Ice Beneath You

A beautiful, tragic read. Easily one of my favorite books of the last year.

Bauman's novel is a wonderfully readable and heartbreaking account of how military service in this day and age can turn into a life-shattering experience. Bauman clearly knows the ins and outs of bootcamp and also the horrors of being a soldier in the weird combat situations of the present day. This book is a brilliant indictment of our tragically over-militarized times.

this is the highest quality writing, where simplicity is the forte. unlike the various guises of genius in joyce or nabokov, bauman relies simply on the story/character at hand and some subtle but VERY effective writing techniques. i often vascillate between fiction and non fiction, fiction always feeling a little too contrived, but this is a STRONG pull for fiction. most writers should take it as a lesson, and then a pleasure.

This great first novel is a profound statement about the humanity within the modern soldier, friendships, and the many strange detours life holds in store for a young man without a plan. It is the story of 23-year old Benjamin Jones, a soldier finishing up a harrowing tour of duty during the 1993 war in Somalia in one of the few remaining U.S. Army gunboat units.Bauman tells his story through often non-sequential passages that delve deep into the mind of Jones, further building on the psyche of the character. This is a soldier's story, but is often more about life than soldiering. Early in the story, we find Jones shortly after his discharge, on a journey across America aboard a Greyhound bus. Often, through a hazy stream of consciousness we meet the many characters accompanying him on his bus journey as Jones lapses between exhaustion, half-sleep and deep thought. Jones pensive friendship with fellow soldier and best friend Trevor (who decides to reenlist), and constant thoughts of Liz, his female obsession provide a current that brings the reader in and out of the bus journey much as it does Jones as he ponders his life in between stops. Incredibly candid, and never boring, Bauman's story puts his character into many unexpected places, yet remains incredibly true to the experience of so many young men searching to find their way. To the reader who believes they know what sort of man joins the military and endures violent conflict will be pleasantly surprised, and cast aside all stereotypes. The Ice Beneath You is an incredibly well-written, wonderfully layered story, while remaining simple and avoiding the cliches expected from fiction when war and men are featured alongside one another.

This great first novel is a profound statement about the humanity within the modern soldier, friendships, and the many strange detours life holds in store for a young man without a plan. It is the story of 23-year old Benjamin Jones, a soldier finishing up a harrowing tour of duty during the 1993 war in Somalia in one of the few remaining U.S. Army gunboat units.Bauman tells his story through often nonsequential passages that delve deep into the mind of Jones, further building on the psyche of the character.This is a soldier's story, but is often more about life than soldiering. Early in the story, we find Jones shortly after his discharge, on a cross-country journey aboard a Greyhound bus. Often, through a hazy stream of consciousness we meet the many characters accompanying him on his bus journey as Jones lapses between exhaustion, half-sleep and deep thought.Jones pensive friendship with fellow soldier and best friend Trevor (who decides to reenlist), and constant thoughts of Liz, his female obession provide a current that brings the reader in and out of the bus journey much as it does Jones as he ponders his life in between stops. Incredibly candid, and never boring, Bauman's story puts his character into many unexpected places, yet remains incredibly true to the experience of so many young men searching to find their way. To the reader who believes they know what sort of man joins the military and endures violent conflict will be pleasantly surprised, and cast aside all stereotypes. The Ice Beneath You is an incredibly well-written, wonderfully layered story, while remaining simple and avoiding the cliches expected from fiction when war and men are featured alongside one another.