I read this book about 20 years ago and it kept coming to mind so I searched it out again. It is a very honest and raw story about a young boy who is very poor and dreams of having a "normal" life. At the age of 14 he lies about his age and joins the Navy right at the end of WWII. Jack doesn't really have a chance and yet he keeps trying. I have read that this book is somewhat autobiographical. I thought there were a few places where he went on about logitics a bit to much but all in all this is one of the best written books I have read. The author manages to draw you in and make you care for this poor kid even with all of his flaws. It does have very graphic sex and a lot of it but it's honest and so much a part of the character. It is not added as a cheap way to boost the sale of the book it is really part of who this kid is.
Violence and sexuality, raw, powerful and overwhelming.
