cover image The Cadillac of Six-By's

The Cadillac of Six-By's

Reverge Anselmo. HarperCollins Publishers, $20 (128pp) ISBN 978-0-06-101209-9

Set during Lebanon's civil war in 1983, Anselmo's slim debut is as murky as the political situation in Beirut itself. By the time the U.S. Marines and the multi-national peacekeeping forces arrive, Lebanon has been blasted apart by 10 years of internal warfare among Syrians, Palestinians, Druze, Muslims, Christians and Israelis. Marine corporal Cazetti helps gather worthless intelligence for a well-meaning colonel who is completely unable to control the strife. Savvy and alert in the field and in combat, Cazetti is a troublemaker in camp. Every day is an ordeal for the young soldier, since he can see that peacekeeping efforts are pointless and major bloodshed is just a matter of time. Falling in love with a Maronite nun only adds to his confusion and disappointment. The narrative is slow and meandering until the bombing of the Marine barracks in October 1983. Anselmo describes the firestorm well, but this action comes too late to save the sluggish story. Another impediment is the use of military jargon that adds authenticity (a Six-By is a truck) but is often confusing. (May)