House to House

As raw as it gets

David Bellavia's memoir "House to House" describes the intense fighting and the sacifices made by our forces in Iraq in raw detail. If you are looking for a first-hand account of what is really going on in Iraq then this is the book you should download. David, thank you for your service to our country.

27 people found this helpful

excellent writing, story and narration

I think this is a great book. I've read or listened to many books about the wars in Iraq (including another that focused on Fallujah) and AFG. and think this is one of the best. Although I like almost all of the other books, this one really gives a sense of what the weeks, days and hours for Staff Sgt. Bellavia and his unit were like (unrelentingly brutal). It gives details about things I've never thought about before - what it's like to have lacerations from flying shrapnel all over ones face and body in a filthy, bacteria laden environment (the result is intense infection), or the consequences of not being able to take off combat boots for days on end (painful, rotting feet) - and those are just a couple of the "little" things.

I wish every American would read this. As our troops return from multiple deployments, it's extremely important that the general population be educated about what they've endured. I can't imagine anyone reading this without coming away more understanding of and compassionate towards our combat veterans (and active duty service members).

Finally, I can't say enough good things about the narrator - he is fantastic.

13 people found this helpful

Wow, Best of this type!

Where does House to House rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very near the top. Story is just amazing and author brings you along so well.

What was one of the most memorable moments of House to House?

when author fights by himself in the house near the end of the book. Also when he recounts his interactioins with his son it just tore me apart. Reminded me of my son and having to leave him and his mother when I travel.

Have you listened to any of Ray Porter’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Have not listened to one of his other performances but this was truely stellar.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

You bet....but I forced myself to break it into little pieces to make it last.

Any additional comments?

I was thinking this would be similar to many other similar books I read but I was absolutely floored by the emotion, and the feeling that pours forth from this book. Only regret is not purchasing sooner. You will judge other books of this type by this book from now on.

9 people found this helpful

From the Ground

This is one mans view of the US assault on Fallujah, if you want an overview of strategy this is not the book for you. This is about the struggle of Staff sergeant Bellavia and his platoon as they fight house to house in the city of Fallujah. Personally I like the detail and the perspective from the man on the ground, no gloss, no political spin, just the raw details as he sees them. The saying "someone has to do it" in never more appropriate than in this book. War is not clean, surgical or all electronic yet... We still rely on the "Warrior" despite the spin often portrayed in the media. The book does not always read well but this is not meant to be a classic this is one mans perspective and I think he does the job well. You have to admire anyone who is prepared to place themselves in harms way in situations like this, God Bless our troops may we always support them, despite the social/political climate.

14 people found this helpful

One of the best audio books I have listened to

Any additional comments?

This book gives a brilliant insight of what it was like to be in the US Army, in Iraq, post Saddam. The author is very funny, honest and doesn't spare the listener from any of the horrors of war. This is a book you must get.

8 people found this helpful

FIRST HAND ACCOUNT OF WAR

This is a first hand account of the horrors and sometimes incredible stupidity of war. Don't look for the reasons why we go to war but experience through the authors and narrator what it means to be in combat, sometimes hand to hand combat. My services in the Army taught me that you can become numb to almost anything and this book reminded me of those times. It also reminded me of the so often stupidity of superior officers who dress like field combat soldiers but sit comfortably behind desks in safe offices and never, ever even come close to combat. And of those politicians in Washington who send young troops to war, young men and women to fight battles for reasons unknown while the politicians pompously wait for their drivers to take them to the nearest pub for a free meal and drinks. Cynical am I, you bet but that comes from experience. This is a really worthy book. Not always easy to read and sometimes a little gritty. The language is that of a soldier, not a Harvard educated author but that is reality. You may be angry at the end but you should be proud of those who serve and you will be better off with a clearer understanding of war for having read this book. .

2 people found this helpful

Excellent!

SSG Bell relates his story of the battle of Fallujah and completely involves the reader. Fascinating and can't put down story everyone ought to read(listen). It makes you want to scramble for your flac vest. Oh, I left mine in the arms room 35 years ago. What these men went through does not compare at all to my 20 plus years in the Army and makes me need to back up to the pay table for my retirement check. Heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time.

Hooah, hell Thank god for the American soldier.

5 people found this helpful

Entertaining Listen

The author's down-to-earth while engaging and detailed style made this one of my favorite recent listens. Sure made two long drives fly right past. Gave me a much different perspective on things 'over there' than all other media sources have. Just a warning - quite a bit of front-line infantry style profanity than a more traditional documentary format so might be better to avoid if that is going to offend you. I found myself laughing out loud frequently though.

5 people found this helpful

Great story, well read and written

Really good honest account of a soldiers time in a battle zone. Reflects the brutal reality of life in combat as an Infantry man.

7 people found this helpful

Honest, Gut-Wrenching Story of Feet on the Ground

Okay, this hit hard . . . our son is in the army, he's an NCO, just like Staff Sergeant Bellavia . . . he was in Iraq fighting this same nasty war during the height of the surge, watching his "brothers" die everyday . . . but he's not an infantryman, he's a mechanic . . . and he cleaned their body parts and blood from the vehicles and sent the recovered vehicles back out only to see them returned blown up again . . . he came back with survivors guilt . . . then his younger brother deployed to Iraq, his baby brother, the sensitive one in the family, he left his newborn son to go to a war he didn't understand . . . what he DID understand was the brotherhood, and they fought for each other, to keep one another alive, just like SSG Bellavia . . . our youngest son wasn't an infantryman either, he was a small arms repairman, but in the heat of war, soldiers do what needs to be done . . . like going out on the Tigris River to repair a water pump out in the open and being shot at . . .something that we didn't learn about until years later . . . These soldiers keep a trunk full of memories, like slow-motion movies, stuffed down inside them, that seldom surface. The fact that SSG Bellavia has chosen to share this very personal account of his time in Iraq, is a sacrifice. It is appreciated and valued by this army mom and wife of a retired Sergeant Major. There's no political correctness here, just raw truth. You can't go wrong listening to it. You didn't see or hear this on the news. This is the real deal. Thank you, SSG Bellavia.

4 people found this helpful