Customer Reviews

Baghdad Blues: A War Diary

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4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

David Turnley is an incredible photographer. He has a wonderful
eye for capturing stunning and evocative images. If you are looking
for a book that will help you to better understand the war in Iraq,
this book is for you.

M.H.

Baghdad Blues is Pulitzer prize winning photojournalist David Turnley's account of his days in Iraq from March 3, 2003 to April 15, when the U.S. army took control of Baghdad. Turnley gives the reader a first hand account of the thousands of refugees attempting to flee the war zone. His photographs, particularly those of the women and children, are powerful reminders of the innocent victims of the conflict. Baghdad Blues is not an account of the military conflict; it is the story of people struggling to survive. The book is not without humor, as Turnley describes the many problems he faces in getting the news back to CNN in Atlanta. On one occasion he is forced to use a hair dryer to dry the hard drive of his laptop. Much of the book takes place in the Kurdish section of Northern Iraq and the reader is struck by the hospitality and optomism of Kurds as they welcome Trunley into their homes.

Wherever there is conflict, David Turnley and his camera are often found in the middle of it. For reasons I do not understand, Baghdad Blues has not received the attention it deserves. For anyone who has an interest in conflict and photojournalism, this book is a must read.

Scott L. Gibson
Alpharetta, Georgia

Got this as a gift and was completely disappointed. The photos are unoriginal, the writing is precious and overdramatic.

Five minutes at bbc.co.uk will retrieve better photos and commentary than this never-to-be-opened coffee table book.

There seem to be more used copies available than the actual book has sold, so this seems to be a common impression.

I've been to the region and taken better pictures than these with my Instamatic. Man with cigarette lighter wrapped in his face covering! Wow, is that, like, deeply symbolic or something? Somebody should tell David Turnley that there is a rich culture in Baghdad, and a tumultuous period of history going on. Next time, try to take get pictures of it.