Barney Campbell's debut novel, RAIN (2015), gives us the Afghanistan war from the British army point of view. As we follow the story of young Tom Chamberlain, from childhood through Cambridge, Sandhurst and officer training to command of a squad of armored cavalry in Helmand Province, we learn he is an only child of a widowed mother who follows the family tradition of joining the army, much to the dismay of both his mother and his college girlfriend. And yes, there is a long-distance love affair, complete with the "Dear John" letter and later making-up in all its awkwardness and passion. But center stage here is the very close camaraderie Tom forms with his fellow officers and, especially, his NCOs and men during their perilous six-month tour in the deserts of southern Afghanistan. The mutual love and respect displayed is nearly palpable. Which makes the injuries and losses, described in excruciatingly gruesome detail, especially poignant. It all seemed so real that I found myself wincing and recoiling in horror and actually had to stop reading and step away for a moment. Yes, Campbell's prose was THAT affecting. And this is his first book. About all I could find out about the author was that he did serve in the British army, with a tour in that "Sandbox." My response to the book was visceral. Campbell is a writer to be reckoned with and RAIN should claim a permanent place in the pantheon of War Lit. My very highest recommendation.

- Tim Bazzett, author of the Cold War memoir, SOLDIER BOY: AT PLAY IN THE ASA. ( )

Ben dit boek beginnen te lezen maar na 80 pagina's gestopt. Heel langzaam verhaal, saai ( )

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