Last One in

This was a very snappy, fresh look at one Journalist's entrance into the Iraq war. I'm not a big "war book" person but the author's humor kept me coming back for more. A quick read.

Nicholas Kulish's Last One In is a fantastic book. This fictionalized account of the author's experiences as an embedded reporter makes for a truly compelling read and also a time capsule referencing a time when the war in Iraq was just an invasion, not the quagmire it has become. (Although there is a particularly funny scene in which the merits of the word "quagmire" are discussed.) This is a book worth your time and consideration. I loved it.

It is hard to pick up a book about the war in Iraq without expecting a justification or condemnation of the current situation. Kulish beautifully defies these expectations and instead of pandering to any partisan audience, he tells a timeless story of what war at the front lines feels like up close. Especially in the often hilarious dialogue the author shows an uncanny sense of observation and timing.

Even though I'm not usually a fan of war novels, I couldn't put this one down. Nicholas Kulish's novel, Last One In, immediately struck me as unique by presenting a story of the war in Iraq from the perspective of a gossip columnist who's been forced into covering the conflict to avoid losing his job. I could easily relate to the narrator, Jimmy Stephens, immedetiately. He's the last type of journalist one would expect to see embedded with the military in a time of war. People who have never served in the armed forces don't usually know a lot about military culture. So, it was nice feeling like you were right there with Jimmy learning so much along the way. There are some hilarious moments throughout the book; yet, by the end, you, like the narrator, realize the serious nature of war and have a better understanding of this specific conflict from multiple points of view. One can appreciate the time Kulish spent researching this novel to give it such a genuine feel. I look forward to any future novels Kulish might produce.