The Greatest Beer Run Ever is an action-filled story of friendship and human connection during times of war. It's an easy read that has elements of humor, humanity, and human-connection. Soon to be a major motion picture, the characters are engaging without being exaggerated, and it connects with us on a very human-level. It really is an amazing beer run.

What an amazing story. This was on view of Vietnam that is different. This story gives you a different look at what went on during Vietnam both there and in the U.S. The adventures of Mr. Donahue to make sure that the boys from his home town knew that there was people that supported them. The trip started as a joke but ended up being an adventure that Mr. Donahue and the boys from back home would never forget. His view of the Tet Offensive is insightful and gives you a different look at what went on. This was an amazing story that looks at the human side of the war not through the politics, military strategy, or news media stories but from people that were there.

THE GREATEST BEER RUN EVER, by John "Chick" Donohue and J.T Malloy, is the amazing story of John "Chick" Donohue, who at his local bar in the Manhattan neighborhood of Inwood in 1967 is challenged and quickly accepts a quest to find his friends and neighbors serving in the armed forces in Vietnam and thanking them for their service by having a couple of beers.
Quick disclaimer: This book has special meaning to me for two reasons: I lived in the Inwood area for a year in my 20s, and my father served in Vietnam. There is a real sense of community in Inwood and loyalty that comes along with it when I lived there, which mirrors the vibe I got from Donohue & Malloy throughout the book. Chick's determination to lift his neighbor's spirits comes from that neighborhood unity. They describe the geography of Vietnam well, but one unfamiliar with the region can't help but get a little lost. Constantly giving directional cues helped, but at a certain point it didn't matter because Chick's journey got more and more harrowing and exciting and the reader intellectually knows that Chick makes it home because the book got written, but being engrossed in the book, the reader has irrational moments thinking "will he make it back alive?" which is a testament to amazing journey and the remarkable storytelling. Towards the end of the book, Chick's thoughts about anti-war protesting are compelling and force the reader to consider their own true feelings about war and military service.
A quick read and supremely enthralling and exciting all the way through, THE GREATEST BEER RUN EVER is book I won't soon forget and I cant wait to see my dad next and share beer with him and tell him thank you for your service.

I know this really happened, but it seems so unbelievable and by the end you’ll feel much better than when you started the book and realized its about the Vietnam War. After a night of talking and drinking, it was decided that Chickie Donohue, a merchant marine, would head to Vietnam with good beer and messages to soldiers from the New York neighborhood. Yes, it is a macho book but the message he took to surprised soldiers from the Inwood gang in the US. It’s was an experience to counterbalance the protests that were so common, but on his return, he realized that the protesters “were at least trying to stop this madness.” The story moves from the humorous to sadness and always filled with the outrageous. And Donohue also lets the reader know what happened to the guys. The narration of the audio version is done perfectly. Soon to be a movie

The Greatest Beer Run Ever
A Memoir of Friendship, Loyalty, and War
by John "Chick" Donohue; J. T. Molloy
Listen to an Audio Excerpt
HarperCollins Publishers
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
William Morrow
Biographies & Memoirs
Also available as an audiobook
Pub Date 10 Nov 2020 | Archive Date 05 Jan 2021

Great book!~ I think this will be a fantastic book to recommend to our patrons. Thanks to HarperCollins Publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.

Fascinating true story of selflessness and friendship!

“Peter Farrelly (Green Book) is set to write and direct The Greatest Beer Run Ever (working title), based on the novel The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A True Story of Friendship Stronger Than War by Joanna Molloy and John “Chickie” Donohue.”

This book was a nice change from my usual romance novels. It was a strange but true story of a man who went to vietnam during the height of the conflict to bring some joy to his neighborhood friends while they served their country. Many of the boys in the neighborhood had been dying after being shipped off to Vietnam and John “Chickie” Donovan and a few others were in a local bar chatting about the sad state of affairs in the country when boys are overseas fighting and dying then come home to be yelled at and spit on.

One of the guys, nicknamed the Colonel, said that something should be done to lift their spirits and since they couldn’t come around the neighborhood and join the guys for a beer, that someone should bring one to them. A good old american beer instead of the crap they get in Vietnam which could taste like vinegar one day and fine the next. Not only that, but a hug, a message from home and some camaraderie. Chickie happened to have been in Vietnam before and was currently in possession of a merchant marine card.

This meant he could sign on to any merchant marine vessel heading out to Vietnam to deliver ammo and supplies. So Chickie did just that. He picked up a case of beer and got on a merchant ship bound for Vietnam. He had a list of the neighborhood boys and what companies they were each in, so he could track them down. Chickie knew it wouldn’t be as easy as stopping in and finding them right away in the Port town. However, he lucked out right away in finding one of the guys who was an MP in the port town.

The rest of the story is of Chickie’s outrageous and sometimes perilous adventures while trying to get to the rest of the boys. Chickie often had to resort to conning his way into and out of situations and at first he was surprised that some of his ad libbing even worked, but soon found out.

“It was the first of many instances in Vietnam where officers would treat me with the utmost deference, and, at first, I couldn’t understand why.
Then one day somebody told me: “Don’t you get it, pal? They think you’re CIA! Because why the hell else would you be here? In jeans and a plaid shirt, no less.””

What follows is a truly informative and sometimes hilarious story of Chickie’s journey through Vietnam. It is quite an interesting tale of a regular guy going out of his way at his own expense and putting himself in danger in order to bring a bit of hope and home to his fellow man. I really liked this story and the fact that it is true makes it even better. I was laughing hysterically at times, the storytelling is so good. See below for a link to a youTube documentary featuring Chickie and friends telling a shortened version of the story in their own words.

Documentary video by Pabst Blue Ribbon featuring Chickie: https://youtu.be/D4WAUmyKDq0

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A really terrific read a book of friendship beer a book that drew me right in.a book that kept me reading late into the night enjoying the wild ride.#betgalley#

Stranger than fiction, man. An unbelievable story. I can see why it's being made into a movie: It's got a wacky premise, promises to tell the story of Vietnam through the soldiers' eyes, doesn't hold back on the horror of war while giving some great moments of levity and coincidence, and ties up nicely, bringing home themes of patriotism, brotherhood, and humanity. On top of that, Chick/Donohue's growth/arc throughout the story is a one without an expiration date; we can always use a tale of a guy in search of one thing that also comes to learn about a few other things as well, and especially so with global tensions as they are.

What this book provides isn't necessarily escapism, but a breather in the midst of a most serious topic that doesn't disrespect the events it takes place in. Donohue's prose is smooth and carries well, as if you were across the table or beside him at the pub. Not too many stops to describe locales, and, the way he tells it, you don't need to. His brief history lessons, which give us perspective, give the moments he witnesses the weight it needs make the story as successful as possible (measuring a story's success in how it resonates upon the reader--I feel I must clarify that).

Wildly entertaining, and I'll be incredibly surprised if this doesn't top lists and win awards. It's just great. Read it immediately.

Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and HarperCollins for the advance read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
What an amazing beer run to show support for friends and fellow soldiers. "Chick' Donohue writes of his journey to Vietnam and gives a good history lesson while providing an entertaining experience.