Customer Reviews

Baby Jack: A Novel

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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Frank Schaeffer is my father, and as such you might expect me to be biased (which I won't deny), but if you look at any of the other reviews on any of his other books on this site (which I encourage you to do) you will see that I have written nothing about them. I never even put a plug in for Keeping Faith-A Father-Son Story About Love and the United States Marine Corps, which we wrote together. I have read and liked them all, and I hope you also will read them, but never before has one of his books affected me as this one has. I see how the life of a family very like my own might have played out if things had been just a little different, if someone like me had never returned from a war zone. The experience of reading BABY JACK was akin to George Bailey's in It's a Wonderful Life, watching the life of everyone around him play out as if he had never existed. Reading BABY JACK was both a surreal and wonderful experience at the same time and I hope that you will read Dad's book and glimpse how the life of a family can be forever changed by a single choice or a single event.

Great war stories are not about combat. They are about the fractured lives and wounded souls of the combatants -- in and out of uniform. In BABY JACK, Frank Schaeffer captures the raw humanity of Jack Ogden's story as no other other war novel I have read. He also offers the hope that understanding, reconciliation, and spiritual renewal will unfold in each life that humbly seeks it.

Late yesterday afternoon UPS delivered my copy of BABY JACK. Last night, mesmerized by Frank Schaeffer's brilliantly voiced characters, I read the story through in one sitting. I relived my experiences as a young Marine through Jack; I fell in love with Jessica; and, I hated everything I saw of myself in Todd.

Many years ago I, like Jack Ogden, chose the Marines over college. I was squad leader and "honor Marine" in boot camp. Like Jack, my father did not come to my graduation. I had seen him only two times as a young child.

In DaNang, our perimeter was overrun by North Vietnamese Army regulars. I was blown off the road by an explosion from a rocket propelled grenade while taking a wounded Marine to an aid station. I spent the night trapped in deep grass clutching a grenade and waiting to die. My sister worked for Robert McNamara. Every day she checked the Pentagon "Casualty List" searching for my name.

Like Jack, I volunteered to serve but my family was drafted into the war. Through BABY JACK I relived my experiences as a combat Marine and a was given the opportunity to experience how my family suffered in untold ways as have countless others.

Great literary novels are character driven -- and this is one for our time.

This is a novel about a family who lose a son to the American war effort in Iraq, told from the perspective of several subjects. While fiction, it is based on the stories of real people, including those of the author himself, and makes for moving reading in the view of this UK civilian. Some of it may shock readers with its unconventional religious perspective, but it expresses an honest view worthy of being heard. Readers of the non-fiction works that Schaeffer has already written about his family's story as a 'military family' will have some idea of what to expect. This is a powerful story that encourages patriotism and respect for the virtues of soldiers that serve their country without stint. Highly recommended, but for adult readers only, in view of some of its contents.

Through BABY JACK Frank Schaeffer has created characters that although fiction are real. You might know some of the characters yourself, I do. Schaeffer is an intelligent, witty writer - he can make you laugh through your sobs and believe me, you will experience both emotions as you read BABY JACK. Through a special cadence of writing from different points of view, we see a young man who could be anything in the world he wanted to, become just that, a United States Marine, we see how others in his life respond because, as Schaeffer writes at one point, "Jack entlisted, the rest of us were drafted." There are some powerful emotions at play in this book - read it and give thanks that there are real men/women in this country willing to become a Marine. I strongly suggest you also read Keeping Faith and Faith of Our Sons also written by Frank Schaeffer - these books should be required reading for all Americans. Do I hear movie????

This might well be Frank Schaeffer's finest book.

Altho a well-written novel in it's own right, "Baby Jack" takes on the important topic of the huge and growing chasm in America today between those who've served in the military and those who do not. With the fictional Ogden family as the setting, with the liberal father vs. the Marine-recuit son, the book discusses the value today of service to the country, why it's so important in today's society, and perhaps why the fabric of America is being threatened by the casual and "you do it" attitude so prevalent today.

And the novel itself is simply brilliant ! God hanging out at Parris Island ? God as a D.I. ? OOH-RAH, Mr. Schaeffer, for a job well done !

