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Home Front
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Fiction (2012)An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.
The blockbuster bestselling author of Night Road and Firefly Lane delivers a masterful novel that explores the sacrifices of one American family and illuminates the true cost of honor, duty, and love.
From a distance, Michael and Joleen Zarkades seem to have it all: a solid marriage, two exciting careers, and children they adore. But after twelve years together, the couple has lost their way; they are unhappy and edging toward divorce. Then the Iraq war starts. An unexpected deployment will tear their already fragile family apart, sending one of them deep into harm’s way and leaving the other at home, waiting for news. When the worst happens, each must face their darkest fear and fight for the future of their family. An intimate look at the inner landscape of a disintegrating marriage and a dramatic exploration of the price of war on a single American family, Kristin Hannah's HOME FRONT is a provocative and timely portrait of hope, honor, loss, forgiveness, and the elusive nature of love.
The blockbuster bestselling author of Night Road and Firefly Lane delivers a masterful novel that explores the sacrifices of one American family and illuminates the true cost of honor, duty, and love.
From a distance, Michael and Joleen Zarkades seem to have it all: a solid marriage, two exciting careers, and children they adore. But after twelve years together, the couple has lost their way; they are unhappy and edging toward divorce. Then the Iraq war starts. An unexpected deployment will tear their already fragile family apart, sending one of them deep into harm’s way and leaving the other at home, waiting for news. When the worst happens, each must face their darkest fear and fight for the future of their family. An intimate look at the inner landscape of a disintegrating marriage and a dramatic exploration of the price of war on a single American family, Kristin Hannah's HOME FRONT is a provocative and timely portrait of hope, honor, loss, forgiveness, and the elusive nature of love.
397 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 31, 2012
About the author
Kristin Hannah
130 books236k followersKristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels including the international blockbuster, The Nightingale, which was named Goodreads Best Historical fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People's Choice award for best fiction in the same year. It was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week. In 2018,
The Great Alone became an instant New York Times #1 bestseller and was named the Best Historical Novel of the Year by Goodreads.
The Four Winds was published in February of 2021 and immediately hit #1 on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Indie bookstore's bestseller lists. Additionally, it was selected as a book club pick by the both Today Show and The Book Of the Month club, which named it the best book of 2021.
Firefly Lane, her beloved novel about two best friends, was the #1 Netflix series around the world, in the week it came out. The popular tv show stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke and Season Two is currently set to conclude the series on April 27, 2023.
Her new novel, The Women, about a young woman coming of age during the turbulent 1960's in America, who joins the Army Nurse Corps and serves in Vietnam will be published February 6th, 2024.
A former attorney, Kristin lives in the Pacific Northwest.
The Great Alone became an instant New York Times #1 bestseller and was named the Best Historical Novel of the Year by Goodreads.
The Four Winds was published in February of 2021 and immediately hit #1 on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Indie bookstore's bestseller lists. Additionally, it was selected as a book club pick by the both Today Show and The Book Of the Month club, which named it the best book of 2021.
Firefly Lane, her beloved novel about two best friends, was the #1 Netflix series around the world, in the week it came out. The popular tv show stars Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke and Season Two is currently set to conclude the series on April 27, 2023.
Her new novel, The Women, about a young woman coming of age during the turbulent 1960's in America, who joins the Army Nurse Corps and serves in Vietnam will be published February 6th, 2024.
A former attorney, Kristin lives in the Pacific Northwest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 11,643 reviews
March 10, 2012
I am a female veteran, having served in the 80's and 90's. I didn't agree with the author's portrayal of female soldiers as a novelty. We've been around a long time now and have integrated ourselves into the military without being freaks any more. Likewise, in 2007, the nation was highly supportive of its military heroes (and rightfully so). I don't think parents and kids would have taunted and teased a child just because her mother was in the military.
