Book Description
How does an honor student at one of Los Angeles's finest prep schools–a nice girl from a happy, loving home–trade school uniforms and afternoons at the mall for speedballs in the back of a truck in rural Indiana? How does her devoted mother emerge from the shock of finding that her daughter has not only disappeared but had been living a secret life for more than a year?
Mother and daughter tell their parallel stories in mesmerizing first–person accounts. Claire Fontaine's story is a parent's worst nightmare, a cautionary tale chronicling her daughter Mia's drug–fueled manipulation of everyone around her as she sought refuge in the seedy underworld of felons and heroin addicts, the painful childhood secrets that led up to it, and the healing that followed. Her search for Mia was brutal for both mother and daughter, a dizzying series of dead ends, incredible coincidences and, at times, miracles. Ultimately, Mia was forced into harsh–but–loving boot camp schools on two continents while Claire entered a painful but life–changing program of her own. Mia's story includes the jarring culture shock of the extreme and controversial behavior modification school she was in for nearly two years, which helped her overcome depression and self–hatred to emerge a powerful young woman with self–esteem and courage.
Come Back is an unforgettable story of love and transformation that will resonate with mothers and daughters everywhere.
Customer Reviews:
Awful but captivating and well written.......2007-10-07
This is the horrific story you hear about - young girl, seemingly on the right track with caring parents, suddenly displays amazingly self-destructive tendencies.
The difference is that this story is told by both mother and daughter in clear sections that also flow well. Both mother and daughter write their tales well, and you can see the growth happen through the story. The catharsis is not sudden; the recovery is not fast. It is hard work to achieve the well-deserved forward momentum they have at the end of the book.
There is also a small amount of revenge - not nearly enough, but just a little to make you almost smile.
It's a terrible tale that deserves to be told. It is told well. I wish the best to both authors of this book.
(*)>
I fell in love with this book.......2007-09-11
I truly love both Claire and Mia. I really related to Claire as a mother myself of teenagers and I related to Mia from when I was a teenager. Their stories parallel the lives of my Mom and I but to a lesser degree. Wonderful book!
Review.......2007-09-10
I really liked this book. There were a few "boring" parts, but all together I would highly reccomend this book!
save your time.......2007-09-05
This book offers nothing new about mother/daughter relationships or recovery/ rehabilitation ... and the highly mediocre writing style is the icing on the cake.
This is the best book I've ever read!.......2007-08-28
This book touched my heart and had me crying so many times because it touched my very soul as Claire and Mia described situations that I have lived through with my daughter. A lot of their story was not the same as ours, but in their descriptions of what was going on in their minds and hearts during the horrific experience, they touched the very core of my being. I have felt the feelings that they Claire was so eloquently able to put into words for me. The things that Mia said could have come right out of my daughter's mouth. The second half of the book that describes the recovery process in detail was also something that I could relate to and it also helped me to better understand and "get my head around" the recovery process. Although I did not want to put this book down, on many occasions I was not able to find time to read it for several weeks. When I picked it up again, I was right back there with them immediately as if I had never stopped reading. I wish to thank Claire and Mia for writing this book from their hearts. I will share this book with others who I think will be touched by it also. I highly recommend this book if you have gone through any type of drug/alcohol abuse with your teenager, or if your child has been abused. These authors have given us a book that can bring hope into the lives of many parents and their wayward children.
Book Description
In this raw and moving memoir, Claude Thomas describes his service in Vietnam, his subsequent emotional collapse, and his remarkable journey toward healing. At Hell's Gate is not only a gripping coming-of-age story but a spiritual travelogue from the horrors of combat to the discovery of inner peaceâa journey that inspired Thomas to become a Zen monk and peace activist who travels to war-scarred regions around the world. "Everyone has their Vietnam," Thomas writes. "Everyone has their own experience of violence, calamity, or trauma." With simplicity and power, this book offers timeless teachings on how we can all find healing, and it presents practical guidance on how mindfulness and compassion can transform our lives. This expanded paperback edition features: Discussion questions for reading groups A new afterword by the author reflecting on how the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are affecting soldiersâand offering advice on how to help returning soldiers to cope with their combat experiences
Customer Reviews:
A Gateway Out of Hell.......2007-08-30
As a fellow Vietnam Veteran of combat and casualty calls, Thomas' book brings relief through mindfulness.
Finally, someone explains how focusing on breathing can calm the mind, quell the rage, and convert the destructive energy of anger into an active and productive purpose such as "engaged Buddhism."
"At Hell's Gate" actually opens the gates of hell, my mental home for forty years, and shows me the clear path to peace. I'm gonna walk it and recommend that all victims of trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder join me and follow Claude Anshin Thomas' leadership.
Thank you, Rev. Thomas, for showing me the way.
Understanding the nature of war.......2007-07-16
I first read about Claude Thomas on the internet a few years ago. I found his story so strong and powerful. I was glad to finally be able to read this book. This is a very powerful story about the power to heal and transform.
Thomas's experience is proof that even people who have endured the most horrific experiences can come to peace. He is so honest about the horrific experiences in the Vietnam War, his substance abuse and other problems in his life. Through his journey he has learnt how to live with these wounds.
He writes:
"...suffering is not our enemy. It is only through a relationship with my pain, my sadness, that I can reach the other side, that I can truly know and touch the opposite, which is my pleasure, my joy, and my happiness. "
I greatly admire the path that Thomas has walked. He has truly embraced the spirit of Buddhism and the meaning of being a monk, going forth into homelessness. He studied first with Thich Nhat Hanh and then with Roshi Bernie Glassman. The pilgrimages and street retreats that Thomas has done, to me represent one of the finest expressions of engaged Buddhism.
I highly recommend this book as a spiritual biography and a guide to Buddhist practice.
All War Vets Should Read.......2007-06-08
The book was read by me as I traveled through Viet Nam recently. As I observed and reminisced, the story had an incredible impact on helping me understand my war experience. It helped heal scars that I had not been aware of for nearly 40 years.
The book was given to me by another veteran. I in turn ordered a fresh copy from Amazon to give to a veteran friend.
This story is not for Viet Nam vets only. It will help in the healing of anyone traumatized by war.
A must read .......2007-02-09
This is an extremely important work for our time. In it the author shares a very personal story of how he (we) learn to live in a culture of violence, and how a realization of that fact is the only way to end it.