I have been an avid reader for 50 years and no novel has affected me like BABY JACK. I am not as articulate as the reviewers before me, I can only try to express what it meant to me in some way. My grandson is a Marine, injured in Iraq on his second tour. The book expressed what I felt when he was in Iraq, as most people were so involved in their next Botox injection, the next football game, etc. while those of us with family in Iraq or Afganistan watched the news each day, not wanting to see what was happening over there, but unable to tear ourselves away, then waiting for the phone to ring or a knock on the door. This book describes in raw detail the disconnect between those who serve and those who do not and the final realization that yes, there is something more important in life than one's own comfort and desires, such as honor, bravery, sacrifice, commitment. The irreverance caught me off guard at first but some of it was so humorous I laughed out loud, and I believe God does have a sense of humor. God bless Frank Schaeffer for "getting it" and for pressing on with his mission to try to get those disinvested Americans to "get it" so the few won't have to carry the real burden of most Americans. Even though this is fiction, it is also factual in the most important ways. When read as fiction BABY JACK holds the reader's attention to the point of not being able to put it down. When read as more truth than fiction, breaks are needed in order to relieve the intense feelings it generates.

This is an unusual Marine book, in that it is more to be recommended to family members who are opposed to their sons and daughters serving the country, than to Marine vets like myself. It should be required reading for every Member of Congress, newspaper editor and elite snob who thinks his or her family is meant for better things than garding the Republic, and who holds those who serve in contempt. It's about the Corps, yes, but more importantly about service, grief and love.

Robert A. Hall

Author of "The Good Bits."

The author is an artist of some renown and this story relects that bakground. In BABY JACK Frank Schaeffer portrays in creative words the anguished details and the whole beauty of the story he wishes to communicate; a story of learning what self sacrifice is all about and the final inner intergity and courage it demands.

It is a family story of inner turmoil and growth between parents and children and the society and culture in which they live, move and have their being. In this case it is an upper class, elits family, but it could, each in its way, be any family in America. For 'Baby Jack' is about America, and the price in our present day one must be willing to pay for both the priviledge, the burden, and the necessary sacrifice to truly live up to that resposibility, not only for oneself, but also for one's fellow citizens.

BABY JACK is about birth, life and death and the intertwining of these eternal factors that can never be totally seperated in living or in dying, for our lives can never be truly lived alone.

To grasp this story fully it must be read. As a painting cannot be explained, but must be seen, for each viewer, from various angles, will have his or her own interpretation, so to with BABY Jack, each reader on reflection will have his or her-possibly sometines confusing-grasp and revelation.

I have read or reviewed well over a thousand books in the last decade but none better than the newest novel by Frank Schaeffer simply titled "Baby Jack". I never thought I would ever find any western author express what being in the military and fighting wars was about by referring to one of the holiest books of the Hindus "The Bhagavad Gita" . In the form of a letter the author uses our marine hero Jack's letter to his girl friend Jessica to explain how Krishna taught Arjuna about duty, discipline, God and self. He uses this letter to further explain how Arjuna was taught to take a stand for what is important; and about learning that "love and combat" are sometimes both right. This is really heavy stuff that most non-veterans do not understand or get--but most combat veterans will have little trouble bridging that gap. The author has a way of driving this loyalty and duty issue home through his lead character Jack.

The author uses many different voices to convey his story including baby Jack who is born after his father is killed. We also hear from God who we discover has a good sense of humor. The writer so skillfully crafts this story that it unfolds the plot through all these different view points and yet remains totally understandable and clear for the reader.

There are many issues in this book; however, like all great novels it is drive home by strong characterizations. We witness the disapproval of Jack by his own father because of his decision to join and serve in the Marine Corps. His dad refuses to write to him or to talk to him. Jack's parents end up fighting and falling a part. There are so many really good relationship issues that Schaeffer attacks, explores or alludes to throughout his wonderful text. This story will make you think about social issues as well--like how the rich and well to do families are not sending their children off to war.

In some ways this book is about spiritual issues as well. It explores the heart and the soul and indirectly forces the reader to question certain things about life and God and duty. You cannot read this book with being changed in some way. It is powerful, moving, at times irreverent and humorous, sad, surreal, but always entertaining! This is Schaeffer's best work to date and that is saying a lot since he has created some gigantic and profound works already. The MWSA gives this book its highest rating of FIVE STARS!

This book also receives my personal endorsement as a must read book! This book is destined to become a part of the New York Times Top 10 best selling books! Put your money on that--it is that great!

This is an extraordinary book about the meaning of service and sacrifice. Given that we are at war, it is a book that "must be read" if we are to understand that the war is being fought by a very few and their loved ones. It is not a political polemic. It is the story of a young man who chooses to become a Marine and the profound impact of that choice.

Highly recommended.