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My Friend The Mercenary. James Brabazon (2011)

by James Brabazon(Favorite Author)

4.05 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

1847674410 (ISBN13: 9781847674418)

languge

English

genre

Memoir & Autobiography

publisher

Canongate Books

review 1: Interesting book covering a fascinating and little-known uprising. It provides a rare insight into the grey areas journalists face when covering wars, and the self-reflectiveness (although at times a bit strained) gave the book an extra dimension that a lot of books written by journalists don't have. That said, there was a LOT of moral flapping. It almost seemed as though he was constantly trying to justify everything he did to people a lot more critical than me. Yes, mercenaries have done bad things. Yes, apartheid was awful. But that doesn't mean everybody who had any connection with either needs constant defence. This is a book about friendship, I suppose. But the focus on Nick was a bit too heavy for me. It would be nice to hear about their friendship without the const... moreant "he's a trained killer badass and I'm just a fluffy journalist" sensationalist thing. Then again, that would cut out a fair bit of the writing. Still, very good book and well worth the read, hence the four stars.
review 2: The first 75% of this book is a great read, detailing the author's adventures in a number of African hotspots, often accompanied by professional soldier Nick du Toit. The book is absolutely riveting right up to the point where Brabazon starts detailing his investigation into the circumstances surrounding du Toit's involvement in a failed coup, at which time it starts to read a bit like the begats in Genesis. Overall, a very engrossing account of some hair-raising adventures on the troubled continent leavened with a serious dissection of the moves and counter-moves involved in a coup attempt. less

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