Review of Brothers Bound
Posted: 02 Jul 2024, 23:19
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Brothers Bound" by Bruce K. Berger.]
War is never beautiful, and there are usually no winners, only survivors. The battlefield is a crucible of chaos, forging scars that run deeper than flesh and blood. It also transcends beyond physical pain and death. For those who survive, they never really survive. The mental and emotional toll lingers, a constant reminder of the trauma they've endured, a burden that weighs heavy on their hearts and minds, a painful legacy that more often than not changes the course of their lives. "Brothers Bound" by Bruce K. Berger is a very emotional narrative about the complexities of war and its devastating consequences for all parties involved.
Buck and Hues are drafted into the Vietnam War, where the former focused on drafting sympathy letters to families who have lost their loved ones in military service, while Hues was primarily assigned to the grave department and was in charge of collecting injured and dead soldiers. In a bid to lend a helping hand to the grave department, Buck, alongside Hues, is caught in the middle of an attack from the enemy soldiers. From then on, they became prisoners of war in Vietnam. Buck's dream of marrying his girlfriend Jeanine in Hawaii and holding his baby seems to be fading away quickly. Courage and heart weren't in short supply, but something had to be done about it. Dying as a prisoner of war was never in their plans.
The impact of war on individuals, communities, and society is a compelling and devastating theme in the story. War shatters lives, destroys communities, and divides society, leading to long-lasting effects that can be felt for years to come. Buck and Hues's experiences show the physical and emotional toll of war on individuals, including psychological trauma, physical injury, and moral distress.
The story also highlights the destructive impact of war on communities, where villages are ruined and civilians are displaced. The narrative ultimately encourages readers to consider the human cost of war and the need for sustainable solutions that prioritize human life, dignity, and well-being. The book's theme of friendship and brotherhood is another interesting one. Buck and Hues, despite their different backgrounds and beliefs, form a strong bond that becomes a lifeline for both of them amid chaos and hardship. Their friendship is built on trust, emotional support, shared experiences, and mutual respect and has been tested and proven true through numerous challenges and traumatic events. The author also explored the theme of resilience, showing how it was the lifeblood of Buck and Hues' journey as they faced unimaginable challenges and horrors during war. Through their struggles, the story showcases the extraordinary capacity of humans to adapt, cope, and survive in the face of adversity. The theme of memory and escapism is also explored by the author through Buck and his constant visit to his memory room in times of distress to seek some sort of solace and mental strength.
The plot is primarily set in war-torn Vietnam and its jungles. Some parts of the plot are also set in the United States, the home country of the protagonists. I would recommend this book to lovers of war narratives and anyone who loves a fantastic book. I'll rate this book 5 out of 5. It was well edited, with nothing to dislike.
******
Brothers Bound
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
War is never beautiful, and there are usually no winners, only survivors. The battlefield is a crucible of chaos, forging scars that run deeper than flesh and blood. It also transcends beyond physical pain and death. For those who survive, they never really survive. The mental and emotional toll lingers, a constant reminder of the trauma they've endured, a burden that weighs heavy on their hearts and minds, a painful legacy that more often than not changes the course of their lives. "Brothers Bound" by Bruce K. Berger is a very emotional narrative about the complexities of war and its devastating consequences for all parties involved.
Buck and Hues are drafted into the Vietnam War, where the former focused on drafting sympathy letters to families who have lost their loved ones in military service, while Hues was primarily assigned to the grave department and was in charge of collecting injured and dead soldiers. In a bid to lend a helping hand to the grave department, Buck, alongside Hues, is caught in the middle of an attack from the enemy soldiers. From then on, they became prisoners of war in Vietnam. Buck's dream of marrying his girlfriend Jeanine in Hawaii and holding his baby seems to be fading away quickly. Courage and heart weren't in short supply, but something had to be done about it. Dying as a prisoner of war was never in their plans.
The impact of war on individuals, communities, and society is a compelling and devastating theme in the story. War shatters lives, destroys communities, and divides society, leading to long-lasting effects that can be felt for years to come. Buck and Hues's experiences show the physical and emotional toll of war on individuals, including psychological trauma, physical injury, and moral distress.
The story also highlights the destructive impact of war on communities, where villages are ruined and civilians are displaced. The narrative ultimately encourages readers to consider the human cost of war and the need for sustainable solutions that prioritize human life, dignity, and well-being. The book's theme of friendship and brotherhood is another interesting one. Buck and Hues, despite their different backgrounds and beliefs, form a strong bond that becomes a lifeline for both of them amid chaos and hardship. Their friendship is built on trust, emotional support, shared experiences, and mutual respect and has been tested and proven true through numerous challenges and traumatic events. The author also explored the theme of resilience, showing how it was the lifeblood of Buck and Hues' journey as they faced unimaginable challenges and horrors during war. Through their struggles, the story showcases the extraordinary capacity of humans to adapt, cope, and survive in the face of adversity. The theme of memory and escapism is also explored by the author through Buck and his constant visit to his memory room in times of distress to seek some sort of solace and mental strength.
The plot is primarily set in war-torn Vietnam and its jungles. Some parts of the plot are also set in the United States, the home country of the protagonists. I would recommend this book to lovers of war narratives and anyone who loves a fantastic book. I'll rate this book 5 out of 5. It was well edited, with nothing to dislike.
******
Brothers Bound
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon