It is Finished - Review of Black Hearts

Over the past week I read parts of a number of books, but the only book I read all the way through was Black Hearts: One Platoon's Descent into Madness in Iraq's Triangle of Death.

Black Hearts follows an unfortunate series of events that plagued one American platoon. The platoon was severely understaffed, in a dangerous area, with sometimes  questionable leadership strategies (I'm looking at you Kunk)

I initially wanted to read it to learn more about the war in Iraq. AND I DID. If you want to learn more about the war, and what our men go through, read this book. On review called it a mix of In Cold Blood and Black Hawk Down. I wasn't disapointed.

It took me at least 7 hours to read this book, which brings my grand total to.....

37.5 hours - Almost my exact total from last year. Go figure.
I read Class Matters, Searching for Whitopia: An Improbable Journey to the Heart of White America, Mathilda Savitch: A Novel, Black Hearts: One Platoon's Descent into Madness in Iraq's Triangle of Death and about halfway through 4 other books.

Many of you passed me to recieve the A+. Congratulations. Entering a reading contest with a called worker shouldn't have been TOO hard, but I know many of you are busy as well.

That said, I was VERY impressed with the amount this class read. You blew last year out of the water. I can't wait to add up the totals and to read your last posts. You made me very proud.

Some of you will be cynical and claim that many students lied. While a few perhaps did, I believe in my heart that 1. Almost all of you honestly completed the challenge. 2. Being cynical is unhealthy. 3. I have no reason to be anything but proud of all of you.



Thank you for participating in the 2nd Annual Strusz Reading Challege. I hope I've created life-long readers out of many of you. I pray you feel empowered to use reading to your advantage through your entire lives. Reading is truly a gift from God!

At 11:58, Wednesday, April 14, 2010, I declare this reading challenge complete!