Chickenhawk – Robert Mason
I made a decision recently to start reading more. I’ve even set myself a really tall order of re-reading The Lord of the Rings come Christmas time. I’ve only figured on putting it off til then so I can really sink my teeth into it! In the meantime I’m tackling Ben Elton’s Stark. Thus far an oddly hillarious read that’s really got me hooked – I’ll tell you more later!
But to the point man!
When I was in high school I had a burning passion for all things aviation. I even (not so secretly) harboured fantasies of flying for the RNZAF. My uncle had a Bell Jet Ranger at the time and I was particularly enamoured with anything with a rotor (helicopters, not RX7s!). So when I found Jack’s copy of Chickenhawk by Robert Mason, I just had to have a go.
About all I can remember about the book is that I loved it! So when Kirsty picked up a copy at the 2009 Lion’s Club Book Sale earlier in the year I got quite excited. Reading it again was kind of like reading it for the first time after some 15 or 16 years, and I can say I enjoyed it as much – if not more than – last time.
Mason starts his story as a young man who has always wanted to fly. When he was a kid he used to dream of flying around like a bird. The US Army gave him the opportunity to train and fly helicopters. Unfortunately for hom this all happened in the 60s so predictably, the army sent him to Vietnam.
Chickenhawk chronicles his time in ‘Nam from flying grunts into “hot” landing zones to seeing fellow helicopter pilots fall to human error. Mason describes the action so well it’s like really being there. He also writes frequently of his inner feelings at being separated from his wife, Patience and their infant son Jack. You can truly feel his pain as at times he’s not sure if he’ll even see them again. He comes across as a real human with real human feelings – shock and disgust at some of things only people in battle get to see – and real human failings. More than once we find our protagonist succumbing to carnal desires with local Vietnamese women in spite of his family.
The last chapter of the book covers his return from war, and this was perhaps more shocking than the entire rest of the book. In his first decent contact with American civilians he’s asked by a woman at an airport if he’s returning from Vietnam. Proudly he says yes, only to have her turn on him, scowling and calling him “Murderer”. He goes through endless jobs which he can’t hold down because of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, takes up drinking and smoking dope and turns his back on society, disappearing into the middle of nowhere to build a log cabin. In the close of the book he tells of his arrest smuggling drugs into America for which he does time in prison.
I think that’s what makes this book so good. Mason is no hero. In the beginning he’s a focussed young guy flying off to war with a true passion for what he does – real hero potential. For the duration of the war, he’s just a guy doing his job – a job that he becomes increasingly uncomfortable with. And there’s no happy ending. For the last half of the book he slowly sinks into a sleepless, stressed-out wreck who is grounded from flying on more than one occasion due to all of this. By the last page he’s a broken man, just telling the world his story.
It’s real, it’s gritty and the best thing by me… it’s an easy read. The weird bit is that it’s just a chronicle of “stuff that happens” – there’s not really much of an ongoing story – but I just couldn’t put it down. Even if you’re not really into the whole war thing, this is a must read by me. 5 stars!!!!
You can pick it up at Fishpond with 24 hour delivery!
28
Nov
That was a great review Bren. I may consider buying the book for Colin. Thanks!
Thanks Ria! I really appreciate the feedback!
I have to say that it is one of my favourite books as well. Must go and find my copy for a re-read.