#96. "From Here to Eternity" by James Jones

In times of crisis, it is often encouraged that people "man up." The idea of masculinity has been one of the driving forces in society and has been the backbone especially in times of war. There need to be tough leaders who make important decisions. There's no room for sissies or women who are precious with their emotions. It's a theme that is so baked into the ethos that most of World War II is defined by muscle-clad heroes facing danger in the face. What James Jones posits is the idea not of how to survive a war, but what exactly makes a soldier masculine. What even is masculinity and how does one use it authentically? In this towering epic, he uses the events of Pearl Harbor to reflect on a group of reserve officers trying to stay ready while questioning every facet of their lives. The results are rather impressive, especially for late-50s gender politics, and create a side of war that is immediately boring but also more engrossing than just about any battlefield.
War is hell. Even if there are very few actual rounds of ammunition shot throughout the near-thousand pages of "From Here to Eternity," there is the constant sense of danger lingering in the background. A trumpet/former boxer enters the equation, himself trying to find his place within the community. There is a brute cook, men who throw around their weight with verbal jousts. They talk ill of the Japanese, where Jones even writes them in dated dialects that halt an otherwise very progressive story. The journey into town to visit prostitutes adds a certain frankness to everything that allows these men to live a "normal" life despite being geographically removed from their home life. Everything seems fine. Hawaii is, after all, a land of paradise. So why is it so dull?

The men are intimidating. Even when they're sitting around playing cards or trading recipes, they have a consistent antagonism, doing everything to keep themselves tough. They don't let up any deeper emotion, or at least in ways that are direct. They are repressed, reflecting a loneliness that grows with each passing chapter, creating a need for an outlet. Sure there is a soapy and sexual romance in the pages, where an exploration for love results in a complicated view of sexuality. The prostitutes at times play more like therapists, able to listen to everyone's problems, resolving them in between coitus and creating some sense of sanity for the next few days. Everything is in place for survival mode, even if the men want a chance to not be masculine, to not be seen as heroes. It's a tiring premise, and Jones is obsessed with exploring the answer.

In one particular section, Jones even explores sexuality in terms that were much more complicated than contemporary tales. In one scene, a soldier has a long conversation regarding the subject of homosexuality and bisexuality. There's concerns of whether it's natural and to Jones' credit he allows these perspectives to be valid, to be treated with a tenderness that gay panic would quickly brush off. In fact, it's what isolates him from the other troop members, eventually leading to some internal struggles. Along with sexuality, there's themes of alcoholism along with various other coping mechanisms, doing everything they can to survive a war that has been largely stagnant. They spend more of the time hearing about occurrences than actually being involved, making one wonder just what being here actually stands to benefit.

For a novel that refuses to play into grand action until the very end. it does a great job of exploring character development. Whole sections are dedicated to the downtime, where nothing but conversations occur. Not everything is about futility, the impending doom beyond their shores. A lot of it is simply reflecting on a life that they want to return to, jokingly passing the time and hiding their inherent loneliness. For a book designed to tackle every facet of masculinity, Jones has a delicate way of making the deepest emotions have this personal weight. Everyone has struggles that, no matter how small, impact their journeys. This is a story more of how masculinity is difficult to maintain without a tender side, something that reminds men that they are human, in need of love and acceptance from others. As the cliche goes: no man is an island.

For some, the lengthy passages of conversations will be too tedious and boring to be appreciated. For those wishing for more of a character drama, where everyone is merely existing in a war zone, this is one of the more affecting novels designed. A lot is put into exploring how men open up to each other, creating security within themselves and the community. Yes, there's room for goofy songs like "The Re-enlistment Blues," but deep down the memories are sweet and simple, reminding everyone of how important it is to be happy, to live life, and be true to oneself. It may not be the easiest or most convenient, but those willing to be true to themselves may find it easier to appreciate these small moments as the best parts of war, of being able to have someone there to watch your back and remind you that you are not alone in this hellscape. It's sometimes all that's needed in any stage of life.