The Naked and the Dead

I was disappointed, given what the author had written since he wrote this book. However, that may be too harsh. It was only his second novel. He does not give us the broad view which once in a while would be helpful in terms of context. Narrator was excellent, well-modulated, easy to understand. WSD

A remarkable literary feat! Instead of following the experiences of one protagonist (or villain), Mailer's hero is the entire platoon. We get to know each of them, with backstories too. We understand the tensions built into their relationships before they ever get recruited to work together as a team to defeat the enemy and save their own necks. His knowledge of the subject is vivid, from the decisions of officers to the resentments of enlisted men. It's a precise and often surprising snapshot of the war in Japan that is frozen in time. High praise to to narrator John Buffalo Mailer, who keeps many characters clearly defined without overdoing the theatrics. His artistry makes this audiobook compelling.

Mailer did an amazing service to this work. As the narrator, John Buffalo Mailer added life to his fathers work in a way that only a progeny could master. The timing, the consistency and the amazing articulation of American dialect pays tribute to his progenitor. Thank you for your craftsmanship.