Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain
The novel follows Billy Lynn, a 19-year-old soldier, who, along with his fellow soldiers in Bravo Squad, becomes a hero after a harrowing Iraq battle and is brought home temporarily for a victory tour. During the tour, they're honored at a Dallas Cowboys game, which exposes the commercialization and shallow appreciation of their sacrifices. Amidst the celebration, Billy grapples with his understanding of heroism, patriotism, family, and the stark contrast between the realities of war and America's perceptions.
The 3261st greatest book of all time
- Published
- 2012
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 300-320
- Words
- 92,000
- Original Language
- English
- Alternate Titles
- None
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 9 lists:
- 7th on A Premature Attempt at the 21st Century Canon (Vulture)
- 8th on The 21st Century's 12 Greatest Novels (BBC)
- 54th on Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels (Entertainment Weekly)
- 1750th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 2040th on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- Best Books of the Decade(2010-2020) (Chicago Tribune)
- The 80 Books Every Man Should Read (Esquire)
- 100 Best Books of the Decade so Far (2010-2015) (Oyster Books)
- National Book Critics Circle Award - Fiction (National Book Critics Circle)