He reveals the paradox of how his very enemy became the hand that helped him find healing (Thich Nhat Hahn). As he states - Everyone has their Viet Nam - and I agree there is a message in this work for everyone.
Must read in this day and age of conflict and war.......2006-02-17
If you're a veteran of any war, and everyone is whether they participated or not, this is a most important book. It gives clear and concise answers if we are going to change what we're doing to this planet and each other. As a Viet Nam veteran, this book speaks to me on every level, and says so articulately what I have felt for over 30 years. Gassho, Claude Anshin Thomas
Book Description
In this raw and moving memoir, Claude Thomas tells the dramatic story of his service in Vietnam, his subsequent emotional collapse, and how he was ultimately able to find healing and peace. Thomas went to Vietnam at the age of eighteen, where he served as a crew chief on assault helicopters. By the end of his tour, he had been awarded numerous medals, including the Purple Heart. He had also killed many people, witnessed horrifying cruelty, and narrowly escaped death on a number of occasions. When Thomas returned home he found that he continued to live in a state of war. He was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt, fear, anger, and despair, all of which were intensified by the rejection he experienced as a Vietnam veteran. For years, Thomas struggled with post-traumatic stress, drug and alcohol addiction, isolation, and even homelessness. A turning point came when he attended a meditation retreat for Vietnam veterans led by the renowned Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh. Here he encountered the Buddhist teachings on meditation and mindfulness, which helped him to stop running from his past and instead confront the pain of his war experiences directly and compassionately. Thomas was eventually ordained as a Zen monk and teacher, and he began making pilgrimages to promote peace and nonviolence in war-scarred places around the world including Bosnia, Auschwitz, Afghanistan, Vietnam, and the Middle East. At Hell's Gate is Thomas's dramatic coming-of-age story and a spiritual travelogue from the horrors of combat to discovering a spiritual approach to healing violence and ending war from the inside out. In simple and direct language, Thomas shares timeless teachings on healing emotional suffering and offers us practical guidance in using mindfulness and compassion to transform our lives.
Customer Reviews:
A flawed but important book.......2006-09-27
It took me two attempts to finish this book and I am glad I did.
The book is somewhat disorganized and muddled. I gave up on it the first time because it was a little too preachy and the initial description of the author's suffering and frequent crying was a little surpising since he just told us Vietnam finally gave his life a purpose.
But then I gave it a second try. After learning later in the book more of his experience in vietnam, I had a better understanding of his pain. I realized what I'd been reading was a vivid account of his post traumatic stress disorder. This book is important and powerful because it shows a way the author found after 20 years of pure misery to alleviate his pain and suffering . Anyone who's troubled or depressed or plain just stressed out can benefit from his messages.
A Compelling Account of Personal Transformation.......2006-05-17
Claude Thomas' inspiring account of his hellish journey and his eventual path to personal growth is one of the most profound stories I've read. From a life that many would just as soon end, he found a tiny crease of light led him to take all that had transpired in his life and draw upon it as a basis for learning and growth. Truly admirable, with insights and practices well worth emulating.
A peddle in the ocean.......2006-01-30
I bought 13 copies of this book from Amazon and gave the same gift to everyone this last christmas, and intend to do the same next year and from here on out. They sent me 4 of the 13 as autographed copies which was a nice surprise.
I am going to deliver the last one tonight to a friend who is having a difficult time right now.
This book has brought me a clearer understanding of myself, not by the cleverness of the author but through his simple bare humanity which he shares freely here. Sending this book out into this world can only make it a better place, creating small ripples that could affect and change a great many things over time.
From There To Here.......2005-06-07
Once a highly decorated war hero, Claude Thomas had been sexually abused as a child and carried the scars of this abuse to VietNam, where he commanded an elite helicopter unit for fourteen months at the height of the American incursion there. He wound up with a chestful of medals (27) and a burnt-out shell of a man, returning to the US, a girl spat on him. One thing led to another and Thomas began questioning his own claims to his life. It wasn't until he met the famous Vietnamese sage, Thich Nhat Hanh, that he began to get a clue as to his spiritual path. Through mindfulness he became aware that he was a victim of Vietnam just as we all were, and just as generations unborn during the war continue to suffer from its political and cultural fallout. Today he is a Zen priest and has written an interesting memoir.
Like Claude AnShin Thomas, when we saw Thich Nhat Hanh we burst into tears on the spot. And not because of any identification with his pain. I think I was just feeling emotional that day. Thomas has an amazing story to tell, but it is not all that well written, and has many Buddhist cliches that spoil the thrust of the tale for me.
And could they have picked a scarier looking portrait of Claude AnShin Thomas for the cover? I've seen him in person, he isn't that bad looking, he has sort of the look of Nelson Rockefeller, you know, not a matinee idol, but not a face from Creature Features either. I think Shambhala was definitelyu trying to go for the macho market here, making Thomas look like he was a serial killer come out of the shadows to slit your throat then creep away. We know that Buddhism can sometimes be a dangerous practice, for you're standing in the middle of the fire trying to confront the real, but enough is enough, and this is a kind of visual crime if you ask me.
A powerful spiritual autobiography.......2005-05-25
"At Hell's Gate: A Soldier's Journey from War to Peace," by Claude Anshin Thomas, is the memoir of a combat veteran of the Vietnam War who suffered great personal torment after returning from war. He ultimately found healing and hope in Buddhism and became a monk. This book recounts his spiritual, geographic, and emotional journeys.
Thomas writes about his military basic training, his combat time in Vietnam, and the serious personal problems he had afterwards. He writes how his life changed dramatically after he met Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Buddhist monk. Thomas tells how he came to be ordained as a Buddhist monk. He also writes of his global travels, of a remarkable walking pilgrimage he took across the United States, and of his relationship with his son.
Along the way Thomas discusses teachings and practices that helped transform his life: meditation, the importance of community, the key concept of "mindfulness." He also discusses his commitment to nonviolence. Thomas' writing style is simple and clear, and often quite eloquent and moving. He notes, "Everyone has their Vietnam"--some source of great pain. The book contains some fascinating scenes from the author's journeys; I found the vignettes from his walk across the U.S. to be particularly resonant. This is a thought-provoking book, and a valuable addition to the canon of spiritual autobiographies.
