From Sadie Jones, the author of acclaimed The Outcast, comes a new novel portraying the effects of war on a military family. Small Wars dives you right into the muck of the battles between the British Empire and the Cypriots seeking freedom.
A bit of background is given, showing how the central characters, Hal and Clara, meet. You’re then plunged ahead to their later marriage and parenthood of twin girls and Clara’s joining Hal on the island of Cyprus. Right away I noticed the growing rift between the two of them, much of it probably springing from the way that women were generally viewed and treated during the mid-1950s. As the story ebbs, you begin to see evidence of Hal holding on to putrid memories of warfare and destruction, haunts of gory recollections and regrets of former days.
What Hal is truly suffering from is post-traumatic stress disorder, which was much less understood and diagnosed during that era. You have an inside window into the minds and feelings of both Hal and Clara…his torrential nightmares and inner anger, her bouncing between compassion and resentment. It is truly something that is never spoken of, never understood, by either of them…and it begins to tear them apart.
The tension and the drama escalates until a breaking point, an episode that jerks Hal out of his mire and brings tragedy home for real, forcing him to examine his character and his blessings, his most cherished relationship.
I found this book difficult to read. It was harrowing and sad, raw and edgy. It is full of explicit violence and has some crude language, both of which don’t bother me terribly. I was mainly affected by the depressed emotional weight of the entire book. Growing up a military kid, I saw and experienced first-hand that doing one’s duty for one’s country can result in some hardship. Though it was extreme, I was able to relate to much of this book, and that is probably why it moved (and disturbed) me so.
I kept reading passages that jumped off of the page at me, sentences and paragraphs I wanted to write down. I found myself saying more than once: Yes! She’s got it! She’s captured it right…so right!
It is not sugar-coated, it is not dumbed down. It is a frank and honest portrait of life for those who serve among troops as a profession…and the families and loved ones they live with (or leave behind).
You can buy Small Wars for $24.99 from HarperCollins, or look for it wherever new books are sold.
Win it! Thanks to HarperCollins, one of you can win your very own Small Wars by Sadie Jones. Just tell me, in a comment below, another HarperCollins title you’d like to own and read. I’ll close the contest next Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 11pm EST. Sorry; US entries only. Good luck!
CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.
Congratulations to commenter #1, Staci A, the winner of this book!
FTC info — Disclaimer: I received this product for free for review purposes; however, my review was honest and my opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Staci A (2 years ago)
This sounds like a very powerful read. I’d love to read Be Careful What You Pray For too.
Kim (2 years ago)
I’d read: The Happiness Project
Megan (2 years ago)
I’ve heard good things about the Hapiness
project so I would choose that.
Linda Kish (2 years ago)
I would also like to rad Pirate Latitudes
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
Winning Readings (2 years ago)
Would love to read this book! And another one would be Fancy Nancy…
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
shelly (2 years ago)
# The Lacuna
By Barbara Kingsolver
Julie L (2 years ago)
I would like to read Pirate Latitude by Michael Crichton
Sarah E (2 years ago)
I would love to read A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn.
Please enter me in this giveaway!
Melanie (2 years ago)
Postsecret!
Judy B (2 years ago)
The Language of Life looks like a good read.
tina reynolds (2 years ago)
I would love to read this book so bad and I would also love to read Double Take thanks for the chance to win eaglesforjack@gmail.com
melissa n (2 years ago)
I’d love to read “Workin’ It” by RuPaul.