Pumpkinflowers

Starred review from March 21, 2016
Friedman, an Israeli journalist and writer, recounts the history of a hilltop bunker in southern Lebanon that was held by the Israeli army during the 1990s, beginning with the biography of a young soldier stationed there and transitioning into a memoir of his own time on the hill and his post-war visit as a tourist. Friedman’s personal reflections alternate with a history of Israel’s conflict in Lebanon, which he refers to as an unnamed and forgotten war, as he covers civilian sentiment, political responses to war and protest, and military strategy through the period. Though short, the book is remarkably educational and heartfelt: Friedman’s experiences provide a critical historical perspective on the changing climate of war in the Middle East, shifting from short official conflicts into longer unwinnable wars full of guerilla tactics and the deliberate creation of media narratives and images. His lyrical writing, attention to detail, and personal honesty draw the reader into empathy along with understanding. Friedman’s memoir deserves wide readership.

October 15, 2016

The late 1990s were a difficult time for soldiers fighting in the little-publicized war taking place in southern Lebanon. Israeli soldiers, mostly young people performing their mandatory year of service between high school and college, were assigned to the hilltop base called the Pumpkin to stem the incursion of Hezbollah-backed terrorists. The military code for casualties was "flowers," and this code was used far too often in a slow, bloody war that was largely overlooked by the rest of the world. Friedman mixes popular culture, journalism, and personal narrative to tell a story that has few equals. Narrator Eric Summerer's performance is excellent. VERDICT This work should resonate with those who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan and anyone with an interest in current events and military history. ["A compelling war memoir containing elements of terror, observation, boredom, and grim (at times absurd) humor. An excellent read for anyone interested in military memoirs or biographies, war reporting, and the modern Middle East": LJ 4/15/16 starred review of the Algonquin hc.]--Scott R. DiMarco, Mansfield Univ. of Pennsylvania

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.