Average customer rating:
- Interesting story, but reads like a tabloid.
- Overwrought and a bit pretentious
- Book Report by Brent Simon - JFK, Nixon, Stone
- JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone and Me: An Idealist's Journey from
- Book Review from the Hollywood Reporter 12/24/02
|
JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone and Me: An Idealist's Journey from Capitol Hill to Hollywood Hell
Eric Hamburg
Manufacturer: PublicAffairs
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Entertainers
| Arts & Literature
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Political
| Leaders & Notable People
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Industry
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Politics
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Foreign Languages
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Sports & Entertainment
| Industries & Professions
| Business & Investing
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
JFK: The Book of the Film (Applause Screenplay Series)
-
Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years
ASIN: 1586480294
Release Date: 2002-09-17 |
Book Description
A revealing insider's look at one of Hollywood's most prominent, private, and notoriously difficult directors; at the way the film business works; and at the Washington/Hollywood connection. JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone and Me is the funny, thoughtful memoir of an accomplished former Congressional staffer who left D.C. for Hollywood and a job with Oliver Stone, hoping to help make politically engaged films and a difference, and found himself instead in a wildly dysfunctional universe ruled by greed, paranoia, narcissism, competition, alcohol and drugs. After finishing law school, Eric Hamburg became an unusually effective young staffer on Capitol Hill-convincing his boss, Rep. Lee Hamilton of Indiana, to submit a bill that would release the House's closely held files on the John F. Kennedy assassination investigation, one of Hamburg's own pet obsessions. This led to his meeting Oliver Stone and soon-much to his own surprise-Hamburg found swimming amongst the sneakiest of Hollywood sharks. Hamburg describes his fascinating experiences working on the films Nixon and Any Given Sunday while navigating the arcane politics of Stone's studio, Ixtlan. Pursuing film projects (and Kennedy assassination leads), he also muses on the ways and means of the movie biz; on the strange symbiotic Washington/Hollywood relationship; on the meaning of success and the price of power. His story is a contemporary Mr. Smith Goes to Hollywood, told by a narrator of wit, intelligence, and a singular set of experiences.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting story, but reads like a tabloid........2005-12-27
I bought this book at an inventory clearance, which proved an accurate guide to my expectations. It is the story of a lawyer working as a congressional aide who parlayed his interest in the JFK assassination to become a production assistant to Oliver Stone. The title refers to films of the latter, not JFK and Nixon themselves.
The idea of an intelligent, idealistic outsider learning firsthand about the machinations of Hollywood is certainly intriguing, and this is what the subtitle suggests the theme will be. However, this theme becomes subverted to two parallel, personal agendas of the author: 1. a forum for his own speculations about the "truth" regarding the JFK assassination and Watergate, and 2. a catharsis for the estrangement he suffered from Stone in the wake of their collaboration. Towards the end, it reads like an open letter to Stone, pleading for his rehabilitation from a self-destructive lifestyle. For those who like conspiracy theories and juicy gossip about celebrities, this will be a bonus. Personally, I was hoping to learn more about the process by which Oliver Stone gets his movies made, and less about the shortcomings of the man without whom, I think it is fair to say, there would be no market for this book.
At one point, Hamburg writes that he came to Hollywood to "learn how to make political films, not do business deals." Perhaps this was meant to be ironic, since after finishing reading his story, it appears to me that film-making is all about business deals. In fact, it would have been interesting to learn how Oliver Stone arranges the funding to realize his creative vision (and hedonistic lifestyle). Here, there are only a few dismissive comments about seedy-sounding "money men".
One of the useful aspects of this book is its overview of contemporary published opinion on the JFK assassination and Watergate. A bibliography listing the works mentioned throughout the text would have been helpful.
Overwrought and a bit pretentious.......2005-11-30
Hamburg obviously writes for a different genre, allegedly screenwriting. And while ascribing himself much credit, his prose falls largely flat. Many of the sentences read on a basic level, a recitation of his accomplishments, marginal people he met, and esoteric details that are painful to dig through. For the Stone fan, an interesting read, for the average person, it has its moments. But its material, and its potential, is so much greater than what Hamburg delivers. For all the material possible, the book delivers flat. It's not worth the money and not really worth the time. It often reads as Hamburg's diary entries, with most chapters being a scant three or four pages, rather than a real story about great opportunities and fascinating characters. Hamburg is also a constant name-dropper, for almost no discernable reason. It seemed as though Hamburg's insights were immature, overwrought, and full of snide commentary and self promotion. It's no coincidence that his career centers on the two parts of the country that hype both: Hollywood and Washington.
Book Report by Brent Simon - JFK, Nixon, Stone.......2003-05-22
JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone & Me
Eric Hamburg
Public Affairs
reviewed by Brent Simon
A deliciously, amazingly illuminating account of Tinseltown excess, Eric Hamburgýs JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone & Me recounts an idealistýs journey from Capitol Hill to Hollywood hell. A terrifically entertaining read disguised with a memoirýs overcoat, Hamburgýs book details his occupational pilgrimage from legislative assistant under influential House of Representatives member Lee Hamilton to his position at director Stoneýs Ixtlan Films, where he handled legal and business affairs while also initiating the ideas that would in time come to take shape as the films Nixon and Any Given Sunday.
Itýs a very personal book, and draws almost exclusively from the authorýs remembrances and journal entries of the time covered. This means first there is some overlap, both thematically and in detail; Hamburg sometimes repeats himself even closely within the text in a manner unacceptable for top-shelf reportage. He even blatantly misidentifies Reese Witherspoon as Brooke Shields at point. Still, these occasional faux pas (was the book even edited?) do not blunt the tomeýs power or change its bottom line.
For those interested in the ins and outs of high-end cinematic wheeling and dealing, Hamburgýs book is chock full of tasty firsthand details about Oliver Stoneýs peccadilloes and a myriad of ever-rotating but always kooky projects he pursued in bits and pieces. Of the latter, most intriguing were planned biopics on J. Edgar Hoover and Manuel Noreiga (Al Pacino graciously refused $10 million from a pay-or-play deal when it fell apart), plus movies on Afghanistan, Stoneýs obsessive hatred of columnist Maureen Dowd (known in various iterations as Media and Power) and even a possible sequel to JFK, which was the project Stone was working on when Hamburg first met him. The details of the directorýs disastrous personal life are even more vivid and revelatory: Stoneýs ceaseless drug abuse, irrational flare-ups, legendary cheapness, interpersonal abrasiveness and possible shaping youthful sexual encounter(s) with his motherý yikes!
