Dean's World

Hard Corps: From Gangster to Marine Hero

Trudy W. Schuett

Haven't got the book yet, but I did see this column on Townhall. Then if you follow the Amazon link, what you'll find there are two diametrically opposed views of the book, one from Publisher's Weekly, and one from Booklist. You hardly ever see two opinions like this side by side!

Posted by Trudy W. Schuett | Permalink | Technorati Trackbacks

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zach.:

Trudy,

are they really all that diametrically opposed? the publisher's weekly review certainly carries a slightly different tone, but nothing they say is likely factually inaccurate and they end up recommending the book just as the booklist review does.

10.2.2007 9:38am

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Ronald Coleman (mail) (www):

I agree with Zach. The only real difference is the first one is clearly contemptuous of the Iraq war and almost certainly crosses over the line editorially in that respect. But the descriptions are pretty similar.

10.2.2007 10:18am

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Steven DallaVicenza (mail):

Of Martinez's description of why he supported the Iraq war, I only buy 4 of the 5, the "human experiments" claim is most likely a collection of birth defects. The specific cause of them I cannot speculate on.

10.2.2007 11:48am

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Steven DallaVicenza (mail):

Though, the premise of the book, gang banger turned marine, is familiar to anyone who has read any of the Falkenberg's Legion stories by Pournelle

10.2.2007 11:50am

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PunditReview (mail) (www):

Trudy,

We featured Marco Martinez on this Sunday's edition of Punduit Review Radio during our Someone You Should Know segment,

http://www.punditreview.com/2007/09/30/sysk-930/

What a staory!

Kevin
PunditReview.com

10.2.2007 12:01pm

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PunditReview (mail) (www):

10.2.2007 12:01pm

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Acksiom (mail) (www):

Yes, they're indeed diametrically opposed, as shown by their comparative testing against the only standard that really matters; i.e., the deliberate purpose behind their creation: I am repulsed by the idea of reading the book as firstly described, and attracted to the idea of reading the book as secondly described.

You can't get much more diametrically opposed than that, or properly estimated as such. The first review is basically a subtextually sneering pan, full of the sort of ignorantly biased left-wing herd animal beclowninghood that all too commonly shows up in PW reviews these days; the second is a hearty open thumbs-up, and from someone with whose far more rational viewpoints I am at least a little bit knowingly familiar.

10.3.2007 12:17am

Commenting on Dean's World is a privilege, not a right. Dean is your host, you are his guest, and you should behave in that fashion. Dean is not your babysitter, nor is he your punching bag. Please remember this. In general, you are free to disagree with anyone on any subject you wish, but abusive behavior will not be tolerated.

Of course we all lose our tempers now and then. Dean freely admits to being imperfect in this regard, which is why regulars to this establishment will generally be cut more slack than people who we don't know very well.

Still: behave like an adult, or go find somewhere else to play. Thanks.