Plot Summary

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

Ben Fountain
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Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012

Book Brief

Ben Fountain

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2012
Book Details
Pages

307

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Texas • 2000s

Publication Year

2012

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk follows nineteen-year-old specialist Billy Lynn, who, after a firefight in Iraq makes him famous, returns home with Bravo Company for a victory tour intended to boost support for the war. As they navigate a day at a Dallas Cowboys game, the soldiers confront the superficiality of public adulation, the reality of their trauma, and the challenge of reintegration into civilian life.

Gritty

Challenging

Emotional

Contemplative

Bittersweet

Reviews & Readership

4.0

33,946 ratings

67%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Ben Fountain's Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk is lauded for its poignant critique of war and media sensationalism, juxtaposed with sharp, satirical humor. Reviewers praise Fountain's prose and character depth, but some find the pacing uneven. The novel’s indictment of American culture resonates, yet a few critiques mention overly cynical undertones.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk?

Readers who appreciate sharp social commentary and dark humor will enjoy Ben Fountain's Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. Fans of Catching-22 or The Things They Carried will find the book's exploration of war, media, and heroism compelling and thought-provoking. Suitable for those interested in contemporary political and social issues.

4.0

33,946 ratings

67%

Loved it

23%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

307

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Texas • 2000s

Publication Year

2012

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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