Most unnerving, though, are Hamburgýs stories of his dealings and interactions with Danny Halsted, a former Disney exec who wormed his way into Stoneýs production company and whom Hamburg refers to here almost exclusively as "Danny the Weasel." To recount the many jaw-dropping instances of Halstedýs idiocy, conniving, theft and general disreputable behavior would take too much space here, but suffice to say that it both represents and confirms all the worst youýve ever heard or suspected about Hollywood suits masquerading as creative executives. This isnýt a horror novel, but at times JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone & Me ranks right up there with the most unsettling of Stephen Kingýs works.
JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone and Me: An Idealist's Journey from.......2003-05-20
This book was lousy fluff. The author is a testament to Washington/Hollywood self-absorption, and is very comfortable blaming the USA (and its' alleged CIA/Cuba connections) for all the world's wrongs. Meanwhile, the author is completely star-struck in the company of the totalitarian murderer, Fidel Castro. Go figure.
Book Review from the Hollywood Reporter 12/24/02.......2003-03-08
JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone Dec. 24, 2002 By Michael Farkash Eric Hamburg Public Affairs,464 pages As the song goes, "Paranoia strikes deep." That's one of the central experiences of a savvy political aide and speechwriter who went to work for writer-director-producer Oliver Stone. Eric Hamburg's "JFK, Nixon, Oliver Stone & Me: An Idealist's Journey From Capitol Hill to Hollywood Hell" is a sharp, well-written book that tunes into some familiar territory, notably the bad, mad geography of film production politics and the decades-old mysteries surrounding the death of John F. Kennedy and the Cuban connection. The book is very accessible, very readable and filled with admiration for professionals like Anthony Hopkins and mixed, mostly angry assessments of Stone and the people surrounding the filmmaker. The dark byways of the film biz should have been no surprise for the bright, politically astute Hamburg, who worked for years on Capitol Hill -- but then, hearing about the nasty, difficult parts of the film production process and living them are two quite different things. Serving as a producer and development executive at Stone's production company, Ixtlan, the author originated and won co-producing credits on the films "Nixon" and "Any Given Sunday." He explores the paranoid, vain, greedy, sometimes drug-fueled aspects of Stone's world of film development, where solid ground can often give way to a quicksand of uncertainty. Using his Washington connections, Stone's name and persistence, Hamburg was able to get key figures from the JFK and Nixon years to meet with him and Stone and persuade them to contribute stories and background to Stone's films. He also shares with us his research trips to places like Cuba and a brief meeting with Fidel Castro. But Hamburg became quickly disenchanted with what he calls the "Oliver Zone" -- suspicions, dark rages, drug use and a habit of playing staff people against one another. It's like royal court intrigue. Writes Hamburg: "Oliver was moody and unpredictable, often irrational and absolutely insane when it came to money. This was a very dangerous subject with him. "However, Hamburg received some good advice -- those three little words that mean everything in negotiations: "Hire a lawyer." In case the reader wonders if film development is a habit-forming occupation -- Hamburg continues working as a producer and writer in Los Angeles.
Average customer rating:
- Simplistically Powerful - Inordinately Complex
- Awsome Book
- A banquet of emotions: I laughed, I cried, I mourned
- A Powerful Account
- A Terrific Read!
|
The Proud Bastards: One Marine's Journey from Parris Island through the Hell of Vietnam
E. Michael Helms
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Military & Spies
| Professionals & Academics
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Military
| Leaders & Notable People
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| United States
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Vietnam War
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Vietnam
| Asia
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Military
| Leaders & Notable People
| Biographies & Memoirs
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Military & Spies
| Professionals & Academics
| Biographies & Memoirs
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Vietnam
| Asia
| History
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Military
| History
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
United States
| Military
| History
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Vietnam War
| Military
| History
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Not Going Home Alone: A Marine's Story
-
Guns Up!
-
Don't Bunch Up: One Marine's Story
-
Warriors: An Infantryman's Memoir of Vietnam
-
Hill 488
ASIN: 0743483243 |
Book Description
In 1967, a young E. Michael Helms boarded a bus to the legendary grounds of Parris Island, where mere boys were forged into hardened Marines -- and sent to the jungles of Vietnam. It was the first stop on a journey that would forever change him -- and by its end, he would be awarded the Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Citation, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry.
From the brutality and endurance-straining ordeals of boot camp to the endless horror of combat, Helms paints a vivid, unflinchingly realistic depiction of the lives of Marines in training and under fire. As powerful and compelling a battlefield memoir as any ever written, Helms's "grunt's-eye" view of the Vietnam War, the men who fought it, and the mindless chaos that surrounded it, is truly a modern military classic.
Download Description
"In 1967, a young E. Michael Helms boarded a bus to the legendary grounds of Parris Island, where mere boys were forged into hardened Marines -- and sent to the jungles of Vietnam. It was the first stop on a journey that would forever change him -- and by its end, he would be awarded the Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Citation, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. From the brutality and endurance-straining ordeals of boot camp to the endless horror of combat, Helms paints a vivid, unflinchingly realistic depiction of the lives of Marines in training and under fire. As powerful and compelling a battlefield memoir as any ever written, Helms's ""grunt's-eye"" view of the Vietnam War, the men who fought it, and the mindless chaos that surrounded it, is truly a modern military classic."
Customer Reviews:
Simplistically Powerful - Inordinately Complex.......2004-06-16
Rarely does a book foster and inspire an epiphany within me. Yet, "Proud Bastards" by E. Michael Helms - a raw-edged, revealing account of life as a Marine, and service in the Vietnam war, took me to the edge of civilization and back again. Mr. Helms' style of personal narrative reveals not only a soldier's courage, fears, and sense of duty; but his own personal courage in facing and recounting his experiences to the reader who is propelled along the tumultuous currents of Helms' fascinating and riveting journey. I laughed with him, cried with him, touched, tasted and smelled the horrors of war, as well as felt the triumphs and loss of camaraderie through his poignant words. Helms' exquisite sense of timing, and his balance of the good times as well as the bad, combine to make his book a masterpiece weaving of complexities, confusions, brutality and horror; his relentless assault on one's senses - all forgiven through the comprehension of humanity's fragility. From this book, I could finally understand the kind of pain that I saw reflected in my own Father's eyes when he thought of his service in Vietnam. "Proud Bastards" will touch the heart of all patriots, and the soul of all humans in its reflections of indomitable will and courage - and the simplicity of a sunrise in the heroic heart of a soldier far from home.
