I’m “enjoying” Matterhorn much more than I thought I would. I really want to find out what is going to happen to the characters; Mellas, Fitch, Hawke, Jackson and the rest. The day in day out information about living and fighting in the jungle (so I love minutia) is fascinating. The relationships between the men are so immediate and real . Since the book is set in 1969 tension between black/white Marines is an important part of the story. The “subtle” politics between officers is another form of combat being fought in the jungle.
Since the original plan was to compare Matterhorn to For Whom the Bell Tolls let’s start with our “heroes”.
Jordan has volunteered to fight in Spain for the Republic. He is experienced and confident. Mellas also signed up for the military, he’s not a draftee. He just didn’t think he would end up fighting in the jungle. On the bright side, now that he’s here, all of this will look good on his resume when he gets home to run for political office. He is so painfully inexperienced. Marlantes describes how uncomfortable he is talking with his men, the other officers, everybody. He doesn’t know the right questions to ask, he can’t remember anyone’s name. He's exhausted. He’s clueless. What a different opening for a book.
One of his soldiers has had a headache for weeks. What should he do about it?
" 'Do I have to deal with it now?' Mellas asked. He instantly regreted asking the question. He knew he was whining. "
Mellas is so over his head. When leading one of his first missions he’s advised by his soldiers to call for air power to blow up an elephant??…at least they think it’s an elephant making the noise in the jungle…but they’re not sure, and he/they will never know.
So who is the real enemy here? In camp they daily battle leeches and foot rot. As an officer one of his duties is to check the feet of his men to make sure they don’t get “immersion feet”.
On his first big “security patrols” one of his men is killed by a tiger. How do you explain that to a soldier’s family?
Next: But that would be murder…
Friday, May 20, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
To begin…with the glossary
Matterhorn will not be an easy read but I think it will be worthwhile since the Viet Nam War was such an important “background” element for my high school and college years. Now I can read about it as an adult and a mother of a 25 year-old son.
Since I am a female I was never threatened with the draft but our male friends were consumed with the problem. I remember a Sat when our friend, Tom, came over to tell us he was filing as a conscientious objector so he had spent the morning with his priest to get a letter to put in his file. His parents were furious but I was happy to hear years later his they joined Tom at anti-war rallies. Their opinion had changed.
Before starting the novel I decided to read the 31 page glossary in the back of the book so I wouldn’t be flipping back and forth.
One thing that strikes me is each time he describes one of the fighting units, such as a squad, the numbers are always short and the officers were lower rank than required.
“Squad: Unit designed to consist of 13 Marines…usually it operated with about 10 or 11…A squad was designed to be led by a sergeant (three stripes)…in Vietnam, though most squads were led by corporals (two stripes) or even lance corporals (one stripe), most of whom were teenagers.”
Also, when he describes a “short-timer” and how when they know they are going home they begin to act strangely.
“At this time, in contrast to the previous months, they could entertain the hope that they were going to get through alive and unscathed, but this hope destroyed the earlier psychological numbness and fatalistic thinking of the combat infantryman that had made fear easier to deal with.”
Entering enemy territory. Here we go…page one.
Since I am a female I was never threatened with the draft but our male friends were consumed with the problem. I remember a Sat when our friend, Tom, came over to tell us he was filing as a conscientious objector so he had spent the morning with his priest to get a letter to put in his file. His parents were furious but I was happy to hear years later his they joined Tom at anti-war rallies. Their opinion had changed.
Before starting the novel I decided to read the 31 page glossary in the back of the book so I wouldn’t be flipping back and forth.
One thing that strikes me is each time he describes one of the fighting units, such as a squad, the numbers are always short and the officers were lower rank than required.
“Squad: Unit designed to consist of 13 Marines…usually it operated with about 10 or 11…A squad was designed to be led by a sergeant (three stripes)…in Vietnam, though most squads were led by corporals (two stripes) or even lance corporals (one stripe), most of whom were teenagers.”
Also, when he describes a “short-timer” and how when they know they are going home they begin to act strangely.
“At this time, in contrast to the previous months, they could entertain the hope that they were going to get through alive and unscathed, but this hope destroyed the earlier psychological numbness and fatalistic thinking of the combat infantryman that had made fear easier to deal with.”
Entering enemy territory. Here we go…page one.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Do you trust me?
I loved the slow, carefully plotted beginning of For Whom the Bell Tolls. As a reader, we are meeting Robert Jordan for the first time and it mirrors the process he must go through as he assesses the members of the small group of guerilla fighters he is joining in Spain.
Even on the first, short page we discover a lot about him as he gathers information about the bridge he is sent to blow up behind Facist lines.
Working and talking with the old man, Anselmo, we learn Jordan’s been to Spain and this area before. He is organized, observant and careful. He has the right maps and “glasses” to scope out the area around the bridge.
Anselmo, is also sizing up Jordan. Who is this guy the command has sent for such an important mission behind enemy lines?
“You had to trust the people you worked with completely or not at all, and you had to make decisions about the trusting.” Jordan thinks.
When he is briefed by his commander General Golz he is told the bridge must be blown up at a precise time before the attack begins. Not too soon before and not too late after. He has done other jobs like this for Golz before so he is comfortable with Jordan’s skills and professionalism. He trusts him.
When Jordan meets Pablo, the leader of the guerilla gang, he does not like or trust him. This is a good assessment. But Pablo is thinking the same thing. Who is this guy? Is he trying to take authority from me? He asks for Jordan’s identity papers. He is not happy with the idea of blowing up the nearby bridge because it will destroy their cover. After the bridge is destroyed they will be hunted down by the nearby troops.
Jordan is constantly being watched and tested by Pablo. Does this “Ingles” know anything practical… like horses? He quickly and skillfully inspects the small herd Pablo and his men have “collected”. “The sorrel is lame in the off hind foot…the hoof is spilt”. Jordan observes. Is there nothing this young man cannot do?
Unfortunately he is in a position where he cannot choose who he works with. He must make the best of what he has been given. He must work to earn their trust so they will do what he asks them to do. Does this include killing their “unreliable” leader, Pablo?
Even on the first, short page we discover a lot about him as he gathers information about the bridge he is sent to blow up behind Facist lines.
Working and talking with the old man, Anselmo, we learn Jordan’s been to Spain and this area before. He is organized, observant and careful. He has the right maps and “glasses” to scope out the area around the bridge.
Anselmo, is also sizing up Jordan. Who is this guy the command has sent for such an important mission behind enemy lines?
“You had to trust the people you worked with completely or not at all, and you had to make decisions about the trusting.” Jordan thinks.
When he is briefed by his commander General Golz he is told the bridge must be blown up at a precise time before the attack begins. Not too soon before and not too late after. He has done other jobs like this for Golz before so he is comfortable with Jordan’s skills and professionalism. He trusts him.
When Jordan meets Pablo, the leader of the guerilla gang, he does not like or trust him. This is a good assessment. But Pablo is thinking the same thing. Who is this guy? Is he trying to take authority from me? He asks for Jordan’s identity papers. He is not happy with the idea of blowing up the nearby bridge because it will destroy their cover. After the bridge is destroyed they will be hunted down by the nearby troops.
Jordan is constantly being watched and tested by Pablo. Does this “Ingles” know anything practical… like horses? He quickly and skillfully inspects the small herd Pablo and his men have “collected”. “The sorrel is lame in the off hind foot…the hoof is spilt”. Jordan observes. Is there nothing this young man cannot do?
Unfortunately he is in a position where he cannot choose who he works with. He must make the best of what he has been given. He must work to earn their trust so they will do what he asks them to do. Does this include killing their “unreliable” leader, Pablo?
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