Bridges at Toko Ri [Turtleback]

James A. Michener (Author)

Product Details

• Turtleback
• Publisher: Demco Media (August 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0606004300
• ISBN-13: 978-0606004305
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,723,039 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A moving story of the Korean War, November 23, 2001

By 

Michael J. Mazza - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bridges at Toko-Ri (Mass Market Paperback)

I have heard the Korean War described as America's "forgotten war," so I was eager to read James Michener's "The Bridges at Toko-Ri." A short novel about United States fighter pilots taking part in the Korean conflict, this book is an entertaining, and often very thoughtful, story of this era.

The plot of the book is driven by a daring plan to destroy the strategic bridges of the title. The main characters in the story are George Tarrant, a no-nonsense admiral with a painful personal burden; Mike Forney, a tough and passionate Irish-American enlisted man; and Harry Brubaker, a husband and father who resents being recalled to military service as a pilot.

Michener creates an effective blend of action and personal drama. His narrative is full of interesting, vividly rendered details about life on an aircraft carrier.

Yes, some of the book's characters and situations seem a bit stereotypical; the female characters, in particular, struck me as one-dimensional. But overall this book is an impressive achievement. Michener creates a compelling portrait of men at war. This book deserves a continuing audience; I thank Michener for helping to keep the legacy of Korean War veterans alive with this novel.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Read it in an afternoon, April 28, 2001

By 

Scott Swindle (Iraq) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bridges at Toko-Ri (Mass Market Paperback)

This is almost a novella; it can easily be read in an afternoon. I read this after seeing the movie, and it's one of those rare occassions where I like the movie better than the book. The book is still compelling, though. A Navy attack pilot is reluctantly thrust into the Korean War, and seems on the verge of a nervous breakdown. This man wants nothing more than to come home to his wife and kids, all of whom he loves deeply. In case you've never seen it, I highly recommend the 1954 movie with William Holden, Frederic March, Grace Kelly, Mickey Rooney, Earl Holliman. Only minor parts of the story were changed for the movie, otherwise it's very faithful.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Clever and Informative, November 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Bridges at Toko Ri (Hardcover)

I read this book voluntarily for a book report as a freshman in high school, and found that I was also able to tie it into a history project. The story really makes it easier to understand the feelings and happenings of the misunderstood Korean War, also called the "forgotten war". I recommend it for anyone who wants to know more about this war or just enjoys action books in general.