Awsome Book.......2004-04-08
One of the best Marine Corp, and Vietnam related books that I have ever read. Really gives a sense of what the Marines and Vietnam were like. I would recommend it to anyone.
A banquet of emotions: I laughed, I cried, I mourned.......2004-02-15
"The Proud Bastards" is not about war; it's about a man who went to war, a 20th century hero's journey told with gut-wrenching truth. Follow Mike as he leaves his ordinary world, still an idealistic boy. Laugh as he endures often hilarious and grueling days of Marine boot camp. Then follow him on to the dark, frightening culture shock of war-torn Vietnam. It is an odyssey that takes you from boyhood dreams to adulthood's most gruesome reality. Not for males only, it is an insightful look into the soul of a young man as he faces the challenges of battle and brings home the precious elixir--life.
A Powerful Account.......2004-02-13
Never have I read a more gripping combat account. It's a wild, unfettered
ride. From the author's numbing, raunchy belittlement at Parris Island
Marine boot camp to fighting in a faraway country he found "luring, lovely,
and lethal," Helms pulls no punches. I especially like "Mikey's" biting,
insightful running dialogue with himself.
Often as I read a book I will pause and thumb through a few pages to see how
soon the chapter will end; perhaps because I've lost focus and I'm ready for
it to end. I never did that while reading "The Proud Bastards" because Mr.
Helms spared me the bother. He has the blessed knack to know when his
readers are ready for a chapter to end and he writes accordingly.
Helms is observant in other ways that made reading this book an adventure.
Seldom have I read a brutal war story graced with so many coloful
descriptive passages about the lay of the land: the trees, birds, mountains,
ocean, stars, and the weather. Such contrasting lends realism that "takes
the reader there." I think it both sets the stage for and respites the
gruesome battle scenes to follow.
I owe E. Michael Helms. He took me to Vietnam, showed me around, then got me
out of there when he knew it was time for both of us to leave. He is an
especially gifted writer, which "The Proud Bastards" proves abundantly.
I highly recommend this book.
A Terrific Read!.......2004-02-06
Helms' powerful writing style gripped me from the first page. A fast-paced, realistic account of what grunts went through during the war. I read the trade paperback version, and this one had the same emotional impact on me. I laughed about some of his experiences in boot camp, felt knotted inside through the Vietnam fighting, and am glad he survived and wrote his story. I've read many books about the Vietnam War, and this is by far the best.
Customer Reviews:
An informative, great read.......2007-04-18
I think the author did a terrific job with this book. She was brave, came forward and told us exactly what happened to her when she passed over.
That it doesn't correlate with some doesn't give those a license to belittle her experience.
Anyway, bravo Angie, even though we've never met I want to thank you publicly for sharing your knowledge of the divinty of Christ, the Savior of all mankind, for explaining the plan and purpose of our lives, that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us and that Jesus will mediate for us if we choose him and accept him as our Savior.
A Great Story --Ignore the Critics.......2007-01-22
Spiritual matters will never be resolved with bickering back and forth on forums. Spiritual matters can only be resolved with the spirit. Our earth is filled with people ranging from spiritually dead to enlightened. This site also seems to have that same range with reviewers--prideful scripture citing, name calling, and cruel accusations.
Ms. Fenimore had this experience. It was real. Whether a vision or literal, does not matter. When Moses spoke to God, was he really talking with a burning bush? We are taught truths by means that enable us to understand, but always, our understanding is dependent on where we stand.
C.S. Lewis described being in a dark shed and observing a shaft of light penetrating a hole in the wooden door. From were he stood, he could see dust and fine particles floating, swimming, and swirling in the air. What he saw was truth, limited by his perspective and from where he stood. But as he positioned himself up near the hole in the door, a view of the beautiful outdoor world of grass and flowers and trees opened unto him. Interestingly, from both positions he viewed the same light (or truth), but observed different results. Some in this world are content to see the dust and argue there is nothing more. But those that want to see greater truth must align themselves spiritually. The choice is ours.
Years ago, my wife saw a talk show where Ms. Fenimore was telling her story. Later that day, my wife told me of Ms. Fenimore's experience. I felt the spirit whisper to me that it was a true experience. I wasn't seeking this revelation. It just came. Then just two weeks ago, my son came home telling me that one of his former friends that had been kicked out of junior high had committed suicide. The rumor turned out to be false, but reminded me of Ms. Fenimore's story heard some ten years earlier. So I googled NDE/suicide and found this book--didn't know it even existed before then.
I have since read BTD and once again felt the holy spirit witness to me. I believe it! Whether it's literal or visionary does not matter. The message is the same, and anyone that will humble themselves and spiritually align themselves can also know it's a true message. Others may be content with the specks of dust (truth) but please don't tell me that's all there is. This book opens up a world that we would not have seen without the courage of Ms. Fennimore and her willingness to share.
I am the author & want to address some reader concerns.......2007-01-03
On rare occasion I will pick up used copies of my paperback to give to my children and grandchildren,(I prefer the paperback cover to the hardcover. I also had the opportunity to fix several publisher typos that appear in the hardcover).
I usually resist reading reviews since you readers can be cruel. I do want to say that what happened to me happened. I did not make it up. I was not hallucinating and I'm sorry if it doesn't fit with your preconceived notions of what may happen to you when you die.
When you drop an apple, it's going to hit the pavement. Not much I can do about that either.
I didn't write what amounts to my personal journal with all of the most painful and shameful events of my life out there for public consumption in order to harm or deceive. Why would I do that? Ask yourself if it might be painful to know that strangers, neighbors, people at the local grocery store, my children's teachers could just buy my 'diary' at Barnes & Noble. Do you think it was an easy thing at the time to reveal to everyone who knew me that I had attempted suicide? I promise the easy road would have been to keep my new and improved anonymous soccer-mom existance.
