🗾 🏠 “The Long March Home” (2023) 🏠 🗾 – Book Review

MY REVIEW

 

Hardcover: 400 Pages

Publisher: Revell (May 2, 2023)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0800742753

ISBN-13: 978-0800742751

⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“Jimmy Propfield joined the army for two reasons: to get out of Mobile, Alabama, with his best friends Hank and Billy and to forget his high school sweetheart, Claire.

 

Life in the Philippines seems like paradise--until the morning of December 8, 1941, when news comes from Manila: Imperial Japan has bombed Pearl Harbor. Within hours, the teenage friends are plunged into war as enemy warplanes attack Luzon, beginning a battle for control of the Pacific Theater that will culminate with a last stand on the Bataan Peninsula and end with the largest surrender of American troops in history.

 

What follows will become known as one of the worst atrocities in modern warfare: the Bataan Death March. With no hope of rescue, the three friends vow to make it back home together. But the ordeal is only the beginning of their nearly four-year fight to survive.

 

Inspired by true stories, The Long March Home is a gripping coming-of-age tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the power of unrelenting hope.”

 

Thank you in advance to the publisher, Revell (a division of Baker Books), for providing a complimentary review copy through their Revell Reads blogger program. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.

 

As someone who enjoys World War II (WWII) fiction, I was drawn to this novel. The stunning and haunting cover hides a grim and foreboding tale, one that plunges the reader into a nightmare.

 

I’ve read different “sub-genres” such as romance, suspense/intrigue, “battle stories”. These were mostly set in Britain, Germany, or the “occupied” regions (Poland, etc.). This is the first one I’ve read from the Pacific area. This is also the first time I’ve heard of the Bataan Death March and what happened in that area. As of note – what I learned of WWII in school was quite truncated. That is another reason I enjoy reading different stories, especially those based on actual events.

 

I’ve read from mostly all angles, except Germany/NAZI – those in concentration camps, civilians working for the allied forces, those stuck behind enemy lines, as well as the fighting forces. Some, like this book, were based on real stories.

 

As a warning, this is a grittier look at what happened in that area from when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor (December 1941) to when Japan surrendered nearly four (4) years later (August 1945).

 

Despite being distributed by a primarily Christian publisher; this has only scant references to God and faith despite the main character’s father being a preacher.

 

There is some coarse language (b@st@ards, cr@p, pi$$) for a Revell book, though it lacks the “s-bomb” and “f-bombs” some books have. Also contained are references to cussing, womanizing, alcohol use. There are vivid descriptions of torture including waterboarding, graphic depictions of war battles along with dead bodies. This is more so during the “Bataan Death March”. There is a DUI death in the beginning as well.

 

Those who are sensitive to the language, subject, or triggers will want to read this with an abundance of caution.

 

The main characters are all connected from their hometown of Mobile, Alabama:

 

Jimmy “Prop/Propper” Propfield

Hank Wright

Billy Crockett

Claire Crockett

 

Given the story, some mentions to or appearances of historical figures will occur. These are referenced in the back and are worth further research.

 

This is mainly told in first person from Jimmy’s POV, and is also told in a dual/slip time format. Current day 1941-1945; with the past starting in 1930-1941. The past parts of the story details how Jimmy/Hank/Billy are connected.

 

Books with dual timelines are often hard for me to review, especially when there is so much back and forth. And, books based on actual events will no doubt be spoiled by actual research.

 

The Long March Home begins with a letter – to Jimmy from Claire. She’s upset he has left. Though as readers delve into the book, they will understand it is her that he is running from.

 

The reader is then transported to the day before Pearl Harbor (as of note, given the location, it was December 8^th in the Philippines when the attack happened, so the 7^th would’ve been the 6^th in Hawaii).

 

Jimmy is happy to be where he is – miles from Alabama, and seemingly in Paradise. The war in Europe seems like a world away. Though, he knows Billy shouldn’t be there due to having lied about his age.

 

It is when they drive a drunk officer back to his base they then learn that Pearl Harbor was attacked, and it isn’t long until Manila is under attack as well. While this is what Hank came there for, it isn’t what Jimmy came for. Yet, they’re forced to defend a different unit before getting back to theirs. Despite Jimmy’s father preaching about hell, he doesn’t feel his father did it justice.

 

Readers are then given a glance back at Jimmy when he is eight (8) [1930] and talking about Claire, even when they were splashing naked in a washtub. This sets the stage for their relationship, as well as when her younger brother Billy is born. Hank is introduced to Claire and Jimmy in third grade.

 

Between 1930-1941 – Jimmy, Hank, Claire, and Billy go through school together; even working together to keep Claire’s family going. At one point, Jimmy’s father doesn’t want him around Hank.

