The Beatles: Books, Music, and Cultural Impact - Explore Their Influence on Art, History & Society | Perfect for Music Lovers & History Buffs

A dynamite title that delivers. “Beatles, Books, Bombs and Beyond,” is a refreshing perspective of life in the 1960s, written by dear friend and author, Bob Deluca, who clearly has a story to tell and a AAA journey to deliver. Bob shares an honest recollection of events that shaped his life and, of course, his book.When Bob contacted me a couple of years ago, he mentioned being interested in writing a book that would involve the death of my first husband, Capt. Jerry Zimmer, and our good friend, Capt. Charlie Pigott. Both were Marine jet pilots, who lost their lives in Vietnam. I gave Bob my blessing.I understood Bob’s need to honor the memory of his two good buddies, hoping to better understand why he – also a Marine officer – came home when his tour of duty ended, and they did not. Many Vietnam War vets have told me that they deal with this lingering thought, so I felt that Bob’s approach was right for him. Several months later, he sent me a copy of his first draft, and I was convinced.To be perfectly clear, the book is not mired in the details surrounding the deaths of two Marines killed in Vietnam. Instead, Bob uses his skills as a first-class storyteller and author of three novels to share a 50-year journey that you’ll think went by much too fast, as I suspect Bob and Joyce -- his wife of nearly five decades, would agree.The three guys met while students at Brown University on NROTC scholarships. They came from similar socioeconomic backgrounds, Bob and Charlie were from comfortable middle-class upbringings, while Jerry’s upbringing was more in the struggling middle-class category, typical of growing up on a small dairy farm. Brown was financially out of their reach, considering other siblings were prepping for college, too. Undoubtedly the scholarship was a godsend, even though it came with strings attached, which readers will find delightfully interesting.What makes Bob’s book a real jewel is his use of humorous anecdotes to make a point and not fall prey to negativity that readers often expect when the word “war” is mentioned. Bob’s book is loosely autobiographical, and while the war is discussed, as is death, he leaves the battlefield horror to others and chooses the road less taken for himself and for readers of all ages and backgrounds.As a non-fiction writer/editor for over 30 years, I’ll end this review on a positive note. I won’t deny crying periodically while reading “Beatles, Books, Bombs and Beyond,” but I laughed a lot more. I learned so much about the 60s that I had either forgotten or never knew. Bob’s journey will not bore readers, beginning with his comical view of the Ivy League/frat lifestyle, juxtaposed with pre-military training in the NROTC Unit, and “where is Vietnam?” a taste of the real Navy during midshipmen summer cruises – my favorite was a stop in Honduras; tough love in Officer Candidate School; making the grade, not easy in Marine Basic School; Vietnam -- some came home and others did not; and a fulfilling life beyond.I loved the book and hope you do, too.Elaine Zimmer Davis