It's hard to know what to say about Flyboys. It's the kind of book that everyone should read, and yet there are things about it that I wish I hadn't read and didn't know, and I don't want to inflict that information on anyone either. Non-fiction, about what happened on a tiny island a few miles from Iwo Jima during WWII. 8 flyboys (pilots and other air-personnel like navigators and radiomen) survived being shot down at various times near the island. 7 parachuted near enough the island to be brought ashore and kept as POWs. 1 - later U.S. president George H. W. Bush - landed far enough out to sea that a nearby American submarine rescued him. The problem is that according to Japanese thought at the time, Flyboys were not POWs, but war criminals, and as such were executed. The fact that 4 of the 7 executed flyboys were then cannibalized (Not because the Japanese were starving, but because their officers thought it would be good for their fighting spirit and fun to do) took it from almost justifiable wartime atrocity to heinous crime beyond the pale. And, this is leaving out all of the really horrendous information.

Aside from the content, the book was written by James Bradley, author of Flags of Our Fathers, son of one of the Iwo Jima flag raisers. He's certainly one of the rare few who could write the book with the right perspective, but perspective doesn't make up for quality of narrative. Very balanced - showing both the Japanese and Americans in equally negative lights - and very well researched - full of quotes from those directly and indirectly involved - but a little creaky in places. Recommended to those interested in understanding History to prevent it's mistakes, but not recommended to those with weak stomachs or emotional detachmentability.

No Worries,

Matt