Review: An absolute must-read!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 14, 2012
An easy 4.995 stars!Mogadishu Diaries 1992-1993: Bloodlines is a historical military fiction written by Eddie Clay III, the marine who was sent to Mogadishu to participate in Operation Restore Hope from 1992-1993. I would also categorize this work as an autobiographical novel since the accounts are personal, first-hand recollections with many names changed for obvious reasons. In my opinion, the work is written in a similar style to the popularized account, "Jarhead", which went on to become a hollywood blockbuster - I have to make the distinction, however, that Clay's account contains much more action and a more engaging plot than I found in reading and watching "Jarhead".What I liked: this account was not only action packed, but it also contained riveting tension between some of the main participants, which amounted to a smooth read that always provided something to keep the pages turning. I read the book in a single sitting for this reason, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys military fiction, historical accounts, or good old action-packed war stories.What I didn't like: for the sake of fairness, the flaws in this work were small enough to barely attract notice, but some grammatical usage was a bit off, which is something that only a writer would be likely to notice. I would also have liked the work to be longer, but I must also admit that I do tend to reach for the largest volumes I can find when searching for new reading material.I was glad to read the Mogadishu Diaries, and enjoyed every bit of its perspective, plot development, first-hand narrative, and the supporting documentation provided with the author's claims. The read was smooth and fast, and left me wondering if Clay will be producing further works for his fellow marines, or in any other arenas in the near future. I will be on the lookout for these further works if that is the case, and I'll be sure to let my friends, family, and colleagues know of this more-than-welcome book, which I think will make some waves in the near future.