Most WWII books don’t really show the viewpoints and experiences of everyday soldiers; instead, they show you an “eagle eye” perspective that pits faceless soldiers in lines and boxes. With the Old Breed is nothing like those textbooks, as it is a memoir written by Eugene B. Sledge, a marine who served in the 5th Marines during WWII. His accounts of the brutality, hatred, and sheer inhumanity from both sides through the perspective of a lowly private help showcase the opinions of the soldiers that generally are never truly shown. His accounts also both shed light on a battle that was forgotten and a battle that almost every WWII nerd knows about(I’ll leave you to find those out as you read!) As you turn each riveting page over, you’ll be gripped with every emotion you have, and will be pining for more, even when it ends.
Likes: I like this book since, not only is it about history, it’s about WWII history(my favorite kind!) The details in this book are details that I personally have never seen before in other WWII books, which provides a new perspective on the battles and experiences that everyday enlisted soldiers had.
Recommendations: I would recommend this book to readers 16 yrs and above, since it has details of graphic violence that are DEFINITELY not suited for younger ages. If you are a history buff and would like to read something a bit different from your typical history book, I would strongly recommend this to you but would recommend you don’t eat anything before you start reading, as you might get a bit queasy…trust me, you will.
Rating: 5/5
Bookworms 