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| Plot Summary of The Bridges of Toko-ri |
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"James Michener's Korean War novel is about Navy fighter pilot Harry Brubaker, the finest flier aboard the carrier USS Savo. He is unhappy to be in this unpublicized and unwanted war as a civilian pilot. His superior officer is Admiral Tarrant, who although a gruff tyrant to many has taken to treating Brubaker like a surrogate son; his own two boys were killed in WWII. After ditching his plane in the ocean Mike Forney, a diminutive Irishman from Chicago and a simple minded Kentuckian named Nestor Gamidge go to rescue him. They are a part of the Navy's heroic helicopter search and rescue patrol. Gamidge flies while Forney jumps in to save the drowning pilots. Everyone is concerned for Brubaker's return as his wife and daughters are awaiting him in Japan. He is reunited but the shore leave is brief and bittersweet. Forney is involved in a melee over his Japanese girlfriend leaving him for another sailor and Brubaker comes to his aid.
All the men are in awe of Beer Barrel, an immense 250 lb Texan who routinely smuggles cases of beer aboard inside two massive golf bags. He is the one who lands the planes onto the flight deck. Brubaker is chosen for an important mission to bomb the heavily guarded bridges of Toko-ri, but worries that he won't return and temporarily loses his nerve. He is relieved to find the mission scrubbed and instead they fire upon Communist ground forces in a support role. His landing on the carrier is dicey but Beer Barrel brings him in. Next morning they bomb Toko-ri successfully but his joy is short lived when his jet is shot down in North Korea. Forney and Gamidge are summoned to retrieve him. The helicopter is blown up; Gamidge is shot and killed. Forney crawls into the sewage pile Brubaker is shielding himself behind as the two fight off the advancing North Korean troops. As Forney is killed by a grenade Brubaker is alone to fight for his life. The bitter realities of war are driven home in one of Michener's most poignant and concise works of fiction."
David Fletcher, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of The Bridges of Toko-ri |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 40%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 10%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 20%
Tone of story
- depressing/sad
Time/era of story:
- 1930's-1950's
War Thriller
Yes
Armed Forces:
- Navy
Specific to
- Korea
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Escape/rescue behind enemy lines?
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- pilot, airforce
Age:
- 20's-30's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- an organization
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- throughout most of the book.
Motive of antagonist
- power
The antagonists are:
- communists
Setting
Asia/Pacific
Yes
Asian country:
- Korea(s)
Water?
Yes
Water:
- warship
- drowning
City?
Yes
Misc setting
- fort/military installation
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
How many deaths?
- 8 or more
A lot of techno jargon?
Yes
Kind of jargon?
- military technology
Unusual forms of death
- perforation--bullets
- exploded into bits
Unusual form of death?
Yes
Amount of dialog
- significantly more dialog than descript
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Click here for more information about this book
James A. Michener Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 David Fletcher
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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