Talk:MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors

Plot

This plot needs work. It lists things that happened in the movie, but not the book such as the football game. It leaves out things that were in the book but not the movie. For example, it doesn't mention the part where Trapper dresses as Jesus, strapped to a cross and dangled from a helicopter so that they can Hawkeye and co. can sell photos to the religiousl inclined. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.155.106.13 (talk • contribs) 03:51, 27 April 2007

I agree that the plot section needs work, but I disagree about the nature of work needed. Errors aside, this section is a complete re-telling of the entire story. Is that really the way to go in book articles? Seems like overkill to me. --63.25.236.17 (talk) 19:27, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

It is overkill and certainly does nothing to make the entry look appropriate to an encyclopedia.Irish Melkite (talk) 05:45, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

The plot still needs work. I also cannot believe that there is an article on this novel and the words 'The Epileptic Whore' are not anywhere to be seen! 162.156.35.152 (talk) 22:30, 30 March 2019 (UTC)

Requested move

The title of the novel, as can be seen on the cover of the original 1968 edition reprinted in this article, is MASH, not M*A*S*H, which was created for the poster of the movie. — Walloon 09:06, 28 June 2007 (UTC)

• Support per nom and WP:MOS-TM: "Avoid using special characters that [...] are included purely for decoration" - Cyrus XIII 10:40, 28 June 2007 (UTC)

This article has been renamed from M*A*S*H: A Novel About Three Army Doctors to MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors as the result of a move request. --Stemonitis 09:20, 3 July 2007 (UTC)

Subtitle

This is the first I've ever heard of the subtitle. I have a paperback edition from the 70s with the film poster (peace sign on female legs) on the cover. I just checked, and nowhere in the entire book does the phrase "A Novel About Three Army Doctors" appear. --63.25.236.17 (talk) 19:43, 29 November 2007 (UTC)

Agreed. There is no subtitle in the original hardcover or paperback editions.Irish Melkite (talk) 05:42, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:MASHBook.jpg

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BetacommandBot (talk) 22:22, 2 January 2008 (UTC)

Kiss My Hot Lips

I just got done reading the book, and the scene where Radar puts the microphone in the tent is not there. I know it's in the movie, it's a classic scene, and I was kind of disapointed about it not being in the book. But I bounced back. And even Duke's quote was differenet in the book. In the book it says "'Henry,' Duke asked, 'if I get into Hot Lips and jump Hawkeye Pierc can I go home, too?'" Also, the football game really didn't have anything to do with the football game, as it says in the article. Hawkeye just persuaded Trapper, Duke, and Henry because he was boared and wanted cash.

Now it IS possible that I am reading an abridged addition, because I got it from the library and the cover is a replacement cover that just says M*A*S*H Richard Hooker. If it is, I think I might just cry, but I'll live. So, are the above scenes in confirmed non-abridged books, or did someone get the movie and book confused? 98.220.223.197 (talk) 02:18, 14 November 2008 (UTC)

No, you're correct. The quote you present is the accurate one and there is no mention of a bullhorn nor, for that matter, does it say that Hot Lips and Burns were trying to have sex/make love (however it's phrased in the piece). The actual text reads "They retreated to the Major's tent, where they consoled and plotted until 1:30 A.M. At least that was the report which Corporal Radar O'Reilly submitted in the morning." You're also correct as regards the football game.

The entry needs serious work to separate the book and movie and, as referenced previously, it's problems include: 1. the fact that it is mistitled - there is no subtitle to the book; and, 2. what appears here is basically an abridged retelling of the book - that is unnecessary and a type/style of presentation that certainly can't be defended as encyclopedic.Irish Melkite (talk) 05:39, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Publication Data

It indicates in the box that Pocket Books was the novel's publisher. That's only true as to the paperback edition - which is not what's referenced when it indicates 224 pages as the length. That page count refers to the hardcover, published by William Morrow & Company, Inc. - October 1968.

The Pocket Books edition (at least the original 1969 version, 1st paperback printing) was 180 numbered pgs; those did not include 8 unnumbered pages at the front (title page, author's foreward, and a couple others) or 4 pages of ads at the back. Irish Melkite (talk) 05:54, 5 December 2008 (UTC)

Issues with this novel

To be honest, there are issues with this article. There are too many details of the plot and too little reality, which WP:PLOT is against. It needs evidence of impact, such as reception. Plot needs to be skimmed down, and notability of this novel is dubious, aside from the fact that it inspired MASH (film) and M*A*S*H (TV series). Since I haven't read the book, maybe it needs cleanup if the article must be stronger as independent. Otherwise, how about merge? --George Ho (talk) 17:54, 14 April 2012 (UTC)

So who really wrote the novel?

So who really wrote the novel Hooker or Heinz? Please answer. Thank-you. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 60.224.198.189 (talk) 07:49, 4 February 2019 (UTC)

• Heinz's obit (which follows) says that he helped Dr. Hornberger, who had been "struggling" to write of his Korean War experiences. My take is that Hornberger, not a writer by trade, wrote a not so good first draft and Heinz "smoothed" it out for him, basically rewrote it from the ground up. It was then published under the pseudonym Richard Hooker (supposedly after Hornberger's golf swing). https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/sports/28heinz.html Sir Rhosis (talk) 19:24, 15 June 2019 (UTC)