Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1102303 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Customer Reviews

dark psychological true story
The style is dry, as has been pointed out, but the story is very thought-provoking. I thought it was an interesting analysis of people's motives and what makes people do stupid things...[meaning, perfectly logical organized things that completely defeat the purpose of what they are supposed to be doing.] The reviewer who said it was about an event and not people was mistaken; it's very much about the people. However, the style is crisp and sounds more like a report than a narrative. The ending is somewhat predictable, but that is mostly because everything builds up to it. I have not seen the movie, but I think the book was worth reading and thinking about.

War Noir
Very different in many ways from the Academy Award winning film, the short book is well worth reading in its own right. It's somehow bleaker and more disheartening, sort of a war noir. Interestingly enough Boulle also wrote "Planet of the Apes."

Personal Desires Clouding the Big Picture
Bridge Over the River Kwai is a very interesting novel depicting the true story of POW's from a Japanese Labor Camp who are forced to build a bridge for the Japanese war effort. Although the novel can be dry at times, the descriptions of camp life and the grueling work conditions come alive, putting you right there in the thick jungle next to some sweaty G.I.s. Plus the underlying issue of personal desires getting in the way of the big picture (the Allied war effort) is undeniably strong and is a lesson in life that everyone should be exposed to. Bridge Over the River Kwai is a definite "must read" in my opinion.