Read:
1. Dear John- Nicholas Sparks
*Four Stars
*Dear John was an enjoyable read like all of Nicholas Sparks' books. I really didn't like the ending and the choice that one of the main characters made. I think my support of my man really sways my opinion of this book, and some may argue it gives a false perception of a military life. In the end, I liked it, and would recommend it to anyone--civilian or military.
2. Purple Heart- Patricia McCormick
*Five Stars
*Even though it's a "Young Adult" read, I think anyone will love this book. It's a super quick read, and McCormick digs deep into the life of a soldier. Instead of just skimming the surface, she reveals the thoughts and feelings of the soldier. It will definitely make you think about the things our young men (and women) endure while at war.
3. The Final Salute- Jim Sheeler
*Twenty Stars!!! :)
*The Final Salute tells the story of the opposite side of the war: the fallen heroes and their families. From the perspective of a Marine casualty officer, you get to know the fallen servicemen and the ones they left behind. Not an easy read by any means, I cried each time I picked the book up. However, I couldn't stop reading it. I tortured myself with finishing the book because I felt like they gave their lives, so the least I could do was learn their story.
4. Alas, Babylon- Pat Frank
*Three Stars
*This book isn't based on the military. It's the story of a nuclear war, and it really opens up your eyes to what would happen if America WAS bombed... several times. There is a small side story about the military and an Airman that had to leave his wife and kids with family because he knew the worst was coming. The wife holds on to hope that he's still out there alive somewhere, but with each passing day her hope diminishes. A very interesting read to say the least...
5. Flags of Our Fathers- James Bradley
*Four Stars
*This is the story of the men that raised the flag on Iwo Jima. It's an extremely historical book, but definitely worth every minute. I mean, who knew the Japanese were INSIDE the island and not on top of it. You'll definitely have a new respect for the Marines on the island after you finish this one.
6. The Lucky One- Nicholas Sparks
*Five Stars
*Even though it isn't military based, this is still an amazing love story. This Marine walks across several states to find a girl that he found a picture of during his time in Iraq. He doesn't know what he's looking for, but don't worry, he finds out. :)
7. I Am A Soldier, Too: The Jessica Lynch Story- Rick Bragg
*Five Stars
*Jessica Lynch was part of a convoy in the middle east that got separated from the rest. She and her fellow soldiers arrived in the wrong town, and before they knew it, they were ambushed by the Taliban. This is the amazing story of a small town American hero that we should all be proud of.
8. Lone Survivor- Marcus Luttrell
*Twenty Stars!!! :)
*Marcus is a SEAL telling his, and his fallen teammates, amazing story. He's not a professional writer, just a Navy SEAL, but that makes his book even better. He's only trying to tell everyone what happened and what he went through. Definitely a must read for ANYONE. :)
9. Soul Survivor- Bruce Leininger
*Five Stars
*What would you do if your two year old was having gut-wrenching nightmares? What if he said to you the next day, "Plane crash. Fire. Little man."? What would you think? These parents had no idea what to think. Their son's nightmares became an obsession for Bruce. He found out who that little man in the plane crash was: his son, a reincarnated WWII veteran.
10. Love Stories of WWII- Larry King
*Four Stars
*Basically this is exactly what the title says: a compilation of WWII love stories. Each story is four or five pages long and tells the story of how the two lovebirds fell and love, what their families thought, and how/if they survived the war. It gets a little repetitive, but it's worth the trip the the library.
11. Married to the Military: A Survival Guide for Military Wives, Girlfriends, and Women in Uniform- Meredith Leyva
*Three Stars
*TONS of facts, advice, and personal experience. It's extremely dry, but it's a great reference book.
12. Going Overboard: The Misadventures of a Military Wife- Sarah Smiley
*Four Stars
*This brought out allll my emotions. It gave me a glimpse of what happens to these wives when their husbands are deployed. It made me sad when he left, angry when they were in an argument (and when she hung up on him while he was in port), and happy when the reunion came. Sarah is down to earth and relatable and honest. Overall, a good read.
13. Home Fires Burning: Married to the Military for Better or Worse- Karen Houppert
*Three Stars
*I'm not sure what to think about this one. Karen is a military brat and returns to the military life by interviewing wives on base. It's an eyeopener to clueless civilians, but as a girlfriend, I wasn't up for hearing sob stories or how much they struggled.
14. Confessions of a Military Wife- Mollie Gross
*Five Stars
*Oh, Mollie. She's a hoot! I loved every bit of this book. Her stories are hilarious and will leave you wanting more. A great insight to life as a military wife and how to embrace it. Mollie, please write another book full of your hilarious stories. :)
15. The Things They Carried- Tim O'Brien
*Five Stars
*After reading this book all I can say is... Wow. O'Brien relives his time in Vietnam through stories-some true, others fiction. They're short stories, but they're all centered around the men of Alpha Company. O'Brien writes about the deaths of men in his platoon, and releases his guilt about the man he killed. The ending was what really got me... never expected that. Go read it to find out what I'm talking about. :)
Plan to read:
1. Medals Above My Heart: The Rewards of Being a Military Wife- Brenda Pace, Carol McGlothlin
3. Spouses Also Serve- Tiffany A. Booher
4. Honor, Courage, Commitment: Navy Boot Camp- J. F. Leahy
6. The Ocean Between Us- Susan Wiggs
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