Humorous and likeable characters. Reads more like a few related stories and atecdotes rather than a novel ( )

I wasn't sure what to expect when I began this, but I was pleasantly surprised and found it very readable! I was amused by the differences in the characters (esp their marital statuses) from the show. ( )

I listened to this novel that started MASH. It was a fun listen, and I mostly pictured the TV cast as I listened. There are differences between the novel and TV series. For example, "Hot Lips" was interested in a doctor but his name wasn't Frank Burns, although they seemed to have similar personalities. Klinger was not in it. Radar's role was minor. There was another doctor--Duke from Georgia--in the Swamp with Hawkeye and Trapper. It was hard to picture Father Mulcahey as "Diego Red" since the actor didn't have the red hair the book star had, but of course, when they called him Father Mulcahey, I had no troubles! It was fun. It reminded me while MASH is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, TV shows of all time. ( )

While no Pulitzer candidate, I enjoyed reading the story if for no other reason that comparing it with the film. As we get to know Hawkeye, Trapper, Col Blake and the rest, we get a sense of how well the film was made, including the casting. The other characters and situations that aren't in the film are welcome and I feel would have added more to the movie. Regardless, there's obviously parts where you laugh out loud so its a worthwhile read. ( )

I'm all over the place with this novel.

Being a fan of the movie, and a massive fan of the series, I wanted to go back to the source material. It's an interesting ride, but like I said, I'm a bit scattered. Let me see if I can untangle this knot...

First, yes, the known and loved are there. Hawkeye, Trapper, Col. Blake, Radar, Hot lips, Burns, Mulcahey, etc. And even some of those from the movie and the first few shows. Ugly John, Spearchucker Jones (and would we EVER have a name like that on television again?).

But wait...Hawkeye has brothers? In jail? And he's married with kids? Mulcahey is as warped as the rest of them? Trapper is the smarter and better of the surgeons than Hawkeye? Radar isn't so childlike and innocent?

And who the hell is this Duke guy that plays such a big role? And some of the other players? Okay, fair enough, this isn't the movie, this isn't the book. Let's enjoy the new friends.

And I did. I honestly did. I had a few laugh out loud moments throughout the book.

But something weird was going on in my head. It was in a constant struggle to reconcile the Alan Alda Hawkeye to the book Hawkeye, along with all the other characters. Likely a side effect of having seen the entire series at least three times, and the movie twice. So, through no fault of the novel, it was a bit of a schizophrenic experience.

Second, this isn't a novel. It's not a non-fiction account. Call it faction. Call it whatever the hell you want, but it's essentially a collection of anecdotes-as-chapters that all have the same recurring characters. Had Hooker been a better writer, some of the character introductions would have worked much better had he taken a few moments to just bring them in a chapter or two earlier so that, when they're needed, they're already known personalities.

So, the stories were fun, and often quite funny. The characters were...well, who they were. Blame the scriptwriters for changing them. The writing was, at best, workmanlike.

And still, I'm very glad I've read it. But god no, I will not read the other MASH Goes To... books. Hell no. ( )