Review by ab2020 -- A Police Action by A. A. Freda
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ab2020
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Review by ab2020 -- A Police Action by A. A. Freda
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Police Action" by A. A. Freda.]
2 out of 4 stars
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A Police Action by A. A. Freda is categorized as a historical fiction novel, but it is definitely more of a romance. I have no idea where the title comes from or what it means, but in short, the book is about a man named James Coppi and his relationship with a woman named Samantha (Sam) Powers. The novel is set during the Vietnam War and details the couple’s struggle to overcome the barriers of distance, culture, and loyalty as James goes through training and combat.
The narrative alternates between two subplots. The first follows James’s experiences in the military, and the second follows his relationship with Sam. A few recurring themes and events tie the plot together. First, James continually lends money at exorbitant rates of interest in order to make a living. Second, James continually faces disciplinary actions for flouting military rules but always seems to weasel his way out of severe punishment. Third, Sam continually questions James’s loyalty while becoming increasingly emotionally attached to him.
To be blunt, this novel is not an extraordinary romance novel, and it also not an extraordinary historical fiction novel. It is definitely an engrossing read, but that does not mean that it isn’t problematic. I actually wish that it were lighter on the romance and heavier on the historical fiction; the author describes James’s time in the military very vividly but is less successful when it comes to describing James’s relationship with Sam. Sam often comes across as extremely annoying, selfish, and spoiled. I quickly tired of her emotional outbursts and perpetual worrying and begging.
Another major problem with A Police Action lies in the fact that the author fails to replicate the atmosphere of the Vietnam War era with much accuracy. Though the military scenes in the book seem true to the setting, the “civilian” scenes seem as if they take place in the twenty-first century. Several topics, including abortion, sexual harassment, and cohabitation are discussed in light of contemporary social standards. Additionally, had the novel not been about a soldier fighting in the Vietnam War, I would never have gotten the impression that the story is set during wartime. (In reality, the Vietnam War affected American society deeply, but this book gives no impression of that fact.)
The book contains quite a few grammatical and typographical errors, and the author’s prose is not particularly notable. It is occasionally vivid but often bland, and the diction and style are quite simplistic. All this makes the book seem rather amateurish. A Police Action is built on a fine premise and had a lot of potential, but I was simply quite disappointed by the book’s lack of polish. I would only recommend it to those who really would not mind the flaws mentioned above. Otherwise, I would suggest passing on this one, as I can only rate the book 2 out of 4 stars.
******
A Police Action
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
2 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
A Police Action by A. A. Freda is categorized as a historical fiction novel, but it is definitely more of a romance. I have no idea where the title comes from or what it means, but in short, the book is about a man named James Coppi and his relationship with a woman named Samantha (Sam) Powers. The novel is set during the Vietnam War and details the couple’s struggle to overcome the barriers of distance, culture, and loyalty as James goes through training and combat.
The narrative alternates between two subplots. The first follows James’s experiences in the military, and the second follows his relationship with Sam. A few recurring themes and events tie the plot together. First, James continually lends money at exorbitant rates of interest in order to make a living. Second, James continually faces disciplinary actions for flouting military rules but always seems to weasel his way out of severe punishment. Third, Sam continually questions James’s loyalty while becoming increasingly emotionally attached to him.
To be blunt, this novel is not an extraordinary romance novel, and it also not an extraordinary historical fiction novel. It is definitely an engrossing read, but that does not mean that it isn’t problematic. I actually wish that it were lighter on the romance and heavier on the historical fiction; the author describes James’s time in the military very vividly but is less successful when it comes to describing James’s relationship with Sam. Sam often comes across as extremely annoying, selfish, and spoiled. I quickly tired of her emotional outbursts and perpetual worrying and begging.
Another major problem with A Police Action lies in the fact that the author fails to replicate the atmosphere of the Vietnam War era with much accuracy. Though the military scenes in the book seem true to the setting, the “civilian” scenes seem as if they take place in the twenty-first century. Several topics, including abortion, sexual harassment, and cohabitation are discussed in light of contemporary social standards. Additionally, had the novel not been about a soldier fighting in the Vietnam War, I would never have gotten the impression that the story is set during wartime. (In reality, the Vietnam War affected American society deeply, but this book gives no impression of that fact.)
The book contains quite a few grammatical and typographical errors, and the author’s prose is not particularly notable. It is occasionally vivid but often bland, and the diction and style are quite simplistic. All this makes the book seem rather amateurish. A Police Action is built on a fine premise and had a lot of potential, but I was simply quite disappointed by the book’s lack of polish. I would only recommend it to those who really would not mind the flaws mentioned above. Otherwise, I would suggest passing on this one, as I can only rate the book 2 out of 4 stars.
******
A Police Action
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Altitude Journals by David J Mauro
