Eight Lives Down

I have read and thoroughly enjoyed many books of this genre. So, I settled down to read this one, full of anticipation. Within the first paragraph, I was irritated. Within the first page I had become annoyed, and before the end of the second page, I had thrown it down.

Why?

The whole thing had for some inexplicable reason, been written in the present tense. Why, why why? Was it an attempt to make it more exciting? If so, it doesn't work. Was it an attempt to be clever? Didn't work. Was it an attempt to be different? It certainly succeeded there.

It is an unnatural way to write and to read. It reminded me of the 'Janet and John' method that many people were exposed to as children.

I feel cheated. This should have been a thumping good read, but it wasn't. Even though I tried to go back to it a couple of times. Tomorrow, it will be donated to a charity shop --- along with some good books.

well written and inspirational (0/0 people found this helpful)

Too good to do justice to here. Well written, exciting, insightful and touching. A hige amount of respect is due to Chris for his actions and in the honesty of his writing.

No question - a book to order.

Gripping read (0/0 people found this helpful)

Gripping. A real page turner, Major Chris Hunter clearly has a gift for putting you there in the action. Peppered with British Army humour (quip about the REME guy "testiculating" -- waving his hands in the air and talking... had me in stiches). This is a superb book, really moving in some places and i'm not the kinda guy to be moved easily, but i defy anyone to come to the end of this book without feeling an immense amount of emotion.

This book was the first i read of Private Johnson Beharry VC. I read Sniper One by SGT Dan Mills after this book (another good read, based in Al-Amarrah at roughly the same time, not as expertly written as this book but really engaging read all the same) which also described the steely courage of Pvte Beharry VC -- i'd like to meet that soldier! Although this book doesn't tell of Pvte Beharry VC's fate (Sniper One tells a little more), i've since read that he's been awarded the VC and more importantly survived that RPG attack on his warrior. I mention Pvte Beharry's survival here for those that read the book and are left wondering on his fate.

The married man with two kids who liked to play with bombs (1/1 people found this helpful)

Mr. Hunter spent 17.5 years in the British army, 10 of which were in bomb disposal. Eight lives down focuses on 4 months of his tour in Iraq, with the first two as his last stint as an ATO (ammunition technical officer). He and his team were so successful in diffusing bombs that insurgents took a disliking to him with a price on his head. His next two months were spent as a weapons intelligence officer, a position he reluctantly accepted but grew to like.

Major Hunter was married with two kids when he deployed to Iraq, despite one more empty promise in a string of broken promises not to spend time away from his wife on dangerous missions. Iraq would become his longest mission away from home, during which he became borderline paranoid about his wife divorcing him. It's a wonder why a married man with two small kids would prefer the rush of adrenaline from diffusing bombs to spending time with his family. "I've never taken drugs," he said, "but I don't believe there's anything that will ever equal the exhilaration of that tour," referring to Iraq.

Chris Hunter wrote this book under an alias for security reasons. His intent was to share his experience of what it was like to be terrified, how his family coped with his time away and the ever present danger of losing him, and how soldiers like him react to the pressures of the day to day grinds in battle.

In this action packed book, Mr. Hunter compiled the most exciting events of his tour in Iraq sure to satisfy the appetite of even casual military and combat enthusiasts.

Gripping tale of a very brave man (2/2 people found this helpful)

If I saw a bomb, I would run in the opposite direction. This book is about a man who takes `the long walk' in the other direction.
The author had one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, that of bomb disposal in Iraq. This is the story of his time there.
It doesn't matter if you were for or against the war because the troops didn't have a choice and this is their story. Our troops come out of this very well, trying to do a job where they are generally not wanted and against an enemy that prefers to strike from a distance.
But this is mainly a story of bomb and explosive removal and it is hard to imagine how brave you would have to be. Add to that heavy protective gear in the searing heat and knowing there is a price on your head.....
This is an intense and gripping tale and a real page turner. It feels very honest and it touches on depression and the real impact on family and relationships, but above all it is about that long walk being made by a very brave man indeed...

Chris Hunter

Reader Reviews:

So disappointing (0/1 people found this helpful)

well written and inspirational (0/0 people found this helpful)

Gripping read (0/0 people found this helpful)

The married man with two kids who liked to play with bombs (1/1 people found this helpful)

Gripping tale of a very brave man (2/2 people found this helpful)

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