My Favorite War: A Novel [Paperback]

Christopher John Farley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1998

While covering the Gulf War for his paper, Thurgood Brinkman, a successful young African-American journalist who spends his time battling racism, corporatism, and a decrepit media, discovers much about himself and his world. A first novel.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This fiction debut presents young Thurgood Brinkman, a reporter for a Washington-based national daily who undergoes a life-changing experience, of sorts, when he goes to Kuwait to cover Desert Storm. Much of the book is played for laughs as the witty narrator Brinkman portrays associates like Sojourner Truth Zapader, a with-it columnist for the rival Washington Post. It's not always clear what Farley is after here--satire, serious novel, or situation comedy--but he has an original voice that sounds slightly like Nabokov doing the Letterman show. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Brittle and energetic, Farley's first novel tells the story of 29-year-old Thurgood Brinkman, an idealistic young African American reporter who just can't seem to get it all together. Alternating between bouts of self-righteousness and self-loathing, the Ivy League college graduate keeps hearing how lucky he is to work for National Now!, a "comic-book-colored newspaper" that appears to be a cross between USA Today and Time. But he hates his job churning out mindless formulaic features. "Journalism," he moans, "is to literature what gum is to filet mignon." The Persian Gulf War is brewing, but at first Thurgood doesn't pay much attention. After all, he cracks, isn't Iraq "the past tense of Iran?" But when his idol, Sojourner Truth Zapader, an outspoken Washington Post columnist?who also happens to be the woman of his dreams?suggests he accompany her to Kuwait, Thurgood jumps at the chance. Before long, he's on the roof of the Baghdad Howard Johnson's, looking out at the "ghastly loveliness" of a burning city under attack by American bombers. Along the way, our intrepid hero offers up a steady barrage of riffs on everything from lesbian cybersex and black anti-Semitism to the ethics of geopolitical warfare. There's a lot going on in this ambitious romp, and Thurgood's diatribes are the most entertaining part, but the book is marred by a meandering plot and a wavering satirical tone that never quite finds its own level. Like his well-meaning protagonist, Farley is filled with passion and big ideas, but he's not entirely sure what to do with them except subject them to an irony that is simultaneously self-deprecating and mildly self-aggrandizing.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Ecco Pr; 1st Ecco ed edition (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088001590X
• ISBN-13: 978-0880015905
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,932,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Challenging book!, June 28, 2001

By 

Boston 81 (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Favorite War (Hardcover)

Even though Thurgood (Farley's main character) can come off as slightly arrogant at bitter at times, the book is an incredible one - very easy to read, and very thought-provoking. It doesn't really get too deeply into the Gulf War (as I expected it would), but it opens a lot of other issues: racism, American press, government oppression, etc. While perhaps Thurgood's "solutions" or answers to these problems are faulty or misguided, he really adequately raises the issues - and these are issues that need to be raised. More importantly, he voices his opinion on many aspects of American life that are commonly ignored or stifled away.

Some of Thurgood's actions (sleeping with the 18 year old girl, leaving when he found out she was pregnant, etc) are not really impressive - but I think it brings out the point of the book even more - Farley is criticizing an imperfect world, but not claiming to be a perfect man himself.

Also, underpinning these issues and challenges is a nice little story on Thurgood's life as a 20-something year old, and is pleasant to read. If this isn't enough - it must also be noted that Farley has a remarkable sense of humor.. Some of his quotes are hilariously funny, so they make the book even more interesting to read.

So overall, he manages to raise some very important issues and concerns, while still narrating an interesting story of his life, and adding a bit of humor to it all. Maybe not a book to read over and over again, but definitely worth reading once!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Serious, December 28, 2002

By 

Sam (Yonkers, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Favorite War (Hardcover)

An easy read backed by serious issues (racism, sexism, homophobia, teen pregnancy and abuse by the government). Farley has given us a novel that has been overlooked. He's telling it like it is; he's says what alot of has thought, and/or think about these same situations presently. Writers as such need to be sought out and supported.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I laughed out loud!, September 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: My Favorite War: A Novel (Paperback)

I read "My Favourite War" in one day and the book is superb. Christopher Farley's references to serious issues (e.g. racism, teen pregnancy) were spot on, as were his references to pop culture (I laughed out loud re: his references to Arnie's catchphrases!).