Customer Reviews

DRESS GRAY

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I really enjoyed this book. It had the requisite ingredients for a good thriller. It had richly drawn, convincing characters and several subplots that worked with the original story line. The descriptions of cadet life were insightful and informative. The writing was military: crisp, sharp and neat. The story presentation was fresh and interesting and to the author's credit, he manages to keep readers on edge, wanting more.

I really enjoyed this book and I would gladly recommend it.

Wow what a great adventure You will not be able to put this classic down! As I say, its Undownputable. Great from start to the excitintg climax.

Summer leave is about to begin a few days. Do you think you can make it through the rest of the year without anything eventful happening? Think again, your life is about to become a whole lot more interesting. Dress Gray by Lucian Truscott reveals just how quickly the life of a cadet can change. America viewed West Point in 1968 as a producer of fine young men to feed the war in Vietnam. Many anti-war groups opposed the ideals behind the ancient institution but its prestige lived on. The reputation of the school on the Hudson had to be preserved at all costs. When a dark secret about their own is about to reveal more then a pretentious commandant wants the public to know, he will do what ever necessary to hide it. At the bottom of it all is Ry Slaight, an upperclassmen who finds himself part of an elaborate cover-up where he is the key to secrecy. On a mission himself, Ry finds the truth and then must decide what he should do with it. Will he accept the bribes of tactical department or do the honorable thing and have justice served. In Dress Gray, Lucian Truscott was able to make one feel what it was like to be a member of the corps. The narration and the dialogue felt so real, as if the story actually happened. Truscott was able to illustrate the way cadets think, feel, and act, revealing how deceiving and cunning they can be. The plot flows smoothly, balancing the story between the cadet's investigation and the commandant's cover-up. What emerges is story that keeps you reading until the last lie is told. The themes addressed in the novel were very touchy at the time; therefore, the plot of covering scandal and misconduct seemed so necessary. The Vietnam War was raging on the other side of the world and protestors were looking for any excuse to attack the military. The last thing West Point needed was more attention. A dead cadet found floating in a lake that might have been murdered would have gotten the ball rolling. What if he turned out to be a homosexual? Were there hate crimes being committed at West Point? Was the home of America's finest harboring social deviants? The need to prevent the public from pondering these questions would force the corruption at West Point to stoop to new lows. It reveals just how far people would go to make sure they are not the ones responsible. When others critiqued the book they compared the system of West Point to the mafia. It is sure to stir up some pretty strong opinions from those at West Point. Truscott's novel will make the average reader sit back and question if that is how things are run up there. Dress Gray is a thrilling novel that will leave the reader standing at attention.

The author actually attended the USMA in the timeframe of the book, so this is probably a pretty accurate view of the odd, cloistered world that was/is West Point (circa 1967).

The portrait painted by Truscott of the USMA is hardly flattering, though it should be pointed out that Truscott's USMA produces some superbly honest, loyal and courageous officers, NCOs and cadets to set against the bad guys. I have no trouble believing that senior officers and cadet officers could behave as they do in the book, because I saw them behave just about this way (both the good and the bad) in Army ROTC; different environment but similar in a few ways. Where credulity starts to slip is in the extreme experiences of a single cadet and in the bungling by the officers who seek to silence him. In the real world, I can't quite envision either situation.

There are too many typos for my taste, but not so many as to get on most people's nerves. A good entertaining military novel, of special interest to anyone closely connected to a West Pointer--or, for that matter to anyone contemplating the way the military mind reacts to homosexuality.

The author is clearly not fond of his alma mater, and I find it hard to believe that such high-ranking officials at the Academy would be involved in this type of coverup. In any case, this is a fast, easy read, and will certainly entertain.

PS: I certainly hope the publishers have fired their proofreader; there were literally DOZENS of typographical errors in my copy.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book! Had me guessing all the way through. Okay, so it's not brain surgery, nor is it rocket science. Nonetheless, it's fun to read. Almost like Hardy Boys mystery for adults!

I'm online and going to buy another of his books!

For those of us who enjoy the military and maybe regret not pursuing military careers, it provides the academy as a "character". Unrealistic perhaps, but entertaining even so.

This was a good book, even though some ideas were a bit far fetched (evil com, for example). I think in order to truly appreciate this book, you have to be somehow connected to West Point (a cadet, a grad, or an officer/NCO who lived there). In other words, don't read this book if you are a candidate hoping to know what West Point is like because you will come away empty-handed. Finally, there is foul language in this book; however, I doubt Truscott was trying to tip toe around things when he wrote Dress Gray. The language helps paint a clearer picture of cadet life.

ES, USMA '02

I read this book awhile back and I was not impressed. Truscott sounded like a self-righteous and bitter crybaby who probably should have spent his college years back in the 60's with all the other hippies. I am sure West Point has its problems but the way that Truscott eviscerates the school you really have to wonder is it that bad? I also did not get a good sense of what the school was like for the cadets. I mean apart from plebe year how was it for the average upperclass cadet? If you want to read a book about a military college that celebrates both the good and the bad evenly. I recomend The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy. A Sense of Honor by James Webb. Or even the Academy by Ed Ruggero. West Point actually banned this book for 20 years, and probably for the first time my life I can probably say that I agree with a book banning.

I bought this book because a friend had recommended it and I read the reviews posted and thought I might learn something about the Academy and enjoy the book at the same time. I learned LITTLE that I wanted to know about West Point and spoke to West Pointers who said the book was highly fictionalized for effect quite often. I think the guy must have learned something there because he doesnt write badly, just not well enough to get me to buy another of his books. AND I have a hard time imagining Lee, Eisenhower, Grant or Buzz Aldrin having such filthy mouths as just about everyone in this book! Pointers I spoke to said the school frowns on talk like that.

This was a great book. I went to West Point and hated it, this book was very powerful and was almost like being there again.