I took very seriously that I was quoting God. I labored over every word to be certain that what I said was completely accurate. I made the difficult decision to share my story so that when I meet God again at the end of my sojourn, it will be with my gift of having done all I can in this world to influence for good.
Just prior to writing the book, the NDE phenomena was all over every talk show and tv magazine. Dr. Kevorkian was on trial. Curt Cobain (Nirvana vocalist) was found dead, having shot himself. I saw 'Thelma & Louise' on TV (they drive off a cliff at the end as a suitable solution to escape the consequences of some irresponsible behavior)--all of this happened in one week's time.
I was in my car when I heard the news about Cobain on the radio while a van full of teenagers passed me in the next lane. They were hanging out the windows crying, "My hero is dead". The spirit bore witness to me, that there would be kids who would take their precious lives to follow this so-called hero.
I was profoundly affected by the end of 'Thelma and Louise'. I didn't see it coming and my emotions were already thin over Dr. Kevorkian and Curt Cobain having been all over the news. I went upstairs and laid down on my bed and cried. After searching for what I could do and praying for the answer for several days, the thought finally came to write a book. I knelt down next to my bed and asked my Father in Heaven if that was what I should do. The spirit bore witness to me that indeed, this was something I could do. Not that it was my calling, but that I have a view point that would benefit other people. Nobody else was coming forward with an experience like mine and somebody had to do the hard thing. And this is why I wrote the book.
Every single thing, including depression is a matter of choice. This isn't a judgement or critism. It is how we are co-creators with God in this life and the next. We choose to live miraculously or not. What we think about is who we are, in this life and in the next. If you are so certain that I'm wrong try living with thoughts of gratitude, love, joy, appreciation for every little piece of happiness and see what happens in your life.
To Hell and Back.......2006-09-26
I worked for a while on the national suicide hotline and have dealt with many people who have comitted suicide or tried. I have done everything in my own power to help prevent or stop people from doing this - but it seems to be like trying to sweep back the ocean with a broom.
I do not believe in hell but I do believe that people will find what they expect to find on the other side - our belief systems tend to direct our vision of what we find.
No matter - the book is well written and presents an intersting story. Who knows what happened to the author and why. There is something of value from the book's message for the reader. Again, I think each reader will find the values and messages that reflect their own belief systems.
Good Foreword by Betty J. Eadie.
As I have Said Before "We Are Many".......2004-09-03
"Every Man Before He Dies Shall See The Devil". - English Proverb, 1560... Mine wasn't a Near-Death experience. I was awake and very much alive - The trip wasn't much better. I walked around for many years in a struggle - Satanic Warfare can be horrible - with little support system. There are many - ostracized and alone. Many struggling with demons. (Which are not fun creatures to be around - even on a good day ) I paralleled much of what Angie went through. I'm glad that she was able to gain feedback from Betty Eadie. I Like Angie's book. Be wise to not minimize her struggle - Reality is a fragile thing. "You Shall Not, and Need Not, Walk Alone".
Book Description
The Hell Creek fossil bed is a paleontologist's dream....
until the fossils come to life.
A long-extinct beetle is created in a particle physics lab. An unstable Graviton Vault hurls four-and-a-half people and a dog onto a beach inhabited by toothed gulls and fifty-foot crocodiles. There will be no rescue party: for paleontologist Julian Whitney must convince his companions that they are still in the same location - 65-million years in the past, at the end of the Age of Dinosaurs. How can they hope to return home, with the Vault perhaps destroyed, and a hypothetical "reversion point" a thousand miles away in the Cretaceous wilderness?
65-million years in the future, police chief Sharon Earles tries to solve the mystery of exactly half a body remaining where five people had been moments before. Physicists are brought in to repair the equipment and figure out what went wrong. But can they get the Vault running in time to retrieve the missing people...and do they want to?
Most prehistoric fiction brings dinosaurs into our time, where they clash with Man's synthetic world. Hell Creek does the opposite. From the great Inland Sea to the foothills of the infant Rocky Mountains, we are shown the entirety of an ecosystem. The authors' scientific knowledge of Earth's geologic and evolutionary history gives the story, and the titanic animals it is centered around, a realism that is refreshing - and immensely entertaining.
Customer Reviews:
The dinosaurs are dead, long live the dinosaurs!.......2007-05-19
This book is a page-turner! I read it literally overnight!
The story evolves around a scientific experiment turning bad and projecting a group of very different characters back in time, that is, 65 million years in the past. They are obviously trapped with little to no rescue to expect from present day people. Of course, the next thing for them is to find a way to get out by themselves, hence a journey throughout the territory of these fabulous living creatures, the dinosaurs and the early mammals.
Beyond the storyline, I believe the real intent of the writers was to have us share their love of this extinct world by putting their description in a nice, enjoyable format. They hit their goal bull's eye. The dinosaurs and, more importantly, their behavior, is credible. They take some initiatives as to the attitude of some of the larger hunters (T-Rex for one). Some of today's questioning about this specific species is: was it either a scavenger, or a hunter? Could it run or was it limited to fast walking? Was it numerous? Actually, the authors bring their own responses to these questions.
But more importantly, they describe a beautiful, pristine yet ferocious world that has the reader wish to jump into it physically.
Also, I was very pleased to see, for once, the Japanese female character of Yariko, as Far-East people rarely find their way among the top contenders of western novels' characters. Beyond Yariko's beautiful description, I found the group of heroes well described, each coming with a thoroughly thought-out personality.
In short, a very good book with a fast-paced drama, a never-ending tale of a long-gone world that has you sigh in awe at the end of the story.
When's the sequel planned???
What a good read!.......2007-02-12
Some earlier reviewers commented about the quality of the editing of this book -- not so! Whomever did the proof reading apparently used spellchecks and did not bother to read -- or else they do not know the difference between discrete and discreet. And let's not even mention the differences between loose and lose! Good writing does not deserve sloppy preparation. This kind of sloppy copy-editing is a major pet peeve. It is unnecessary and unacceptable.
That said, this IS good writing. Good character development, fast moving plot, well-researched and with enough suspense to leave readers looking forward to a sequel.
Earlier reviewers also commented about giving the book to a younger reader. My copy went to a grandson who shares the name of the hero. It is a little more graphically violent that I ordinarily choose for him, but there is no explicit sex, and what youngster does not love dinosaurs?
