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Liked It “I loved this book, one of many written after WWII, exploring the individual's struggle within the huge machine of the military.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It “Checked this out from the library and couldn't get all the way through it. I just didn't identify with the characters. I didn't like them or want to know how their unpleasant lives would turn out.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“I loved this book, one of many written after WWII, exploring the individual's struggle within the huge machine of the military.”
Floorsander wrote this review Friday, May 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt (Montgomery Clift) is transferred to Schofield Barracks on the island of Oahu. When Captain Dana Holmes (Philip Ober) learns of his reputation as a talented boxer, he pressures Prewitt to join the regimental boxing club that he heads, but the enlisted man stubbornly refuses. 1st Sergeant Milton Warden (Burt Lancaster) suggests that he try to get Prewitt to change his mind by making life as difficult as possible. He gets the other non-commissioned officers to help. Prewitt is supported only by his friend, Private Angelo Maggio (Frank Sinatra).
Wendy B wrote this review Thursday, April 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Behind his commander's back, Warden begins an affair with Holmes' neglected wife Karen (Deborah Kerr). As their relationship develops, she asks him to apply for officer training, so she can divorce Holmes and marry him. When he is finally forced to admit that he doesn't want to be an officer, she sadly ends the affair.
Meanwhile, Maggio antagonizes bigoted Sergeant James R. "Fatso" Judson (Ernest Borgnine). When the undisciplined Maggio goes AWOL, he is sentenced to the stockade, under Judson's charge. Judson takes the opportunity to beat the defiant prisoner repeatedly. Maggio manages to escape and find Prewitt; he tells him of the abuse he endured, then dies. Prewitt finds Judson and kills him in revenge in a knife fight, but suffers a serious wound across the stomach in the process. He then goes into hiding in the apartment of his girl Lorene (Donna Reed), a nightclub "hostess" with whom he had become acquainted. His wound refuses to heal.
When the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, Prewitt tries to return to camp, but is shot dead by a sentry. At the end, Lorene and Karen meet on a ship leaving for the mainland. Lorene tells Karen that her fiancé was an air force pilot shot down in the attack, but Karen recognizes Prewitt's name.
Set in the summer and autumn of 1941 at the Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, the story follows several members of G Company, including Captain Dana “Dynamite” Holmes and First Sergeant Milt Warden, who begins an affair with Holmes's wife Karen. At the heart of the novel lies a struggle between former bugler Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt, an infantryman from Kentucky and self-described "thirty-year man," and his superiors. Because he blinded a fellow soldier while boxing, the stubborn Prewitt refuses to box for his company’s outfit and then resists the "Treatment," a daily hazing ritual in which the non-commissioned officers of his company run him into the ground.
”“Checked this out from the library and couldn't get all the way through it. I just didn't identify with the characters. I didn't like them or want to know how their unpleasant lives would turn out.”
Sarah M wrote this review Friday, March 27 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“The is the book that the movie by the same name is based. It is good. I especially enjoyed the last section that is about the bombing of Pearl Harbor. I felt I was there. Scary! He could have used an editor because of his use of run-on sentences. I enjoyed the whole story. I didn't always like the characters but they were interesting and that was the reason I didn't give up on this book.”
Sheila G wrote this review Friday, October 3 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The book that I read is “From here to eternity” by James Jones. Almost all of his books have some type of truth to his life. He has firsthand accounts of what happened at Pearl Harbor which led to his novel from here to eternity. Other books like his last one “Whistle” which was based on when he was recovering in the hospital. He has also written “The Thin Red Line”. Robert E. Lee Prewitt is the main character is this book. The book is based in Pearl Harbor during the times of World War II. Were he falls in love with a woman, but Prewitt’s life is filled with love but despair. He falls in love, but the job in the army that he was waiting for passes him by, and then he blinds a friend during a boxing match and gives up boxing. Then after that his love kills him because she didn’t want him to be miserable cause of the way his life was going. This book is a book that I liked, but was not interested in. The book is mainly for people that love to read romance novels. The books basis is historical fiction but it’s more of a romance novel to me. I would recommend this book to everyone.!!!! ”
keifer s wrote this review Sunday, May 11 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“This is a great pre world war II Army Novel. I read it in 1957 while I was in the Army. It took as Gospel at that time. It somehow made sense out of the whole military situation.
James H wrote this review Tuesday, February 12 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Ends at Pearl Harbor. It was considered quite racy at the time but very mild by today's standards.”
“I think I was probably too young when I read this book. I know I liked it, but if I were to re-read it now I'm sure I would get more out of it.”
booklady wrote this review Saturday, December 22 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“It is so difficult to describe this classic of War that perhaps one can never describe it in mere words to equal even a tenth of its amazing depth and expression! BUY BUY BUY! is what I recommend -'twill open your visions to new world you may not have ever envisaged ever existed and you will feel the pain and the hunger deep within ....”
Deepak demoninlove wrote this review Tuesday, October 9 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This is a great novel about manhood.”
prattman wrote this review Friday, August 10 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Saga of Private Robert E. Lee Prewitt and others, set in a beautifully named place -- Pearl Harbor -- right before the outbreak of World War II. ”
Lady Dixie wrote this review Saturday, July 7 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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