 

It is clear that Jimmy loves Claire, but his own future is in doubt as his father wants him to go into the seminary and Jimmy doesn’t know what he wants to do. This causes him and Claire to break up, which sets off the events that lead Jimmy to where he is. It also shows the U.S’ lack of involvement until Pearl Harbor, as well as how the “axis of evil” (Italy, Germany, Japan) is formed. Seeing no future, and as Hank suffers a personal loss, the three boys enlist in the military and are sent to the Philippines.

 

The only thing Jimmy holds on to is the bible his mom gives him, and Claire’s letter.

 

Back in Manila, after Pearl Harbor, the paradise Jimmy enjoyed is now alien and surreal. Japanese troops have landed and the American troops there have no idea what is about to happen. It becomes clear that the troops there are on their own.

 

Each time they try to defend a line, they have to move again. They’re running low on supplies, faith, morale, and land; despite having enough troops. There are rumors that “help is coming”, as well as supplies – none of which are true.

 

They last four (4) months before surrendering to the Japanese troops. In what the American and Filipino troops think is a survival and logistical decision, the Japanese troops take as a dishonorable action and do not treat the POWs well. One thing is certain, with the war effort focused on Europe, the troops on the Bataan Peninsula have all but been abandoned and there is little hope for rescue, especially for so many POWs.

 

As their conditions deteriorate on the march, resulting in life after life being lost, Jimmy is recalling his past with Claire and hoping to get home to her for a second chance. Each chance at escape ends with capture, the threat of imminent death, and hopelessness as the months and years drag on. But, Jimmy’s love for Claire carries him through death, torture, and impossible odds that have him questioning his faith as well as his own desire to survive.

 

Riveting, compelling, and almost revolting at times – this story truly encapsulates the “war is hell” mantra, and exposes a side of the war that has not been talked about or taught.

 

Despite the short chapters, this is quite an emotionally draining read. The subject is one that the reader has to be mentally prepared for.

 

There are times this feels more like a “biography” with the authors telling Jimmy’s story from interviews. They truly make him seem like an actual person with the vivid, descriptive, and gut-wrenching details of brutality and human suffering.

 

Towards the 80% mark (Chapter 36, page 298), the story jumps from December 1942 to December 1943, then to September 1944. From there it is days, weeks, months; almost rushing to the end – though I honestly cannot blame anyone for it.

 

The end is NOT a happy ending, but one that is “best outcome” given what Jimmy went through, as well as the world between 1939-1945 (6 years, 1 day). There is no resolution between Claire and Jimmy regarding their “romance” or their “future”. Readers expecting some inspirational epiphany from this might be disappointed. It is more or less a solemn read that shows how everyday people were affected.

 

While there was room for multiple POVs – Claire, Jimmy’s parents, Hank’s family – this is more or less an account of the Bataan incident. Though, Hank’s POV would’ve been interesting as well given everything that happened to him.  

 

This is not one of those books that someone reads more than once in their lifetime. I know I certainly will not unless it is to teach my future children about WWII. It isn’t a terrible book, but it isn’t one I would have sought out knowing the content. However, the historical content and context is important for a well-developed history lesson.

 

Those who want a WWII perspective with grit and realism might want to check this out.

 

With regard to my familiarity with the authors’ other works …

 

Marcus Brotherton is better known for his non-fiction work, and I was lucky enough to be on the Grateful American launch team in January 2019. That is his collaboration with Gary Sinise about the actor’s life and work. 

 

While I have heard of Tosca Lee, this is my introduction to her work, yet it seems far different from her previous work. 

 

Both authors did a tremendous amount of research as noted in their notes, which accounts for the brutally realistic approach of this book. Their notes are also worth reading as well.

 

 

 

There are other resources to check out as well:

 

“Statement on the Landing of American Troops in the Philippines”

https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/statement-the-landing-american-troops-the-philippines

 

 

“AAPI HISTORY - KEY EVENTS 1942 - 1943, The Bataan Death March”

https://www.army.mil/asianpacificamericans/bataandeathmarch.html

 

 

“Liberation of the Philippines 1945”

https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/liberation-of-philippines-cecilia-gaerlan

 

 

 

 

RATING: 

 

3 ⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads 

 

3 ⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub 

 

3 ⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html; update: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2022/07/what-goes-into-my-reviews-2022-edition.html)

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

 

Marcus Brotherton is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author or coauthor of more than 25 books that have been called “fascinating”, “brilliantly arranged”, “magical”, and “refreshingly frank.”

 

 

He can be found on the following social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcus.brotherton.nw 

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcusbrotherton/ 

 

Website: https://marcusbrotherton.com/ 

 

 

 

Tosca Lee is the New York Times bestselling author of 11 novels, including The Line Between, The Progeny, The Legend of Sheba, and Iscariot. Lee's work has been praised as “deeply human”, “powerful”, and “mind-bending historical fiction”.

 

She can be found on the following social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorToscaLee 

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toscalee/ 

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ToscaLee 

 

Website: https://toscalee.com/ 

 

 

 

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