Johnny Got His Gun

[nuxvomica]

4. We read the book in high school

It really stuck with me. Trumbo's writing is so evocative that every so often I get a craving for a hamburger sandwich like the guy was selling on the street. That's the part my brain holds onto because it was a pleasant memory among all the disturbing descriptions in the story, like my subconscious needed to use that to anchor the experience because reading that book was so important. It's one of a handful of books I read in my youth that has shaped my worldview. In this case, the ant-war part. To those who think maybe young minds should not be allowed to read disturbing books, I say there is no hope for civilization unless they do read them.