Scott Turow’s novel Ordinary Heroes was on my shelf by mistake. I didn’t realize at first it was a novel and I thought it was about the war today. When I opened it and began reading, it was clear it was WWII, but since I have always been a big “fan” (Should anyone call themselves a fan of a war? What word should I use instead? I have always been fascinated by the war.), I read it anyway.

At one point, talking of General Teedle and his horrific abuse, according to Bonner, of the men in his command, I was nauseated and thought I would put the book aside. Up to that point I had thought it was a true story. It says it is a novel on the cover, but I rarely read the covers of books. As I went to put it away, never to finish the story in my dismay at the tale, I saw the book says it is a novel. I still wasn’t sure and went and read the author’s bio. It is a novel.

That is not to say that what happened during the war at different times and to millions of people isn’t just as bad as what Gen. Teedle was said to be doing, but the idea of an officer using and abusing his men in the way described in the book… It turned my stomach.

The book is an excellent story, not only of the war but of a son’s search for understanding of his father. And I think there is a lot of truth in the story, even if the story itself is not true.

It’s a good book. I would recommend it.