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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
I started this book in the spring, but couldn't get into it at first. I can't say that I've read many memoirs, so it wasn't my usual read. But, once I picked it back up again this fall, I couldn't put it down! I'm so glad I came back to it again. Through sharing her own life, she brought to light the experiences of an army wife whose husband is deployed. I loved that she wrote it in a way that anybody outside of the military could understand and connect with. I found Simone to be quite geniune and honest about her own struggles and feelings, especially marrying a man who wanted to reach a goal that conflicted with her own views.
I was intrigued by this book as it offered a no-nonsense look into a life I know absolutely nothing about. Unfortunately, I found myself chafing against the central premise and had to push through my discomfort at times. At one point the author’s husband declares that if he is forced to pick between her and the army, he will pick the latter. I truly never got over that, even though she seemed to, seeing as she married him anyways.
I also found the portraits of the wives to be a bit lacking. For a book purporting to be all about these women, their characterizations seemed surface level in Gorrindo’s hands. There is an air of superiority inherent in her evaluation of these women, despite the fact that she has signed up for the same lifestyle as the rest of them.
I also found the portraits of the wives to be a bit lacking. For a book purporting to be all about these women, their characterizations seemed surface level in Gorrindo’s hands. There is an air of superiority inherent in her evaluation of these women, despite the fact that she has signed up for the same lifestyle as the rest of them.
2.5? I devoured this book largely because the polarization in the reviews made me want to form my own opinion.
I found the early narrative disjointed and hard to track. I kept having to reread to keep the pieces in order. Her naivete regarding housing and military benefits at the beginning also felt bizarre and contrived given the vast availability of information on military life online and seemed to run counter to her strong understanding of how rank structure can influence social dynamics in certain environments.
Once the story got more linear it was a bit better, and I found that her voice as a reluctant milspouse rang true. I give a lot of credit for that. The commentary on the discomfort of being a non religious liberal in an overwhelmingly Christian conservative environ also just felt honest to me rather than judgmental.
Unfortunately the frequent non-sequitors, as well as the barebones introductions of so many figures to the story were disruptive. Crucial events in her life seemed to get breezed on by.
I found the early narrative disjointed and hard to track. I kept having to reread to keep the pieces in order. Her naivete regarding housing and military benefits at the beginning also felt bizarre and contrived given the vast availability of information on military life online and seemed to run counter to her strong understanding of how rank structure can influence social dynamics in certain environments.
Once the story got more linear it was a bit better, and I found that her voice as a reluctant milspouse rang true. I give a lot of credit for that. The commentary on the discomfort of being a non religious liberal in an overwhelmingly Christian conservative environ also just felt honest to me rather than judgmental.
Unfortunately the frequent non-sequitors, as well as the barebones introductions of so many figures to the story were disruptive. Crucial events in her life seemed to get breezed on by.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
The raw vulnerability shared by Simone made me devour this book in less than 24 hours and allowed me to inspect myself and process things I didn’t know I was holding on to.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
A searing, raw, vulnerable look at military life, especially as a spouse. I do not know what that may be like, but I do appreciate the authors candid prose and examination of what that feels like.
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced