Freeper Reading Club Discussion: "From Here To Eternity"

Self | Janurary 12, 2002 | PJ-Comix

[stylin_geek]

As I read through this book, it struck me how Prewitt went his direction, and did what he thought was right, no matter what the cost to himself personally.

The other major character that surprised me was Sgt. Warden. He had his own ways of doing things, but his goal was to have the best company at the base. Which it appeared he achieved. Overall, I did find the book interesting, and if it is an accurate picture of pre-WWII military life, anyone who was in before WWII started deserves any medal they may have received, and possibly a couple of more.

[SamAdams76]

Good analysis. There's also another scene in the book in which Prewitt stumbles upon a drunken Warden on the road the night that Prewitt met Slade while playing guitar and working on "Re-enlistment Blues."

Prewitt and Warden banter back and forth good-naturedly, finishing Warden's bottle together and then sit in the middle of the road "to get hit by a truck." But they are picked up by Lt. Culpepper's driver who is obviously disgusted at the "mutual backslapping society" as they both call each other "the best f'ing soljer in the Compny..."

But even in his drunken state, Warden knows that Prewitt is doomed to soon to end up in the stockade for one reason or another, and he feels very badly about it.

[PJ-Comix]

Everyone interested in how Jones obtained his sources for From Here To Eternity should check out this FASCINATING college thesis entitled FICTION AS HISTORY: James Jones---From Here To Eternity.

I wonder if there are more college papers on the subject of James Jones? I sure would like to read them.

[7thson]

I did not read FHTE during this time period, but I have read it three times in the past. From reading your posts, I can tell your are an avid reader, as am I. I have read books from the major post WW II authors (Jones From Here To Eternity, Mailer's The Naked and The Dead, Shaw's The Young Lions, Uris's Battlecry, Heller's Catch 22, as well as Styron and Wouk). James Jones is my favorite author and I have read nearly everything from him. Some years ago, I was throwing some stuff away from a storage place I was renting. In the dumpster was a copy of Viet Journal from Jones. I also got a copy of The Ice Cream Headache, a collection of his short stories. Both very good.

Back to FHTE. After reading the thread, I think most people missed the relationship between Prewitt and Warden. Warden sees himself in Prewitt. Prewitt is Warden and while the top kick sees the soldier in Prewitt that he can become, he also sees the independent streak in Prewitt that was somewhat extinguished in Warden. Prewitt, though he needs the "sea daddy", the mentor, that Warden can be, resents Warden looking out for him.

What are my favorites parts in the novel? The stockade experience and how Prewitt realizes that nearly anyone placed in that type of authority can become a Fatso Judson. When the one buck sargent that fought Prewitt kills himself. He is one that went all the way with the homosexuals. After being beaten by a little man - Prewitt - he doubts himself and his manhood and believing himself to be a fag, kills himself. Jones description of this one act that can never be taken back or corrected is awesome. It is somewhat ironic, that the actor that portrayed Prewitt in the movie - Montgomery Clift - was an homosexual. I know it is off track, but one part in the movie I loved is when Frank Sinatra takes a chair and hits Fatso Judson (Ernest Borgnine) upside the head with it. One of the great American novels and a fantastic movie.

[7thson]

Another thing. Can you point me to the article that Peggy Noonan wrote concerning FHTE? I thank you advance for any help you give me.

[PJ-Comix]

Jones description of this one act that can never be taken back or corrected is awesome.

Check out my Fiction As History link in Reply #43. The reason why this description was so great was that Jones' own father committed suicide. You will also see how Jones' family in the Midwest used to be in the upper crust of his town but eventually were lowered by economic conditions to a hard scrabble life.

James Jones is my favorite author and I have read nearly everything from him.

So you must have read Go To The Widowmaker. I quickly realized that the main character was DIRECTLY based on Jones himself and did a lot of personal research on that book. I found out that every character I researched was based on a real person and that the incidents were true. I think I'll have to read Jones' Merry Month Of May about the student/worker strike in Paris (he used to live there) in 1968.

