Garrett M. Vonk

We listened to the first half of the audiobook version of Jarhead on the trip. I’m impressed (so far) by the content, but the execution falls a little short for me. As Amazon was so kind to explain, Jarhead is written with words that contain, on average, 1.5 syllables. So, I’m really enjoying the story, but the writing is a little basic. There are enough complex motifs, metaphors, and situations that the writing could have been spruced up a little more by the editor/co- or ghostwriter.

Halfway through, I think I’m done with the audiobook–if I want to finish the book, I’ll get a print copy. I think it was a bad decision for the author to read his own work. While he is a decent writer, his delivery lacks the authenticity he probably wanted because he is, in my opinion, just not a very good reader. His publisher should have recognized this and hired a seasoned reader to record the book. Some authors (especially comedians) have the talent for both the content and the delivery, but most of the more heralded writers of the last decade usually opt to hire a Broadway vet or similar, and with good reason. I recommend Jarhead, but in paperback form (or possibly the movie, which I haven’t seen).