Johnny Got His Gun: A Novel

This is one of the most incredible and most difficult books that I have ever read. The style is not complex; but if you let yourself fall into the plight, into the mind, the life of the protagonist... it can become a very hard read. It makes you think about the world surrounding you, all of it, in an unimaginable way.

We take so much for granted in our everyday lives...spending some time in Joe Bonham's mind prison yields a new appreciation for simple joys...and a deeper insight into how words can distort and disguise painful realities.

THIS BOOK IS BEAUTUFULLY WRITTEN BY DALTON TRUMBO—A BLACKBALLED WRITER IN THE 50S. AND SCARY TOO...GO INSIDE THE MIND OF A MAN TRAPPED IN HIS BODY..TERRIFYING BUT IMPORTANT TO READ, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HATE WAR

Dalton Trumbo fires a stream of consciousness anti war volley at the reader. His style is defiant and (in)sufferably repetitive, so much so that even today's or yesterday's Peacenick- I include myself in that group- may be breathless and burdened halfway through the riveting story.
Yes, Dalton Trumbo is really a heroic figure who makes sense, graphic story notwithstanding, I had a hard time being bombarded with the truthful descriptions of the wounded soldiers.

Nothing like anything you have ever read before (it was banned!) Dalton Trumdo is a famous playwrite - many movies we have all enjoyed!- absolutely amazing - would read again & again - have recommended to many!

While the writing is a bit crude (meant to reflect the intelligence level of the main character, I assume), the subject matter is very interesting. Sure to inspire discussion, would be a great required read for high school students.

While the writing is a bit crude (meant to reflect the intelligence level of the main character, I assume), the subject matter is very interesting. Sure to inspire discussion, would be a great required read for high school students.

This book, which was once banned in the US, should be required reading in high school, and mandatory reading for anyone running for public office. It is particularly relevant today as we deal (or fail to deal) with casualties of our military actions.

This 3 star review is about the Kindle edition. It is a criticism of the construction of the e-book not the story.

Looks like the least possible effort was made to convert to a e-book.

The entire book is one section.

No table of contents.

No links to chapters.

The first letter or each chapter is a image file instead of text with a different font size. I guess the e-book translator didn't know how to do it. So if you if you change the background to sepia or black the it looks unpolished. This also affects the text-to-speech function so each chapter starts with a mangled word.

Cover image is a low resolution scan.

For a digital list price of $13 you would think it would be converted with a little more care.

Too bad i didn't see another version or option on the store.

As for the book;
Skip the forwards by Cindy Sheehan and Ron Kovic and Dalton Trumbo and start straight with the story. You can go back latter and read them if you wish but they read (and Trumbo wrote) the book without them. Actually Trumbo wrote his intro 30 years after the book was first published.