Review of Wild World

[Rukaiya Musani]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Wild World" by Peter S. Rush.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Wild World by Peter S. Rush is an eye-opening novel set in the ‘70s during the Vietnam War. It strikingly shows the other side of the political war where the local youth is protesting earnestly against being recruited to fight in it in the name of patriotism.

It typically follows the story of a college graduate, Steve Logan, who along with his friends participates in protests against the war. Similar protests ensue throughout various colleges and universities which end up being broken up and the demonstrators being wrongfully arrested and brutally punished by the police. This, as well as his passionate love for Roxy Fisher sets the critical foundation of the fascinating story. Steve is convinced that in order to bring change, he has to try to reform it from within the system.

To prove to himself and Roxy that he is inevitably a dedicated activist determined to initiate change, Steve foregoes law school to instantly join the local police force. He is confronted with the brutal reality of how organizational corruption is inbred right from the lowest positions to the higher levels. He instantly realizes that reforming the corrupt system is an enormous challenge and puts his and Roxy’s life in danger by documenting and attempting to do the right thing, even though the entire police force frowns upon it.

With his valuable experience as a police officer, Peter S. Rush has been able to realistically detail and provide insight into the workings, challenges, achievements and failures of the police force. The fascinating book is quite relatable as the reader follows the life of Steve as he tries to retain enjoying his youthful college life and friendships while at the same time experiencing the harsh realities of life. Torn between two distinct worlds, Steve struggles to make some appropriate decisions but trusting his gut instinct, he manages to carefully balance the two.

The story builds up quite slowly at the beginning which invariably tends to be a little boring but is eventually quite captivating with some suspense, and is altogether a very enjoyable read. The book is well edited with only a few minor errors. I wouldn’t want to compromise, and therefore I positively give it a rating of four out of four stars.

Wild World by Peter S. Rush is suitable for adult readers who typically enjoy historical fiction mixed with a combination of a love story, political activism and dedication to making the world a better place.

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Wild World
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