2024 the best fiction book ever review

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(as of Nov 12, 2024 06:13:08 UTC - Details)

"Chickie takes us thousands of miles on a hilarious quest laced with sorrow, but never dull. You will laugh and cry, but you will not be sorry that you read this rollicking story." (Malachy McCourt)

Soon to be a major motion picture written and directed by Peter Farrelly, who won two Academy Awards for Green Book - a wildly entertaining, feel-good memoir of an Irish American New Yorker and former US marine who embarked on a courageous, harebrained scheme to deliver beer to his pals serving Vietnam in the late 1960s.

One night in 1967, 26-year-old John Donohue - known as Chick - was out with friends, drinking in a New York City bar. The friends gathered there had lost loved ones in Vietnam. Now, they watched as anti-war protesters turned on the troops themselves. One neighborhood patriot came up with an inspired - some would call it insane - idea. Someone should sneak into Vietnam, track down their buddies there, give them messages of support from back home, and share a few laughs over a can of beer. It would be the Greatest Beer Run Ever. But who'd be crazy enough to do it? One man was up for the challenge - a US Marine Corps veteran turned merchant mariner who wasn't about to desert his buddies on the front lines when they needed him. Chick volunteered. A day later, he was on a cargo ship headed to Vietnam, armed with Irish luck and a backpack full of alcohol.

Landing in Qui Nho'n, Chick set off on an adventure that would change his life forever - an odyssey that took him through a series of hilarious escapades and harrowing close calls, including the Tet Offensive. But none of that mattered if he could bring some cheer to his pals and show them how much the folks back home appreciated them.This is the story of that epic beer run, told in Chick's own words and those of the men he visited in Vietnam.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Reviewer: Mean Green
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Great story, the ride of a lifetime!!
Review: You don't want this story to end!! Very interesting moment in our history. Proves the point " you can do anything if you have motivation ".

Reviewer: David Jones
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Hard to believe this is a true story!
Review: Most enjoyable story. Excellent research he did later regarding the moments in time"Chick" experienced. I understand his conservative nature during those times.My father, 4 children, Major USMC, was in Vietnam 1965, essentially first wave.Wounded mortar fire from local villages. We did not know US held the daysand the Vietcong, NVA held the nights. Pops did not support the USA govtand their Vietnam war from around 1966 on. I did not understand simply too young at that time.My USMC dad/pops always supported USA and those who fought 100%. Our govt were fools IMHO.Chickie eventually seems to believe the same about the USA govt during this time IMO.Him being on the ground at the USA Embassy during Tet, incredible he survived.To be honest the story from start to finish sounds so improbable one would think the bookwas a well written fiction story LOL.... Start to finish I enjoy the book, historical stories, and his luck.Two Thumbs Up. Wish movie version video would play in USA dvd machines. But does not.Congrats on a well written, incredibly documented and researched years later of what was actuallygoing on via battles, tet, usa govt thinking, etc....... Remember many protesters like myself supportedthe USA and Soldiers. Those who did not, were simply ignorant. But does not mean they were not good citizens and most held democracy high and most moved on to very successful careers/families/lives.I know also regret their sad opinions of our Vietnam soldiers at that time who sadly thought they were fighting for our freedom and support.Great book will read again someday

Reviewer: MN reader
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Both fun and thought provoking
Review: First, I cannot imagine why he did such a dangerous thing. I really liked reading it, though. Even the very dangerous paths he had to take to see his buddies and deliver the beer. It was well written and I appreciated the fast read.

Reviewer: Ralph White
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Second time I bought this book
Review: I enjoyed it the first time but I must have given it away. I needed another copy to get it signed by the author. Looking forward to meeting Chick.

Reviewer: Michael J. Martin
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Rollicking and entertaining but with a message . . . the importance of a "thank-you"
Review: The authors paint a fast-moving picture of what one individual can accomplish when he/she is devoted to a goal, which, in this case, was “delivering a beer” and, much more importantly, hometown support to U.S. soldiers in Vietnam. While, as other reviewers point out, some of the tales presented in the text may have been embellished a bit, this doesn’t detract at all from the basic tenets – improvisation, perseverance, courage and devotion – that “Chick” displayed in spades from the minute he set out on this “beer run” until his return to Manhattan and Doc Fiddler’s bar. If one wants a snapshot-look at what life was like through the eyes of a U.S. civilian, albeit a former U.S. Marine, in Vietnam surrounding the Tet Offensive (January through March 1968), this would be a good place to start. Two book misperceptions need to be cleared up. Victory ships were named after countries, U.S. colleges and cities. Chick’s ship, Drake Victory, was named for Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, not Sir Francis Drake. Drake Victory and all other Victory ships, with the exception of a single type AP4 ship that was driven by a Nordberg-built diesel engine, were powered by steam turbine engines NOT the double compound German Lentz engine. The first Victory ship design, EC2-S-AP1, unveiled to the public in March 1943, did include the Lentz engine as its power source. When representatives of the U.S. steam turbine industry assured the Maritime Commission that they could develop an in-house uniform turbine engine and produce it in “quantity,” the latter dropped the Lentz engine from its initial Victory ship design.

Reviewer: Gigi girl
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: An exciting memoir, full of surprises and remarkable courage
Review: Loved this book. It was SO well written which is important to me. Chick has 9 lives. I admire his loyalty, bravery, and fearlessness! His story is remarkable and certainly one of a kind. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next and didn’t want to put the book down. Thank you to Chick, his brave friends, and all of those that served. <3 Reviewer: Blu
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: EPIC BROTHERLY LOVE.
Review: Co-authored by a former Marine, a candid humorous portrayal of his adventurous trek to Vietnam during the war, to search for his buddies, and, of course, to deliver the all-important beer. But, an unforseen calamitous predicament erupts when he inadvertently stumbles upon the unexpected Tet Offensive ambushing the Americans: "It had been masterminded by General Giap and his military logistician, Le Duan, who took advantage of [U.S. President] LBJ's acceptance of a [Tet] New Year's truce to launch the attack. It was the definition of perfidy" (p. 115). An insane outrageous odyssey. Unbelievable, yet true.

Reviewer: Elizabeth M.
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A good read
Review: Good read about a strong group of friends with values

Reviewer: cg
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: heard about this book from a radio host and it did not disappoint

Reviewer: Mr. M. Hale
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Quite an incredible story and definitely worth a read

Reviewer: Marquinius
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Perhaps not the highest literary standard, but a jolly good read and fabulous adventure. Just imagine getting out there in the middle of it all, all on some feel good bet.Well done Chicky!

Reviewer: scott ferrie
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: I don’t read but I loved all the nam movies so thought I’d try reading on holiday and this was my first delve into it and was not disappointed great read.

Reviewer: Nicholas grainger
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A very good book, watch the movie and compare.