Summary: A marine who is sent into combat in Afghanistan without being told the horrors of war, realizes just how bad it is to be there to experience it. As he meets his squadron he learns that he is no longer a marine but rather a “Jarhead.” They call themselves Jarheads because they are seen as soldiers with nothing but an empty jar for a head which implies that they will do anything they’re told rather than thinking for themselves. Although he was a scout sniper and should have gotten plenty of kills, he did not. He had not killed a man in combat but he has seen some things that no one should ever have to see. The book ends as he is coming home to the U.S. He comes to see his family and his friends. He goes back to where he knows as home, only to find his girlfriend with her new man. This is a memoir written by the Jarhead himself, Anthony Swofford.
Why I picked it up: I picked this book up because it looked interesting and the title was a bit peculiar so I decided that I would give it a try.
Why I kept reading it: I kept reading the book because it continued to pull me in with intense life and death situations as well as scenes that had shown the effect war had on the soldiers.
Who would I give it to next: I would recommend this book to anyone that is willing to read a true story about one our U.S. marines. I would only recommend this book to older and more mature viewers because of the content that resides within these pages. Besides that, I hope that anyone that picks this book up enjoys it.
Reviewed by Jacob A.
Tino Book Talk 