The Forever War

THE FOREVER WAR reads like a reporter's notebook as author Dexter Filkins gives listeners the small, intimate stories of the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Perhaps because of its human scale, the graphic sections depicting the impact of war on real people can be difficult to listen to. The overall series of vignettes is perfect for audiobook presentation as the listener can dip in and out at will. Robertson Dean narrates in a clear, objective manner that mirrors the author's clear, objective reporting. Dean's straightforward delivery is particularly effective during the raw battle scenes, for which drama is unnecessary. Filkins's book is well worth a listen. M.O.B. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

Starred review from June 30, 2008
Filkins, a New York Times
prize–winning reporter, is widely regarded as among the finest war correspondents of this generation. His richly textured book is based on his work in Afghanistan and Iraq since 1998. It begins with a Taliban-staged execution in Kabul. It ends with Filkins musing on the names in a WWI British cemetery in Baghdad. In between, the work is a vivid kaleidoscope of vig-nettes. Individually, the strength of each story is its immediacy; together they portray a theater of the absurd, in which Filkins, an extraordinarily brave man, moves as both participant and observer. Filkins does not editorialize—a welcome change from the punditry that shapes most writing from these war zones. This book also differs essentially from traditional war correspondence because of its universal empathy, feelings enhanced by Filkins's spare prose. Saudi women in Kabul airport, clad in burqas and stylish shoes, bemoan their husbands' devotion to jihad. An Iraqi casually says to his friend, “Let's go kill some Americans.” A marine is shot dead escorting Filkins on a photo opportunity. Iraqi soldiers are disconcerted when he appears in running shorts (“They looked at in horror, as if I were naked”). Carl von Clausewitz said “war is a chameleon.” In vividly illustrating the varied ways people in Afghanistan and iraq have been affected by ongoing war, Filkins demonstrates that truth in prose. 5 photos.