Exit A

by Anthony Swofford

Book Overview

Anthony Swofford follows his international best-seller Jarhead with an unforgettable first novel -- a powerful story about a youth spent on a U. S. air base in Japan and the gritty neon streets just... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 074327038X
• ISBN13: 9780743270380
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Scribner Book Company
• Length: 287 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Take Your Place, Anthony Swofford

Yes, take your place amongst America's very finest writers for this is as good as it gets. There is something exhilarating about being so in thrall to a writer's skill at plot and characterisation; it really is breathtaking. The story of Severin Boxx and Virginia Kindwall, as well as being one of the utmost complexity, is so dripping in the atmosphere of time and place that it has a virtually cinematic reach. With it's piercingly authentic Far Eastern backdrop it's almost impossible not to conjure up 'Lost in Translation', or even vague recollections of the military personality from both 'Apocalypse Now' and 'Mash'. And General Kindwall, Virginia's father, gradually becomes more real than people you actually know. Now, also, I understand how it really might be possible to go from hatred to compassion to redemption in only one lifetime. And then just look at Swofford's complete mastery of storyline, swooping and swerving through time, utterly assured whether covering two weeks over fifty pages or fifteen years over a hundred. This is a ride you really want to go on and neither do you want it to end because you're never sure how it's going to get you to your destination. But you always feel safe in this writer's hands, a bit like how it must be to be driven across a big city at breakneck speed, but by a Formula One driver. I can think of only four other novels of recent times that can sit with 'Exit A' at this exalted top table: Anthony Doerr's 'About Grace'; George Hagen's 'The Laments'; Chang-Rae Lee's 'Aloft' and A.M. Homes's 'This Book Will Save Your Life'. But the truth is, if I never again read a book as good as this one I don't think I'll really mind.

A worthy sophomore debut

Having read and enjoyed Jarhead, I eagerly awaited Swofford's debut novel, Exit A. It's the story of a confused young man and a desperate young woman who eventually reunite in their early thirties. It takes place mostly in the Tokyo area in the late 1980's on an American military base. There is some autobiographical background to the book that Swofford skillfully brings to the forefront. His characters have believability. As for the readability of the book, the writing, at times, seems as though it was done on post-it notes and then arranged on a dining room table. But the story kept me engaged and without giving anything away, I was disappointed when it ended-I would have read more. That's what makes it a worthwhile read and it's what makes me eagerly await Swofford's next novel.

A Story You Haven't Read

If you're looking for a spoiled rich kid's story you've come to the wrong place. There is no Holocaust tie-in, no sex abuse, no prep schools and no shrinks. This is a novel about the ordinary Americans who fight our wars abroad. I give Swofford top marks in his depiction of the female psyche, in his characterization of Virginia, the "hafu" daughter of an American base general and his late Japanese wife. I identified with both protagonists -- the frustrated female would-be juvenile delinquent, and Severin, the idealistic squeaky clean football player who quite understandably falls in her thrall. It took me back thirty years to when I was these kids' age -- it's no small feat to write about teenagers as they really think and behave at the time -- there is no sense of the wise adult overlaying their thoughts and actions. Like another reviewer, I've thus far failed to read Jarhead, as I avoid all super-hyped blockbusters till the dust settles out and I can read them for themselves,and not through a lense of envy or hero worship. So I can honestly recommend this book on its own merits, and credit it for breaking many of the tired cliches of modern fiction. This freshman effort was, if anything, underhyped when it came out this winter, which is odd, because its subject matter -- American families whose livelihoods,identities and souls belong to the military -- is extremely topical. It's an important book for now, and I'd venture, forever.

Jarheadded opinion

Ever since "Jarhead" I have loved Anthony Swafford's writing style. Being a Marine and living in Japan also helped me fall in love with this book since I relate to it so much.

Not surprising from Swofford

Although this book is a work of fiction, there are many moments where the reality can be felt (unlike a reviewer pointed out) and experienced. Furthermore, having served in the service myself, the story reminded me of a life once lived, as in Jarhead. Severin Boxx does seem like someone not believable, but so are many of our servicemen and women if one would take a closer look into the person they really are based on experiences and tragedies in life. The same is true for Severin and Virginia. The timeline of events is vivid as well. At a ripe age, the two are ignorant and tender to what the world has to offer them at the time. As time goes on, so does life and the course it takes. People marry. People make mistakes. People cheat. People lie to protect what they have. People try to recover from travesty. People fall in love again. All are covered in this book. None of these appear to be unrealistic. A very moving story, indeed. If you compare this story with several facets of Jarhead, you'll see similar hurts and discomforts. This is very much a story of love and one's journey in search of it. Great read. A+ as usual for Mr. Swofford.