Less than five minutes in Iraq was all it took. The
firefight at Al-Ansakar Canal made them all heroes overnight thanks to a Fox
News crew embedded in the company. Bush is using the win to drum up support for
the war and our heroes are back in America on a whirlwind “Victory Tour”
through the country.
Dubbed Bravo Squad from the repeated airing of the fight,
these eight young men are uneasy with the new fame. All manners of people recognize
them with eager handshakes and talk of personal wars or thank them for getting
back at those 911 dastards. Unfortunately, after the first 20 conversations on
the same topic, the men are having a hard time focusing. Even after meeting
with the President and his pale sidekick, Cheney, they are beginning to numb.
It doesn’t help that Bravo Squad spent all night drinking at
a bar called Tiffany’s Finest where the girls are named after jewels. Billy
Lynn spent most of his time with Emerald, but doubts she is seriously thinking
of him as a boyfriend; although, she did make promises.
Sleepless and combating serious hangovers, the boys are all
quiet until the limo arrives. Major bling blinds them as they bounce on the leather
seats and fumble with the switches of the white Hummer. Someone has found the
bar and Sgt. Dime approves one drink each to fend off the hair of the dog.
The limo is compliments of the Dallas Cowboys and they are
heading to a Thanksgiving game. Bravo is part of the halftime extravaganza sharing
top billing with Destiny’s Child. Albert, a Hollywood agent, has accompanied them
during the two week tour and has big news. Hillary Swank has agreed to play the
part of Dime. Bravo breaks into laughter as they point out she is without the
necessary appendage.
Specialist Billy Lynn actually feels the individual rocks underneath
his combat boots as he stumbles out of the limousine. His headache is extreme
and he asks Albert for aspirin. The weight of the Silver Star seems unbearable
as he morns the reason he wears it.
Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain is full of
cursing, womanizing, fighting, and heart-wrenching loss as our hero, Billy
Lynn, spends the day wrestling with the idea of freedom.
2 comments:
I keep seeing positive reviews for this book. Your review makes me curious about it. I'm definitely going to pick up a copy.
Yay! It is a macho read. Lots of language and fighting, but I enjoyed it tremendously!
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