but for the length I would probably have stopped.
Which would have been a shame, as there are some great moments however – some insights into war in general and the more recent (and ongoing) conflicts. And an ending that ranks well with the development of the protagonist taking turns you might not have expected. Twisty.
There are very few females in the book, and they don’t have huge roles, though significant when they appear. This feel much more a ‘book for the boys’, as here, it is the men who fight a war, though as one woman says, this just isn’t true.
It feels worthy, it has some good lines, out of the blue. It has a good ‘did that just happen?’ ending that turns the tables, but it’s just not quite ‘classic war story’ material, in my eyes.
April 10, 2015
This book emanates a tranquil and beautiful horror; a steady heartbeat of solemnity and truth spread evenly over its pages. Elliot Ackerman's tone is even and calm throughout the book; sensitive and descriptive of the elements, both internal and external forces, which nurture his characters' world. That world breeds a peculiar definition of honor: "badal", or revenge; the bastard child of war, and as the reader discovers, an unfortunate permeation of Afghan culture.
Green on Blue eloquently envelopes the reader - carrying us along with the characters' belief in a short-term reaction to loss, towards a more enlightened realization of the long-term futility borne by revenge. As Elliot Ackerman so lusciously writes, "in that quiet space before sleep when great truths fall from our mouths like ripe fruit from wind-shaken branches", his book allows us to see the consequences of war through an initially innocent young man's eyes, motivated by love for his victimized brother.
I much enjoyed the imagery Elliot created; the descriptions of his characters' eyes, conjuring of colors as symbolism, and how he intertwined the natural landscape with the savagery of mankind. At times I felt as though I were inhaling opium along with Fareeda, viewing their world through a hazy, distant cloud. This book speaks a truth to the nature of war that is difficult to reconcile by those fighting it; especially a war being fought in the same place in two very different ways.
I suggest anyone directly involved in the region - be they soldier, diplomat, aid worker, (or the least likely) tourist - to read this book. You will learn more about Afghan culture, American intervention, and human nature in its simple and poignant 242 pages, than in any amount of objective research. The fact that it was written by an American Marine who fought alongside and against the Afghan people makes it particularly relevant to American audiences today.
Green on Blue eloquently envelopes the reader - carrying us along with the characters' belief in a short-term reaction to loss, towards a more enlightened realization of the long-term futility borne by revenge. As Elliot Ackerman so lusciously writes, "in that quiet space before sleep when great truths fall from our mouths like ripe fruit from wind-shaken branches", his book allows us to see the consequences of war through an initially innocent young man's eyes, motivated by love for his victimized brother.
I much enjoyed the imagery Elliot created; the descriptions of his characters' eyes, conjuring of colors as symbolism, and how he intertwined the natural landscape with the savagery of mankind. At times I felt as though I were inhaling opium along with Fareeda, viewing their world through a hazy, distant cloud. This book speaks a truth to the nature of war that is difficult to reconcile by those fighting it; especially a war being fought in the same place in two very different ways.
I suggest anyone directly involved in the region - be they soldier, diplomat, aid worker, (or the least likely) tourist - to read this book. You will learn more about Afghan culture, American intervention, and human nature in its simple and poignant 242 pages, than in any amount of objective research. The fact that it was written by an American Marine who fought alongside and against the Afghan people makes it particularly relevant to American audiences today.
May 3, 2015
Ackerman’s debut novel provides a glimpse into the complexities of Afghanistan’s tribal society and the futility of the Afghan war. The story begins with Aziz and Ali, who live in a remote agricultural village until a Taliban leader murders their parents and destroys their home. The orphaned brothers escape to a nearby city. They survive as beggars and by running errands for proprietors and the local bazaar. Then Ali is severely injured in a bombing and requiring long-term hospitalization. A local militia unit supported by the Americans recruits Aziz. He agrees to join in exchange for support for Ali’s medical care, and because he feels an obligation to follow tribal customs and avenge his brother’s honor by fighting the Taliban leader that destroyed his family. I felt overwhelming empathy for Aziz as he navigated dangerous and impossible choices in the name of brotherly love, loyalty and revenge. It chills my blood to think how many young men have walked in Aziz’s shoes in this war-torn country.
September 18, 2015
Ако нямаш враг, си нищо: http://knigolandia.info/book-review/p...
”Приятелски огън” на Елиът Акерман е от малкото книги, посветени на войната/войните в Близкия Изток, която не назидава, не обвинява, не дава и готови отговори. Бивш войник, Акерман е написал простичка история без шеметни драми, обрати и съдбовни съвпадения. Описал е (от моята дистанцирана гледна точка правдиво) обикновените афганистанци, приклещени в огъня между американците и техните съюзници, и продължаващата (и вероятно вечна) съпротива на талибаните и техните помощници. И дори в книгата да се разказва за двама братя и да напомня малко на “Ловецът на хвърчила”, а и самият Хосейни се е изказал ласкаво за тази конкретна книга, не мисля, че трябва да се прокарва паралел – самите изразни средства и симптоматичното за средното ни образование “това, което иска да каже авторът” са много различни.
CIELA Books
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/p...
”Приятелски огън” на Елиът Акерман е от малкото книги, посветени на войната/войните в Близкия Изток, която не назидава, не обвинява, не дава и готови отговори. Бивш войник, Акерман е написал простичка история без шеметни драми, обрати и съдбовни съвпадения. Описал е (от моята дистанцирана гледна точка правдиво) обикновените афганистанци, приклещени в огъня между американците и техните съюзници, и продължаващата (и вероятно вечна) съпротива на талибаните и техните помощници. И дори в книгата да се разказва за двама братя и да напомня малко на “Ловецът на хвърчила”, а и самият Хосейни се е изказал ласкаво за тази конкретна книга, не мисля, че трябва да се прокарва паралел – самите изразни средства и симптоматичното за средното ни образование “това, което иска да каже авторът” са много различни.
CIELA Books
http://knigolandia.info/book-review/p...
March 21, 2015
Green on Blue refers to the killing of U.S. and coalition forces by Afghan troops, oftentimes by the very same men they helped train. Ackerman, a highly decorated combat veteran, takes his readers into the shadowy world of Afghan militants who have been at war with the Soviets, the U.S., and with each other for over 30 years. If "All politics is local" the same holds true for these internecine skirmishes where the players shift allegiances as often as the seasons turn. It was fascinating to spend a week in the mind of an Afghan soldier as he navigates loyalties that are every bit as treacherous as the rugged mountain passes and dry desert wadis.
July 18, 2015
This gave me an insight into war most only touch on, money. It's such a huge motivation but it's almost taboo to mention it. Here you have a war that preys on the weak, the young, the uneducated, those who are destitute, the poor and a philosophy of honor and revenge worked deep within a culture. The hidden topic seems to be the pursuit of power that many believe money provides. You either seek to escape or live in poverty with the consequence of others looking at you as someone to be pitied. It's amazing to see how pursuing such a thing in the hope of gaining something more can make you just another slave. Good read, insightful perspective into wars everywhere, and a book made of layers!
April 20, 2016
Green on Blue is a first novel written by Silver and Bronze Star Marine with five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. The book is about an Afghan man's life journey from adolescence to his becoming a fighter for a U.S funded militia. Stunning use of setting and character development. He really gets in deep with each of the characters so you find yourself empathizing with some of them, knowing full-well they are about to do something wrong. And so there is the dilemma, in a complex conflict like Afghanistan the understanding of what is right and what is wrong is never absolute.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 207 reviews