Review of It May Be True

[Harty Muli]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "It May Be True" by Robert L. Snider.]

---

3 out of 4 stars

---

Share This Review

---

I didn’t know what to make of the recent government directive where people were forced to take the COVID-19 jab. With the administration or the big pharma controlling the flow of information, for some people, it proved the notion that the government could go out of its way to pull off a hoax targeting its citizens. As an example, in the recent past, the U.S. government had been criticized for detaining people at the Guantánamo Bay detention camp in Cuba without trial, all in the name of national security. In his book It May Be True: A Teenager’s Lesson when Volunteering for the Government, Robert L. Snider narrates a chilling story of what happens when the government impedes the public’s right to information.

Upon receipt of a draft notice, Jim, a high school graduate, reported for an induction exercise at his nearest county military facility. After a prolonged duration of not receiving any feedback, Jim went back to the county office to inquire. Eventually, he learned that his paperwork was lost in transit. Being a reasonable young man, Jim decided to forge ahead with his plans, only to be surprised when a certain secretive government body invited him for an interview.

Jim’s story is yet another example of how the government has abused the trust bestowed on it by the public. Despite the democratic ideals that elect our leaders, I was dismayed that a jobless youth could be hoodwinked into joining a secretive government program without his parents’ knowledge. Even so, I liked this novel because it beautifully dramatized the balance between Jim’s right to know what he was signing in for and the government’s need for secrecy.

Furthermore, this story was interesting because it illustrated how one man helped shape the course of the Vietnam War. Regardless, even though Snider featured only a few characters in his novel, I found their identity confusing and uninspiring. This was mainly because of several characters who were sharing the name “Bob” in the story. To elaborate, the author featured a Bob’s Drive Inn; Jim’s instructor was called Bob; and the president’s legal representatives were called Tom and Bob. This was the only aspect I disliked about the novel. Otherwise, the book’s editing was nearly perfect, save for a few errors I identified. Because of the observed weakness, I rated the novel 3 out of 4 stars.

This would be an excellent novel for someone looking for something uplifting from the Vietnam War era. It’s told from the perspective of a non-combatant, hence, it’s a good option for young readers interested in history. At the same time, there is an instance of a cold-blood murder in the novel, so it may not be for the faint-hearted.

******
It May Be True
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Azubike Richard]

This book does not impress me from your review. I would not be reading it

[Stephen Onyango 3]

The book is educative as it educates on how the government should not be trusted

[Amy Luman]

Sometimes I get to feeling that I’m way to cynical when it comes to getting information from the government. Then I read something like this and wonder if I’m still too trusting.

[Paully_]

I don't like the storyline of book but it appeal to readers who enjoy reading about War. Nicely written review.

[Daniel Oluwabiyi]

I would be lying if I said I understood your review. I would not be reading this book.

[Oluwasogo Familusi]

This book depicts the betrayal of the government. It shows the untrustworthy nature of the government.

[EVERLASTING 22]

I find the storyline a bit boring from the review. But I like the themes that the book brings fourth. I would give it a try. Thank you for the honest review.

[Oyedeji Funmilayo]

The book is just another eye opener on the fraud our governments commit. But you trying to correlate the story with covid-19 was a deviation. I hope to see more of your reviewa welldone

[Jen Nghishitende]

The book seems to be all over the place for me, although the theme of Government betrayal may be interesting. But I think I will pass, thank you for the review

[Sopulu Ezidimma]

This book deals with the ills the governments in the current time. Thanks for the review.

[Waliyat_24]

This book is an eye opener to citizens of different country. Most government are not transparent, they tend to misuse the trust the public has in them. Great review!

[Lawrence+2]

Well, I believe that, there is always an atom of truth behind every information. The case of covid19 is a mystery that most people don't know about. Nice review.

[Oluwasogo Familusi]

The book seems to be an eye-opener on distrust and betrayal on the part of the government. Though it's a theme of interest, I'll just bypass this book for now. Thanks for the review.