BTW, Jones was a visiting professor down here in South Florida around 1974-1975 at Florida International University. He was perfectly content to stay on since he liked it here but FIU stupidly refused him a minor salary increase. This is the same FIU that freely spends money to give students free massages and pizzas (I plead guilty to grabbing a few slices myself the other day). The point is FIU was incredibly short-sighted by refusing the minor salary increase and allowing American's GREATEST novelist to slip away.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Classy response to a tacky attempt at humor. I'll prowl the used bookstores this week.

Regards, Slim

[PJ-Comix]

Can you point me to the article that Peggy Noonan wrote concerning FHTE?

You can find it HERE.

[PJ-Comix]

I'll prowl the used bookstores this week.

If you like scuba or skin diving you might want to also check out his Go To The Widowmaker. It is considered the best book about skin diving ever written. Many folks who skindive but aren't really into literature have told me about this book, not even realizing who the author is. They just like the book.

[7thson]

The Merry Month of May is the one Jones book that I have not read completely. I started reading it back in the early 80's and is actually one of the few books that I have never finished reading. Though I love his work, this novel did not grab me - at the time.

Go To The Widowmaker is an good read, but Some Came Running, his second novel I believe, is actually better and right on par with FHTE. Thanks for the link.

[PJ-Comix]

Go To The Widowmaker is an good read, but Some Came Running, his second novel I believe, is actually better and right on par with FHTE.

I think I have Some Come Running lying around here somewhere. I'll have to see if I can find it. I understand there is a long version of it which I would prefer to read.

[nutmeg]

FYI

[SamAdams76]

One thing that struck me in the book was the constant use of the word "tailormades" to refer to cigarettes that we now take for granted - that is, cigarrettes that are already pre-rolled and packaged 20 to a pack. Back in 1941, many soldiers in the service couldn't afford the "tailormades" and rolled their own.

I just think it's ironic because we seem to have come full-circle. For the "tailormades" have become so expensive due to oppressive taxes that even the affluent have taken to rolling their own again.

[PJ-Comix]

For the "tailormades" have become so expensive due to oppressive taxes that even the affluent have taken to rolling their own again.

Actually with the cigarette making machines now they can roll really good ones. There was a thread here once about that.

BTW, I just started reading a book by the same guy who wrote Watership Down, Adams. This book is called Traveller and is about Robert E. Lee's horse of the same name and told from its point of view. So far the book seems really terrific and it would probably make a great cartoon movie.

[Little Bill]

It was very common to call the Madam of a cat house "Mrs". My grandfather and I were very close and in the tales of his ramblings in Western Canada before WW1, a few MRS's came up.

[PJ-Comix]

My grandfather and I were very close and in the tales of his ramblings in Western Canada before WW1, a few MRS's came up.

Mrs. MacKenzie of the Victoria Club?

[PJ-Comix]

WOW! So far this Traveller is an INCREDIBLE book. It is the story of Robert E. Lee in the Civil War told through the eyes of his horse, Traveller. Why this novel by Richard Adams ("Watership Down") isn't more popular I don't know. But so far (I just started) it is GREAT! I picked it up for two bits at the flea market and didn't intend to read it until sometime in the future but after just reading the first couple of pages it sort of pulled me in.

Anybody else out there ever hear of Traveller the book?

[Tijeras_Slim]

Found them both. About 100 pages into FHTE...
Thanks!

[Auntie Mame]

I'm a little late to the party here, but I did read FHTE. Please put me on the ping list.

My reaction to the actual reading of this book surprised me. Because of its length I often thought of quitting, but every single time, another beautiful paragraph would hook me. The book was, to me, not so much the story but the honesty of the writing and the author's really unique ability to put into beautifully placed words thoughts and motivations of his characters. I think reading this book would make anyone a better writer, or at least give them a goal to aspire to. Reading this book could make the reader a better THINKER. Maybe that's what's so great about the author, he was a great THINKER and had the gift of being able to put it into words.

Thank you, PJ.