Meet Forrest Gump, the lovable, hurculean, and surprisingly savy hero of this remarkable comic odyssey. After accidentally becoming the star of Univerity of Alabama's football team, Forrest goes on to become a Vietnam War hero, a worl-class Ping-Pong player, a villainous wrestler, and a business tycoon -- as he wonders with cildlike wisdome at the insanity all around him. In between misadentures, he manages to compare battle scars with Lyndon Johnson, discover the truth about Richard Nixon, and survive the ups and downs of remaining true to his only love, Jenny, on an extraordinary journey through three decades of the American cultural landscape. Forrest gump has one heck of a story to tell -- and you've got to read it to believe it....
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Editorial Reviews
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"Los Angeles Times"
Part Candide, part Huck Finn and a whole lot of Andy Griffith, [Gump] makes his case in a voice all his own.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great novel and far above the movie,
By Eric Perlin (USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Forrest Gump (Perfect Paperback)
Forrest Gump is a superb novel, and it is unfortunate that most people are more familiar with the movie, and think of Forrest Gump mainly as a "movie character." This is very unfortunate, just as if "Tom Sawyer" or "Gulliver's Travels" were widely known as just "good movies" while the original books were confined to obscurity.
The movie was good, and deserving of the awards and accolades it received. However, it is not by any stretch a substitute for the book. Forrest Gump is a somewhat different character in the book than in the movie, and the Forrest Gump of the novel experiences numerous adventures that the movie does not even hint at. To do the book justice, perhaps it should have been adapted into four or five separate movies. Then again, another way to do the book justice is to just read it. It's been about a year since I read "Forrest Gump", and about 6 years since I saw the film version. However, here is a list of some of the key differences between the book and the movie: BOOK ONLY: * Forrest described as being 6 1/2 feet tall, and extremely strong and muscular * Forest's experiences attending a school he calls a "nut school" * Forrest causing calamitous cooking accident in the army * Explosion of commodes in Viet Nam, causing whole platoon to be covered with feces (Although amusing in the book, it's probably best that this is omitted from the movie.) * Forest accidentally ripping off Jenny's dress at the movies * Forrest joining Jenny in a political demonstration and accidentally wounding a government official by throwing one of his army medals * Forrest getting committed to psychiatric hospital * Forrest becoming an astronaut * Forrest living for several years on remote island populated by cannibals * The character of Sue the orangutan * Forrest becoming a champion wrestler under the name "The Dunce" * Forrest playing harmonica in a band called The Cracked Eggs * Forrest starring in sci fi film with Raquel Welch * Forrest mastering chess * Forrest running for senate using "I've got to pee" as campaign slogan * Forrest retaliates against his mother's boss by throwing him into a washing machine and turning it on (Unlike the Forrest Gump of the Tom Hanks movie, the Forrest Gump of the novel is pretty aggressive if provoked, although still a basically sweet-natured person.) MOVIE ONLY: * Forrest wearing leg braces, and eventually magically breaking out of them * The phrase, "Life is like a box of chocolates." * The word "buttocks" (In the book, Forrest uses the word "ass" like anyone else.) * Forrest inspiring Elvis Presley's dance style * Forrest meeting John Lennon * Death of Jenny * Death of Forrest's mother There are just a few things I remember being in both the book and the movie: * Forrest becoming a football player * Forrest going to Viet Nam and rescuing his friend Dan in combat * Forrest becoming a world-renowned ping pong champion * Forrest becoming a successful tycoon in the "srimping" business Winston Groom's book holds numerous surprises and huge laughs regardless of whether you saw the movie or not. I particularly appreciated the author's lightning-fast pacing. One thing happens after another, and there is not a single wasted word. When you finish the first book, I suggest getting the sequel, "Gump and Company", which is every bit as good, and covers Forest's odyssey from the early 1970's through the 1990's.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Forrest Gump,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Forrest Gump (Perfect Paperback)
As a hudge fan of the movie forrest gump. I enjoyced with every word from beginning to End! As of now is 1 of my most favorite book... I'Ve Ever read ;) Run Forrest... Run....! :)"
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice book, great read, and excellent price!,
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This review is from: Forrest Gump (Perfect Paperback)
This is a good read, different than the movie, more complete. And thanks, seller, for getting to me fast!
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