The Grazianos have given us a page-turner, based on scientific fact, and it is worth your time to curl up with it. Would I like to take a trip to the Cretateous? No, thankyouverymuch, I would miss indoor plumbing -- but I will eagerly wait for their promised sequel.
A real page turner.......2007-01-11
It's hard not to compare any book about humans encountering dinosaurs
to "Jurassic Park" but in the case of "Hell Creek" I liked the pace and
the scenario much better. The book appealed to my curiosity in science
fact and adventure. Hell Creek is not written in a dry scientific way,
it's well written, well paced and the characters are believable.
Humans are accidentally cast deep into the past and have to survive in
an alien environment with unusual encounters at every turn. I now feel
I know what the Cretaceous period was all about.
The Grazianos have written a real page turner, from chapter one to the
end, you can't put it down or stop thinking about it. Well worth
reading and reading again. A real "keeper".
Good read but with a few serious flaws.......2007-01-02
I agree with most of the reviews of this book as far as character development and for being a good story well written (several typos, however).
However, several items were overwhelming distracting. Here's a few: (1) You have to wonder how they kept pulling beetles out of the Cretaceous but when they get transported there, beetles get barely a mention; (2) With the wide variety of species variation, how is it the paleontologist knows that this is T. Rex (rather than, say, Albertosaurus or another variety of tyrannosaurus), or Triceratops horridus rather than another species of ceratops or variety of Triceratops?. The certainity of "species" is annoying; (3) Why is the water at the stream they have to cross suddenly so cold? Okay, I guess it could be spring fed, but there is no explanation. There aren't any snow-covered mountains feeding it, after all; (4) Okay, it's hot - we get it - but what about the air? There is no mention of how the breathable air would also be different; (5) Does anyone else believe with no experience at all they could go out in the wilderness and figure out how to start a fire for cooking from striking stones together? Good luck!; (6) How come the student assistant knows how to make all the fine adjustments in the vault when the only other person ever making these fine adjustments was Dr. Shanker.
But here's the most annoying: On page 142, the author(s) forget they are talking about Triceratops and begin to describe a rhinocerous. Seriously. You make sense of the following: "But what caught her attention the most, ludicrously, were the ears. Even in her terror it amazed her that the thing had visible ears: long creased ears like a rabbit's, leaf-shaped and covered with hair-like bristles, sticking straight out sideways from behind the eyes." Wow! That's ludicrous all right. Ears sticking through the frill on a Triceratops. I'll grant you some artistic license, but geeezz. But wait, before we get to the ears, there's this: "The upper lip was pendulous, as if dragged down by a heavy weight." Lips? Where are there lips on the beak of a Triceratops? The author(s) fell asleep and began descriping a rhino, right? One has to wonder if Julia Sankey (Vertebrate paleontologist, Cal State-Stanislaus) missed this page while she "reviewed the manuscript for scientific accuracy." If anyone can address this problems I'll be happy to revise my review.
I enjoyed the book but would have appreciated a little more fine-tuning.
A romping good tale.......2006-12-29
One of those books that's just a romping good story - well-written, engaging and hard to put down. When my husband finishes it, I'll be reading it again!
Average customer rating:
- The Reverse Pilgrim's Progress - Burning Issues
- And ye shall know the truth......
- Avoiding the bad mistakes of going to Hell
- I am undone!
- Journey To Hell
|
Journey to Hell
John Bunyan
Manufacturer: Whitaker House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Bunyan, John
| Classics
| British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| British
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Essays
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Classics
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Faith
| Christian Living
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Bunyan, John
| ( B )
| Authors, A-Z
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Fiction
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Visions of Heaven and Hell
-
The Holy War
-
Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners
-
The Acceptable Sacrifice (Puritan Paperbacks)
-
Pictorial Pilgrims Progress
ASIN: 0883685833 |
Customer Reviews:
The Reverse Pilgrim's Progress - Burning Issues.......2004-08-17
Mr. Badman is just plain BAD. Little sins in little children get magnified into bigger and worse sins. Mr. Badman truly has every bad trait anyone could ever have. He started with lying and stealing, graduated into drinking, cheating and adultery, and then becomes a first-class hypocrite to snag himself a wealthy Christian woman for marriage. While he was sick, he cried out in false repentance only to regress as soon as he was getting well. The saddest and most touching part of the book is the death of his Christian wife and her exhortations to him and their unsaved children. From then on, it's all downhill, as Mr. Badman's seared conscience admits no light, and God gives him up to his destruction. This book has everything NOT to do if you don't want to end up like Mr. Badman. It is also very relevant with the issues of today, drunk "driving", planned "parenthood", and bankruptcy and fraud. Hot summertime reading.
And ye shall know the truth.............2004-02-12
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
NO JOKE! GET IT, READ IT.
May God Bless You.
Avoiding the bad mistakes of going to Hell.......2003-09-22
Even though this book was written in 1600's, it remained very pratical, even up to today. It talked about how a young boy rejecting the calling of God and became a chief in evil workings. And see how God gave him up to vile illusion. Truly a God inspired book.
I am undone!.......2001-01-26
While this book tends to deal with the individual that is completely sold out for sin, there are things that every Christian will be able to identify with. John Bunyan deals with the fact that sin is sin, no matter what lable any given society has given it.
While I thank the Almighty Sovereign God for showing me my need for a savior, and for granting me the priviledge of repenting when I did, I must admit that my heart was very sorrowful and heavy as I read this book. By reading of Badman's extreme antics and his propensity for developing new methods of sin, I must admit that I saw things in my regenerated being that relate to Mr. Badman in one way or another. This is NOT a good thing to identify with, however, I feel that it is a tool that God is using in order to show me my continued need for help from above.
While this book is ficticious in it's characters, the truths that come blazing forth from the scenarios are deep and penetrating. This is a book that should be read often. This is a book that forces the reader to bare his soul before the Creator. Thank God for men like Bunyan.
Do yourself a favor, O comfortable Christian......Read this book and pray that God will allow you to be honest with your assessment of your current condition.
