First Casualty
November 9th 2006 14:05
I think I am now over the fact that funny men can be perceptive. Or that perceptive men can be funny. It might be it is why both men are like they are. A perceptive man sees what he can laugh at, and a funny man understands it. That's a post in itself.
I finished reading Ben Elton's First Casualty this morning at about 2am. This is one of those books you really can't put down. It was my first Elton book, though not my first Elton experience. I've watched some Black Adder, Young Ones, Man from Auntie, etc. But I have to admit, This book wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting a copllection of some excellent war time jokes. I got some of those, but that was a bonus.
What I really got was probably one of the most humanitarian and well written books I have ever picked up. It was perfect. The main character was very believeable, well constructed and went through some excellent development, all of which was plausable. That being said, the main character was a police detective that, during the time of world war one when conscription had been brought into use, had objected to go to war on the basis that he believed the war to be stupid. He was not afraid, he was no coward. He had no objection to killing when the duty called for it. He believed the war to be stupid and that was that. For this, he was imprisoned and divorced by his wife.
What impressed me most about the character was how very honest he was. I do not mean he simply told he truth. Truthfulness and honesty can be two very different things. I mean that he took responsibility for his actions (for the most part, for the most humanly believeable part), stuck to his convictions (except when humanly impossible and once or twice went beyond) and was both flawed and perfect, the angel and the ape. If you've read much Pratchett he was alot like Sam Vimes, but different. Which makes sense, them both being coppers.
About the quality of the writing? Brilliant, masterful. Ben Elton is pefectly gifted at being able to project perfectly the voice and stresses of who is speaking. Let me "read" you an excerpt featuring an english soldier explaining exactly how the war began:
"A Bosnian and a bloody Serb, you arse. When this Bosnian Serb Loony shoots Ferdinand who's the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, the Austrians think, right, here's a chance to put Serbia back in its bleeding box for good, so the give'em an ultimatum. They says, "You topped our Archduke so from now on you can bleeding knuckle under or else you're for it." Which would have been fine except the Serbs were backed by the Russians, see, and the Russians says to the Austrians, you has a go at Serbia, you has a go at us, right? But the Austrians is backed by the Germans who says to the Russians, you has a go at Austria, you has a go at us right? Except the Russians is backed by the French who says to the Germans, you has a go at Russia, you has a go at us right? And altogether they says kick off! Let's be having you! And the ruck begins."
Aside from the fact that this summary is amazingly accurate, the englishness of it LEAKS off of the page. This is one of the authors abilities. Perfect dialogue. Even the troopers swear like troopers.
I'll leave you with another, but much smaller piece from the book, a piece that truly touched me. The detective has just gone over the top, charging the German positions to chase a witness:
He was later to ask himself what it was that caused him to follow McCroon over the lip of that trench and into the teeth of the German guns. He would very swiftly conclude that of the mny emotions which crowded in on him as he ascended the rough ladder to the killing grounds, the foremost was the same desire that drove a million other men up those fateful steps.
The simple desire not to funk it."
JoshZ
I finished reading Ben Elton's First Casualty this morning at about 2am. This is one of those books you really can't put down. It was my first Elton book, though not my first Elton experience. I've watched some Black Adder, Young Ones, Man from Auntie, etc. But I have to admit, This book wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting a copllection of some excellent war time jokes. I got some of those, but that was a bonus.
What I really got was probably one of the most humanitarian and well written books I have ever picked up. It was perfect. The main character was very believeable, well constructed and went through some excellent development, all of which was plausable. That being said, the main character was a police detective that, during the time of world war one when conscription had been brought into use, had objected to go to war on the basis that he believed the war to be stupid. He was not afraid, he was no coward. He had no objection to killing when the duty called for it. He believed the war to be stupid and that was that. For this, he was imprisoned and divorced by his wife.
What impressed me most about the character was how very honest he was. I do not mean he simply told he truth. Truthfulness and honesty can be two very different things. I mean that he took responsibility for his actions (for the most part, for the most humanly believeable part), stuck to his convictions (except when humanly impossible and once or twice went beyond) and was both flawed and perfect, the angel and the ape. If you've read much Pratchett he was alot like Sam Vimes, but different. Which makes sense, them both being coppers.
About the quality of the writing? Brilliant, masterful. Ben Elton is pefectly gifted at being able to project perfectly the voice and stresses of who is speaking. Let me "read" you an excerpt featuring an english soldier explaining exactly how the war began:
"A Bosnian and a bloody Serb, you arse. When this Bosnian Serb Loony shoots Ferdinand who's the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, the Austrians think, right, here's a chance to put Serbia back in its bleeding box for good, so the give'em an ultimatum. They says, "You topped our Archduke so from now on you can bleeding knuckle under or else you're for it." Which would have been fine except the Serbs were backed by the Russians, see, and the Russians says to the Austrians, you has a go at Serbia, you has a go at us, right? But the Austrians is backed by the Germans who says to the Russians, you has a go at Austria, you has a go at us right? Except the Russians is backed by the French who says to the Germans, you has a go at Russia, you has a go at us right? And altogether they says kick off! Let's be having you! And the ruck begins."
Aside from the fact that this summary is amazingly accurate, the englishness of it LEAKS off of the page. This is one of the authors abilities. Perfect dialogue. Even the troopers swear like troopers.
I'll leave you with another, but much smaller piece from the book, a piece that truly touched me. The detective has just gone over the top, charging the German positions to chase a witness:
He was later to ask himself what it was that caused him to follow McCroon over the lip of that trench and into the teeth of the German guns. He would very swiftly conclude that of the mny emotions which crowded in on him as he ascended the rough ladder to the killing grounds, the foremost was the same desire that drove a million other men up those fateful steps.
The simple desire not to funk it."
JoshZ
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Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
Haven't read this...yet
Your review makes me want to read it now.
"A perceptive man sees what he can laugh at, and a funny man understands it. That's a post in itself"
Keep me posted...this sounds good.
Thanks JZ.
DuskDevi
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
Just to let you know I enjoyed the read...and wisdom
Lilla...
Comment by JoshZ
A Simple Christian
I am glad that you want to read the book and that my words about it have helped that along. It's a great book, I could have only put it down if someone had taken the time to break my arms. tell me how you go with it.
JoshZ
Comment by JoshZ
A Simple Christian
Again thanks for coming on by. Being appreciated is always a fine thing, especially from people like yourself and Dusk, who I respect.
JoshZ
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
Of course you can be so informal with me...you and I are pals and we're strong with The Force...
Just a quick hello for now JZ...will be back later. Am buying 'First Casualty' this weekend. You really have made me want to read this.
Dusk
Comment by DuskDevi
Rucks and Rolls
Rugby World Cup 2007
Dusk
Comment by JoshZ
A Simple Christian
I'm cool with being called JZ. And yeah, you, Lilla, Homer Joyce, The guy that does the Comicnerdblog thing, all people I have met on here that are cool and I respect that.
Tell me how you go with the book.
JoshZ
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
Health Focus
Poetry Lighthouse
MS Paint Art
Just called in to sya hello to one of my lovely 'no noses'
See you soon.
katyzzz
Comment by JoshZ
A Simple Christian
"no noses". Are you saying I smell bad? Hmmm, maybe I should try showering or changing my underwear.
Hope to see you soon.
JoshZ