Wow what a book. This is destined to become an instant classic. The authors really capture the essence of the war in Iraq and what it is like to be a young soldier in the midst of such horrors. Couldn't put this book down. I now have a whole new perspective on the war.

“The Chords of War” is one of those hidden gems that you stumble across when you least expect it. It is the story of a struggling punk musician whose life was crashing into a dead end when he decided to enlist in the US Army and fight in Iraq. It is based on the true story of Samuel Gonzalez Jr., who is also working on turning this story into a mini-series. What Gonzalez and Meeks have accomplished in this terrific novel that was near impossible to put down is to give us a bird’s eye view of someone coming of age in the 2000’s and to give us an account of the Iraq War from a soldier’s own point of view, including losing those he grew close to to explosions. It’s raw and honest and gripping. Like “Platoon” but for a new generation.

The writing is superb. Nothing feels glorified or overdone. It’s filled with stories of losing iPods in latrines, losing girlfriends, losing friends to madness. The writing style really works well, including the beginning which flips back and forth between life in Florida as a musician and basic training and tours through the landscape of Iraq.

Definitely worth reading.