book reviews and summaries, comments, analysis
Good book. Shinn is a solid writer, not aurprising since he was a news reporter in the Korean War era. But this book is about the war, and the soldiers, NOT about Shinn himself, which makes it a refreshing relief from most 'by journalist' accounts of the war. Journalists tend to be a clannish lot, repulsive at worst and tolerable at best, and Korean war journalists seem unable to avoid the mutual admiration society syndrome, especially when it comes to Marguerite Higgins. Sure, Shinn falls a bit for that; but his experiences in Korea, Japan, and America in the post WWII period make thrilling reading. We forget how people such as Shinn had to live by their wits and their pluck, in this era. Compare this with todays' journalists who gaggle constantly about restrictions on press freedom at the same time they are protected by the military as embedded writers. I always thought that if the UPI/AP wire networks had to finance their own protection in the field---IMAGINE THAT!, a company of reporter-commandos---their attitude toward war might be just a tad more balanced. Heaven knows with a few journalists losing their heads in Iraq in recent years, we now hear a lot less about 'oppressed muslims' than we did after Sept. 11th.
But i digress! Ahhh, the joys of running my own website, where I can say what I want. (To be honest I do post comments sent to me about my reviews, so feel free!) Shinn's book is kind of 3 books in one. There is his personal story of how he came to be a journalist on NE asian affairs in the post WWII period. These stories are captivating and uniquely personal, and are the most enjoyable part of the book. In contrast, his renditions of the war itself...the early rout, pusan perimeter, etc, are fairly stale. BUT..as a Korean, M. Shinn does do a great service in pointing out the successes of (south) Korean regiments, even in the wars' earliest and darkest days.
The part about todays' danger, written in the middle 1990s, seems somewhat stale and archaic now. That is one problem with writing on a 'current event.' The writing is out of date almost by the time the print dries. Nor is their anything new in these sections.
One interesting style that makes Shinn's book a unique text is that many of the articles seem drawn directly from, if not outright renditions of, the notes he collected in the field as a writer. There is a lack of polish, a spontaneity, a disjointed nature to the text, which gives it an appeal. Overall a good book.