Cherry - Nico Walker ------------------ 3.5 Stars

The only reason I came across this book is because of a commercial about the upcoming release of a movie based on the story. Then, I quickly researched what it was about and the synopsis was about an army medic that came back from the Middle East, got PTSD and addicted to opioids (Oxy then heroin). he then had to start robbing banks to get money to support his addiction. The book, while fiction, is based on the author's life and struggled to get published as the author was in jail for a while. So, yeah, Cherry had quite a backstory for me prior to picking it up. Interestingly, it's also the debut novel by the author and has earned some rave reviews, though I am not sure they are full warranted.

The book is a tough read in many ways - gritty, sexual, explicit about drug use, violent, and includes more than an average amount of curse words. What's hard is that the book rarely gives the reader a break. While the book starts with a bit more about the "good ol days" of the narrator, once he gets into the Army a quarter of the way, the book doesn't slow down until you are finished. Many of his stories are not pleasant. Detailing the specifics of a person dying from an IED, to the stories about his poor choices when high on heroin, ensure you are prepared for the graphic nature of the story.

While the book is interesting and his stories fascinating, it reads like an author writing his first book. It would be hard to read it and think he was a well trained student of writing. The sentences are often short, simple, and occasionally scattered. Often, I was not sure his writing had logic. While not quite stream of consciousness, many paragraphs and chapters feel like they were thrown together as someone was doing their best to remember whatever details might have come to them while in an traumatic situation (the war) or under the influence of drugs. It probably reads that way as that was likely what was happening while he was writing the book!

But, the book is still a really great read. Again, it's gritty and not nearly as polished as much of the other literature that is out there, but the point of view style, coupled with the detailed and graphic realism of his story, make it an enjoyable read. Again, going in be prepared that it may offend you or that it might rattle you. He does a great job putting you right in the room with him, whether he's shooting up, or helping an amputee. Overall, its probably worth giving this book a try - or - check out the movie (on Apple TV) and see if the book is worth reading!