|
He says he wants no "damned Jesus" at his funeral. I mean, really, who cares if his grandparents were Jewish. Had he experienced special circumstances, prejudice or obstacles because of his origins, it would have been relevant. I suggest it does not.
Expect no big excitement here. Had the author been catholic and said he wanted no "damned Jew religion" at his funeral I doubt It would have been published. He did not. This is the real story of an average firefighter and there are no overwhelming conflagrations.
Had it been titled: Working Jewish Fire: The Memoirs of a Jewish firefighter, it would have been expected, but it wasn't. One ponders, why the disparity. Good writing, good stories, real insights, if a bit heavy on the Jewishness for a guy who isn't even religious. Does that make him more heroic, more noble, more human.
Zac puts you in the drver seat of the engine and takes you to the biggest and smallest fires that downtown Oakland has to offer. Going from the dreaded "Tower" to station one and beyond. This book is very well written with surprising humor that shows that even in a smokey profession you can still have good laughs. Zac Unger takes you deep into the world of the fire department and all it's ups and downs. Telling stories of his unexpected rise to becoming a firefighter.
I would consider Unger the "Mark Twain" of the Fire Service--his prose and creativity weaves a story that can't help but be true. Zac Unger, as an intellectual, describes his emotional and physical journey from someone with no fire service background to being a firefighter. Even though it isn't your typical "fire-to-fire" memoir, the book is still difficult to put down.
One of the most moving books I have ever read.Up there with Kraukuer and Junger.
I would recommend it to anyone considering a career in the fire service or to anyone who is interested in what exactly happens in firehouses across America. As a fireman and a writer, I enjoyed this book from cover to cover. The story was very interesting and well written.
|
