Customer Reviews

Bridges at Toko Ri

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

A good but very short novel about the Korean War that was written in 1953. Although short, the novel touches on many issues, the dangers faced by bomber pilots and their courage, the political reasons why were fighting in Korean, the unfairness to those who were chosen to fight, and the ignorance of the American public about the ongoing war.

Michener's powerful storytelling ability drives this book, although it's merely a fraction of the length of most of his other work. The tale centers on a reluctant Korean War pilot and his relationships with his commanding officer, his fellow soldiers, and his family in the face of impending doom, symbolized by the titular bridges. Over its short space, the story runs the gamut of emotions from despair to fear to exhilaration and back again with a you-are-there intensity. The reader may also gain insight into the camaraderie among soldiers in wartime. This is a very solid quick read.

The Bridges at Toko-Ri is the story of a naval pilot, Harry Brubaker, during the Korean War. He is assigned the very dangerous mission to attack and destroy the bridges at Toko-Ri, a possible turning point in the war. The book follows the events before the bombing. For example, in the beginning of the book, he crashes his plane into the ocean. He also goes to see his wife in Japan. After meeting his wife, he finds out that no one in America knows about the war. The book goes into great detail of his feelings before the bombing. Will he make it, or will he fail his mission? I guess you will have to read the book to find out.

I thought this book was good but had some very confusing parts. The book kept you in suspense the whole time, with events you would never guess would happen. The author wrote the book to make you feel like you were piloting the plane. The major problem I had with the book was all the military terminology. During flight scenes, I had a hard time understanding some of the information, because the author used a lot of military terminology. Overall, the book is easy to read.

I would definately recommend this book to all people. I would especially recommend it to people who enjoy military history.

this is a very short book, but it does give you an interesting perspective on the Korean War. I really liked it.

I recently read Centennial by Michener which is a completely different subject matter and couldn't resist this book as it's a quick read. The story is about US fighter pilots in action during the Korean War. Whilst not the masterpiece that Centennial is it's still a worthy read.

This is a well-written short story centered around a fictional U.S. Navy pilot and set during the Korean War. A very engaging story about love and sacrifice. A good reminder that freedom isn't free.

I didn't look this up but I'd be willing to bet that this was Michener's shortest novel. It is in my readings of this Author that this short novel was indeed his best work. Michener always was the master of the historical fiction genre much in the same way Leon Uris was. To me these Masters represent a dying breed which has been hard to duplicate.
This book is set on an aircraft carrier during the Korean War on the Sea of Japan. The story revolves around a Naval Reserve World War II veteran pilot Lt. Brubaker who was called to active duty to serve in the Korean Conflict. Brubaker is a family man with children. He is given a critical and dangerous mission which entails the destruction of the key bridges at Toko-Ri in North Korea. The essence of Brubaker's dilemma is his duty to his young family and also to his duty to his country at war. Also in this mix is Rear Admiral George Tarrant who has lost 2 sons in combat and whose wife as a result has become an alcoholic.
Brubaker's situation during this War was actually echoing thousands of similar scenarios during these times of this "forgotten war". In fact this fictional scenario actually reminds me of a "real actual" Korean fighter pilot who also made the sacrifice of civilian life to fight in this conflict, that being Ted Williams. Michener pulls no punches in this nerve racking tale which leaves everyone on the edge of their seats until the final words.
Michener brings forth a real story that needs to be told. These actions take place early in the "Cold War" and the concept of limited war was new and mysterious. The tragedy as Michener shows us the war, unlike the all out effort of World War II, affected only those who fought it and their families. This story is tragic but in reality all so true. Excellent read! Five Stars!!