I have to surmise that most of the negativity I've encountered surrounding this book is deeply rooted in or at least tangentially related to the reviewer's feelings towards Mailer himself. Because if I don't take that into account, I simply can't make sense of a single word of their criticism. This is truly an exceptional novel.

The writing is mature and refined, the characters are brought to life, feeling real and eliciting sympathy from the reader. The plot is masterfully crafted and highly engaging, the action is described with technical precision yet without losing its warmth. The deaths are sudden and unexpected, adding an element of surprise. And the overall design of the book is grand yet always contained within the narrative.

I want to say, as so many others have, that it's incredible that Mailer was just 25 when he wrote "The Naked and the Dead." But that would be disingenuous, because it's precisely the young writer's energy and imperfection that gives this book its unique vitality.

A quick note: I've read numerous times that "...it's good except for the 'Time Machine' sections...", "...if he could just have excised those 'Time Machine' entries...", "...the book works but his amateurism shows through in the 'Time Machine' entries...". This is complete nonsense. The "Time Machine" sections are not only compelling and necessary, but they are also skillfully executed. Each TM section was perfectly placed and was simply sublime. They were my absolute favorite part of this extraordinary book. Mailer was from a different era, and his behavior and opinions might have kept him out of the modern spotlight, but that should in no way alter our perception of this magnificent work.

I read this a long, long time ago, and unfortunately, none of the story or the characters have managed to stay with me.

What remains is simply an impression of a war that was so gritty and dirty that it left me feeling disgusted.

I vividly remember one character who had some sort of kidney problem, which was accompanied by a severe stomach-ache and blood in the urine. For me, this particular image has become the defining symbol of war.

Also, the last sentence - "Hot dog!" - uttered by a soldier who was contemplating a possible furlough.

I believe that Mailer achieved exactly what he intended, at least in my case. His description of the war and its various aspects, both the physical and the emotional, managed to create a lasting impact on my mind.

The vivid and often disturbing details he presented made me truly understand the horror and brutality of war.

Even though I may not remember the specific plot or characters, the overall impression that Mailer left me with will always stay with me.

A deeply engrossing book awaits, one that has the power to immerse you fully into every single thought, feeling, and action of the numerous personalities that constitute the I and R platoon. This platoon was but a very small part of the American invasion of the Japanese-held island of Anapopei during World War II.

It is completely different from what I had initially expected. The platoon is not composed of brave heroes valiantly fighting for a noble cause. Instead, they are ordinary, terrified men who more often than not are battling their own fears and resentments rather than an outside enemy. They are pushed beyond the limits of endurance, constantly struggling to survive. In this story, moments of quiet horror replace the sweeping battle scenes that one might typically envision.

As the book progresses, every rain and sweat soaked day and night takes a further toll on the men. They are broken down until they become plodding automatons, with only a primitive urge to survive and the fear of their own sergeant keeping them going. Moreover, the internal and constantly shifting politics of the platoon are just as important, if not more so, than any maneuvers the enemy might make.

This is an absorbing read that truly brings home the exhaustion and drudgery of the life of infantrymen. It is peopled with vivid characters that are sure to stay with me for a long time.