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marla0505's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic story by a strong woman with a clear sense of self and purpose. A meaningful read that I recommend to everyone. Left me with a bitter taste in my mouth regarding the American media, though...
dannafs's review against another edition
3.0
This is the true-life tale of POW Shoshana Johnson. Johnson was taken captive during a convoy in Iraq. At the time, she had actually just entered the war. The book begins right in the heart of the battle where she was injured and taken captive. From there, it goes backward, telling of her decision to join the army, her training, and family stories. The story however, is not quite chronological, as each chapter bounces between her time before Iraq, and during her captivity period. Johnson's experiences also closely examine where the Army may have been at fault for her capture, and are critical of a number of Army policies. It is interesting to hear her side of the story, unedited and uncensored.
Johnson is brutally honest, sharing in graphic detail every bit she remembers. However, I did not find it a painful read. It is written in basic language with relatively large font & few words on the page, making it a page-turner and a quick read. She had, what surprised me, as a relatively tame stay as prisoner of war. She was beaten and battered for the first few days, but in the remaining days (of 22), it seems she was fed and treated with a modicum of respect. I'm in no way saying it wasn't horrific, I just didn't know about the Geneva Convention (protecting the rights of POWs) or the Red Crescent (people & doctors who aide POWs) and that people actually adhered to the guidelines of care. From the media, I always assumed that POWs are consistently brutally beaten, which I'm sure is true of many stories, but apparently not all.
The story is tremendous, but her writing style is basic and limited. It reads like a story written by a layperson, not a professional, which it is. There are a number of pieces of the story that are repeated on multiple occasions, that I think a good editor could (should?) have cut out. Overall, absolutely worth the read. It's always incredible to read a story of a strong woman. Definitely a good look at Army policy from an inside standpoint, even though she certainly still seems to be an Army proponent. Also, it is a wonderful honor to a woman who worked hard to serve her country and today suffers the ill effects of having done so.
Johnson is brutally honest, sharing in graphic detail every bit she remembers. However, I did not find it a painful read. It is written in basic language with relatively large font & few words on the page, making it a page-turner and a quick read. She had, what surprised me, as a relatively tame stay as prisoner of war. She was beaten and battered for the first few days, but in the remaining days (of 22), it seems she was fed and treated with a modicum of respect. I'm in no way saying it wasn't horrific, I just didn't know about the Geneva Convention (protecting the rights of POWs) or the Red Crescent (people & doctors who aide POWs) and that people actually adhered to the guidelines of care. From the media, I always assumed that POWs are consistently brutally beaten, which I'm sure is true of many stories, but apparently not all.
The story is tremendous, but her writing style is basic and limited. It reads like a story written by a layperson, not a professional, which it is. There are a number of pieces of the story that are repeated on multiple occasions, that I think a good editor could (should?) have cut out. Overall, absolutely worth the read. It's always incredible to read a story of a strong woman. Definitely a good look at Army policy from an inside standpoint, even though she certainly still seems to be an Army proponent. Also, it is a wonderful honor to a woman who worked hard to serve her country and today suffers the ill effects of having done so.
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