Review "Ordinary Heroes" by Scott Turow
In a change from his usual courtroom drama, Mr. Turow has written a book about World War II... and lawyers. The story is really about a son who discovers that his father hid details of his service in WWII, including fighting at the Battle of the Bulge and being court-martialed, found guilty and then having the charges dismissed. So after his father's death the son sets out to find the details of the story.
Turow does his usual excellent job of creating interesting characters and putting them in stressful situations. Most of the book is told from the father's perspective about his war experience. The stress and horror of combat, his attraction to a woman in the French resistance, his questioning of his orders are all very well done. (note that some of the combat scenes and Holocaust scenes are disturbing).
The book is good in that it is not a "WWII novel" but much more than that. Turow creates complicated characters that are very human and flawed. It is his ability to show the inner struggle in the primary characters that makes this novel so good. So I absolutely recommend it. (And you do not need to read any of Turow's prior books before you read this one.)
Turow does his usual excellent job of creating interesting characters and putting them in stressful situations. Most of the book is told from the father's perspective about his war experience. The stress and horror of combat, his attraction to a woman in the French resistance, his questioning of his orders are all very well done. (note that some of the combat scenes and Holocaust scenes are disturbing).
The book is good in that it is not a "WWII novel" but much more than that. Turow creates complicated characters that are very human and flawed. It is his ability to show the inner struggle in the primary characters that makes this novel so good. So I absolutely recommend it. (And you do not need to read any of Turow's prior books before you read this one.)
posted by John Ringer at
11:06 AM
2 Comments:
Thanks - I'll be looking for this at the library. I've liked everything I've read by Turow so far and expect to like this too.
You didn't mention any Jack Higgins books yet - haven't you read some of those? Especially the Eagle series with WWII connections and I like General Charles Ferguson and his group, especially his former IRA enforcer, Sean Dillon and Hannah Bernstein - his latest is Without Mercy - a good fast-action read.
By
Anonymous, at 8:23 PM
Yes, I have read Higgins and will have to had his stuff to the big list. Higgins stuff is enjoyable but not deep.
By
John Ringer, at 9:38 PM
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