Band of Brothers (236)

In this torrent of passions; uncontrollable thoughts raced through their minds. They ha seen their officers take a walk or break or just cower, or go mute (as Lieutenant Dike was at this moment of crisis). If they did not have the option to walk away, they did have the option of not leading. No one could force them to do so. (210)

I briefly considered writing about the paragraph preceding this one, as both dealt with the effect of the horrors of war, yet I decided against it as I found I could not relate to it. Instead I choose this one. The issue it brings up is a harsh reality: no matter how well trained or prepared we are, nothing is certain until we're in the thick of it. In the case of leadership we see that natural leading abilities do not always translate from the drawing room to the real world. The critical moment when we step into the action can either make, or as illustrated by this passage, break a man.

Band of Brothers

The response can only be called incredible. On December 17 alone, 11,000 trucks and trailers carried 60,000 men, plus ammunition, gasoline, medical supplies, and other material, into the Arrdenes. In the first week of the battle, Eisenhower was able to move 250,000 men and 50,000 vehicles into the fray. This was mobility with a vengeance. It was an achievement unprecedented in the history of war. Not even in Vietnam, not even in the 1991 Gulf War, was the U.S. Army capable of moving so many men and so much equipment so quickly. (174)

As to be expected from reading a war novel, I find myself examining the book through the historical lens. It seems as though my original prediction about the book was indeed correct, although the reader-response lens has taken a back seat. Perhaps this is because I can no longer relate as well to the soldiers' war experiences. The novel claims to provide a history of Easy Company in World War II, however the author's description of the war in general seems extremely detailed, as evidenced by this passage. The author's extensive research shines through his writing in spots like these.

Band of Brothers (1-76)

This book follows Easy Company and their training and history during World War II. The first chapter details their training under their sadistic and seemingly incompetent Company Commander, Sobel. This excerpt describes Sobel and his effect on the company.

"I asked every member of Easy that I interviewed for this book if the extraordinary closeness, the outstanding unit cohesion, the remarkable staying power of the identification with Easy came about because of or in spite of Sobel. Those who didn't say 'both,' said it was because of Sobel. Rod Strohl looked me in the eye and said flatly, 'Herbert Sobel made E Company.' Others said something similar. But nearly all hated him." (26)

I have spent the majority of my life on athletic teams and a few of them had clueless and cruel coaches. The team always unifies around the universally hated coach arguably faster and better than we would around a kind coach. Nothing builds camaraderie like wind sprints. Therefore I can relate to Easy Company’s situation. Thus far in the book I have read through the reader-response and historical critical lenses and believe I will continue reading through these, especially the historical lens.

A Storm of Swords (1-458)

This quote comes from Jaime Lannister, in previous books portrayed as one of the antagonists of the series. This installment of the series, however is told in part from his perspective, and we are finally able to see his side of the story. Behind his back, people call him Kingslayer, a name he earned by ignoring his sacred oath to protect the king and slitting his throat to end his reign. This quote occurs while he reminisces about the moments after the mad king's death.

"Shall I proclaim a new king as well?"Crakehall asked, and jaime read the
question plain: Shall it be your father, or Robert baratheon, or do you mean
to make a new dragonking? He thought for a moment of the boy Viserys, fled
to Dragonstone, and of Rhaegar's infant son Aegon, still in Maegor's with
his mother. A new Targaryen king, and my father as Hand. How the wolveswill
howl, and the storm lord choke with rage. For a moment, he was tempted,
until he glanced down again at the body on the floor, in its spreading pool
of blood. His blood is in both of them, he thought. "Proclaim who you bloody
well like," he told Crakehall. Then he climbed the Iron Throne and seated himself with his sword across his knees, to see who would come to claim the kingdom.

The scene, perhaps foregin to one unfamiliar with the book, is monumental to the series. It is the first time the evil villan is shown as anything but heartless and cruel. Although including the entire chapter in this post is a task I have no desire to attempt, the justification for the murder of the king is stirring. The fact that he is tempted by the throne at first makes him all the more human, and easier to connect with. After this chapter, good and evil is not so black and white.

Martin, George. A Storm of Swords. New York, NY: Bantam Dell Inc. 2000

Children of the Mind (1-370)

This passage occurs when Peter and Wang-mu first arrive on Divine Wind, after having only communicated long distance previously. They are just beginning to know each other, and have yet to explore the boundaries of their relationship.

She opened her eyes again and strode out into the hip-high grass toward
home. He saw her and waited wordlessly as she approached. Bees
buzzed around her; butterflies staggered drunkly through the air, avoiding
her somehow in their seemingly random flight. At the last moment, she
reached out and gathered a bee from a blossom into her hand, into her fist, but
then quickly, before it could sting her, she lobbed it into Peter's face. [19]

In a book practically devoid of any romantic interest, this quote stands out from the rest. Card spends a paticullarly long time developing the scene, and the imagery is overwhelming. He takes great pains to paint the encounter as a playful one, pointing out the contrast between her actions, youthful and teasing, with the emphasis on the word fist, which symbolically is violent and angry.

Card, Orson. Children of the Mind. New York, NY: Tom Doherty Associates LLC, 1996.

Xenocide (1-28)

At this point in the story, two ships traveling at near-light speed, are attempting to meet and connect. This is a very delicate and precise maneuver that is also extremely dangerous.

The two starships had almost completed their vast ballet, dancing through
space in great leaps.

This excerpt is merely a sentence, yet I was moved by the metaphor. The image of two dancer was very effective in describing the encounter. I could practically see the two ships hurtling through space while time raced past them speeding and turning like two dancers. One wouldn't normally associate giant space ships with ballet, yet it worked.

Card, Orson. Xenocide. New York, NY: Tom Doherty Associates LLC, 1991.

Ender's Game (1-324)

This passage occurs after an important moment in the book, Ender has just fought, and unbeknownst to him, killed, Bonzo Madrid in the shower. Ender, at heart a peaceful boy, regrets being forced to resort to violence to protect himself.

Ender stepped under the water and rinsed himself, took the sweat of combat and
let it run down the drain. All gone, except they recycled it and we'll be
drinking Bonzo's bloodwater in the morning. All the life gone out of it, but his
blood just the same, his blood and my sweat, washed down in their stupidity or
cruelty or whatever it was that made them let it happen. (214)

This excerpt, though short, is meaningful and I can relate to it. Although I can thankfully say I've never killed someone, I have participated in my share of athletic events. The first thing I do after each game is shower. It feels to me as though the running water washes away more than just the foul odor and sweat, it feels as though the water is cleansing me morally. As if the water is forgiving me and giving me a fresh start. I can understand then, why Ender would take a shower after the fight. He wants the water to wash the blood from his hands and let him start over clean oncemore.

Card, Orson. Ender's Game. New York, NY: Tom Doherty Associates LLC, 1991.