Steven D. Draa
Journey To Hell.......2000-12-19
This is actually a retitled and edited version of John Bunyan's, "The Life and Death of Mr. Badman," which is otherwise rather hard to locate these days. Its lesser popularity is most likely due to the subject matter, which focuses upon sin, and the fact that it doesn't have the "happy ending" most people seem to require. However, it is a terrific work, definitely the equal of Pilgrim's Progress or Grace Abounding. Bunyan, as usual, finds new meaning in many verses of scripture that one might otherwise overlook. If you like John Bunyan's work and don't have this, get it. It's a keeper.
Average customer rating:
- Excellent and unique look into the effects of the Vietnam War
- Our Brother'sKeeper: My Family's Journey through Vietnam to
- Vietnam: One family's war
- Gut-wrenching yet remarkable book
|
Our Brother's Keeper: My Family's Journey through Vietnam to Hell and Back
Jedwin Smith
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Journalists
| Professionals & Academics
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Memoirs
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
General
| 20th Century
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Vietnam War
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Vietnam
| Asia
| History
| Subjects
| Books
All Amazon Upgrade
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Biographies & Memoirs
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
History
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 0471467596 |
Book Description
Advance Praise for Our Brother's Keeper
"Beautifully written and extraordinarily poignant, Our Brother's Keeper is a Vietnam book like none other. The ghosts of Vietnam are finally starting to circle home, and this remarkable writer has given them voice with passion and resonance. I love Jedwin Smith's Fatal Treasure; Our Brother's Keeper is even closer to the heart."
— Jeff Long, New York Times bestselling author of The Descent and The Reckoning
"Our experience in Vietnam has been searingly recorded in both fiction and nonfiction, but no book about those years is quite like this one. Jedwin Smith's Our Brother's Keeper tells the story of one family that has lived with death by remembrance, and of a man who found redemption when he wanted revenge. It will break your heart, but change it, too."
— Michael Skube, winner of the Pulitzer Prize in criticism
"I read Our Brother's Keeper in the span of an evening and found it deeply affecting and totally enthralling. This book is a haunting, gut-wrenching, and ultimately redemptive journey through time and the human heart. Magnificent."
—Jack Kerley, author of The Hundredth Man
Customer Reviews:
Excellent and unique look into the effects of the Vietnam War.......2005-08-28
I am a military history buff. I especially love to read books written by people who were there, or in this case a person who was greatly effected by the events described. I picked this book up on a whim from a book store and the writing style dragged me into the story. It is truly unique in that it is written by the brother of a Marine that died in Vietnam and that it really does not focus too much on the war. It does cover the basics of that era, but more focuses on the effects the war had back home, as well as the lasting effects on his family.
I am glad that Mr. Smith finally found a start to his healing and was able to write this book to share with the public.
Our Brother'sKeeper: My Family's Journey through Vietnam to .......2005-06-16
About six weeks ago I was told I HAD to read this book for a book club that I am in. I am a romance/mystery junkie and put off reading what I felt would be a depressing WAR book...How wrong was I? This book, which reads like a great story instead of nonfiction, was riveting and inspiring with as much to say about family and interpersonal relations as it does about the Vietnam war. I laughed at Mr. Smith's memories of a very human warrior as well as cried at the manifestations of sorrow and guilt. I am a 31 year old woman who is as far removed from this war as one can get and yet the book brought home the personal and very unpolitical side of this very confusing part of our history. I was extremely thankful that Mr. Smith could share his experiences with me.
Vietnam: One family's war.......2005-05-13
Jedwin Smith (no relation, but I was once his boss at the Atlanta newspaper where we both worked) has written a spellbinding account of how his brother's death in Vietnam (remember that war?) impacted his family and fueled his own decline into alcohol and depression. Without bitterness or animosity, he relates the unraveling of his family and eventually tells of how he and his siblings came to cope with their brother's death, and to mend their lives and relationships with each other. Part and parcel of the story is his climb from the depths, aided by Vietnam War vets who knew his brother in the field and as always, by the love and strength of his devoted wife, June. Don't think of this as a "war" book. It's not. Rather, this is the story of human relationships, told with insight won the hard way, that will send you to Vietnam War Web sites/books to knock the dust off your memories of that era. Jedwin's a natural-born storyteller and this book will grab you from the first page.
Gut-wrenching yet remarkable book.......2005-04-17
This is the kind of well-written book you'll read in 24 hours but think about for weeks. Its the gut-wrenching story of a family suffering through the loss of a beloved son/brother to the Vietnam War. The author, Jedwin Smith, gives us a rare insight into the long-term effects a family endures and also allows us to go along on his painful and emotional journey toward some sense of healing. Without disclosing elements of the book, be advised there is a reconciliation late in the book that is unique, remarkable and inspirational.
We must never forget the sacrifices veterans made for our country, but this book also reminds us to never forget the sacrifices the families of these veterans made as well.
Average customer rating:
|
Journey From Hell's Half Acre
Roger L. Thurman
Manufacturer: Authorhouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Memoirs
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1420809032 |
Books:
- Crystal Reports XI: The Complete Reference (Complete Reference Series)
- Discourse on Method and Meditations on First Philosophy, 4th Ed.
- Dread and the Dead Filled the Dunnam House
- Experiencing God: Knowing And Doing The Will Of God
- Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy (Fancy Nancy)
- Flow Measurement Engineering Handbook
- Gas Turbine Theory (5th Edition)
- Great Books of the Western World (Great books of the Western world)(60 Volumes)
- Herman Melville : Typee, Omoo, Mardi (Library of America)
- Herman Melville : Typee, Omoo, Mardi (Library of America)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Pitch Like a Girl: How a Woman Can Be Herself and Still Succeed
- Easy Origami
- Asperger Syndrome and Adolescence: Helping Preteens & Teens Get Ready for the Real World
- Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics: From Air Pollution to Climate Change
- Body & Soul: Notebooks of an Apprentice Boxer
- For Whom the Bell Tolls
- Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution: The Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars
- Sierra Club 2005 Wilderness Calendar
- Accounting Principles, with PepsiCo Annual Report, General Ledger Software Data Disk
- African Culture & American Business in Africa: How to Strategically Manage Cultural Differences
Girlbomb: A Halfway Homeless Memoir
A Piece of Cake: A Memoir
Augusta, Gone: A True Story
What It Takes To Pull Me Through: Why Teenagers Get in Trouble and How Four of Them Got Out
Halfway House: A Novel