Speaking of children, I tend to disagree with Kristin Hannah's portrayal of children in her books. I happen to have a 4 year old and a 12 year old, and I could not identify with the Jolene's daughters as they were written. Jolene was supposed to be strong, so why on earth did she let her 12 year old get away with such blatent disrespect!? You slam your bedroom door in my house, and that door gets taken off its hinges. (This really works!) Why didn't Jolene, or later Micheal, address Betsy's behavior? She doesn't let her 12 year old come home to an empty house, but she goes running in the morning, leaving the 12 year old and 4 year old home alone and asleep. Huh?
And then there is Michael....if we are to believe that his wife was a National Guardsman for 20 years, then it would follow that she was drilling one weekend a month and 2 weeks a year. Surely, he had to pick up some slack and learn a thing or two in that time.
Don't even get me started on the overbearing control issues of a woman who leaves a "meal calendar" that plans menus months in advance.
Overall, I did like the book despite its flaws. It dealt well with the aftermath of what happened in Iraq. The ending was a little contrived, though.
Speaking of children, I tend to disagree with Kristin Hannah's portrayal of children in her books. I happen to have a 4 year old and a 12 year old, and I could not identify with the Jolene's daughters as they were written. Jolene was supposed to be strong, so why on earth did she let her 12 year old get away with such blatent disrespect!? You slam your bedroom door in my house, and that door gets taken off its hinges. (This really works!) Why didn't Jolene, or later Micheal, address Betsy's behavior? She doesn't let her 12 year old come home to an empty house, but she goes running in the morning, leaving the 12 year old and 4 year old home alone and asleep. Huh?
And then there is Michael....if we are to believe that his wife was a National Guardsman for 20 years, then it would follow that she was drilling one weekend a month and 2 weeks a year. Surely, he had to pick up some slack and learn a thing or two in that time.
Don't even get me started on the overbearing control issues of a woman who leaves a "meal calendar" that plans menus months in advance.
Overall, I did like the book despite its flaws. It dealt well with the aftermath of what happened in Iraq. The ending was a little contrived, though.
August 27, 2021
Home Front is my third book by Kristin Hannah and my least favorite. I’ve read so far The Great Alone and The Nightingale and while both stories are different (the first set in Alaska and the second is a WWII story) they still made me feel. A lot. I also loved the characters and cared very much about them. Home Front however fell short. Nowhere as good as those two.
This book tells the story of a military family, Jolene is a pilot while her husband is a lawyer. He doesn’t exactly support her work. They have two children, Betsy (12 yo) and Lulu (4 yo). Jolene is always trying her best to be the perfect mother and wife. But Michael is tired of that. After his father’s death, their marriage starts falling apart. Michael is depressed and Jolene doesn't know how to help. Shortly after a bad conformation with her husband, Jolene is deployed to Iraq. What follows afterward is the story of this family and how they deal with their new realities.
While I was very invested in the book at first, the more I read, the less I was interested. I liked how the book started, I could’ve felt the cracks in the relationship, Jolene’s hurt, Michael’s loss.. but then I got bored. The story sadly did not keep engaged till the end especially when I reached a point where the plot took a very predictable turn.
The characters are what I usually love in Hannah’s books. Yet here while I liked Jolene and Michael at first, they annoyed me towards the end. Not irritation exactly as much as tiredness of listening to them.
She didn’t fail however at creating a strong female friendship -something she’s known for to me by now- between Jolene and Tammy. It was one of the things that helped me keep reading the book because Tammy was a well-written secondary character and a loyal friend.
See, all that is fine because the story so far would’ve still deserved 3 stars.
BUT. THE DAUGHTERS. God, they were awfully written.
I listened to the audiobook annnnnd I don’t recommend it.
While the narrator’s normal voice wasn’t annoying when she tried to imitate other voices, especially Betsy, I wanted to close my ears. Betsy is a spoiled, shallow, selfish, self-centered teen. She hates her mother for going to Iraq. She hates her for not being there when her period started. Uhm.. Hannah took a few flaws preteens are known for and magnified them. She’s 12 years old dammit. Well, there’s no age that justified such behavior so nevermind that last comment. She also made a scene because her father left her alone at the house and her mother always said Betsy should never come to an empty house. *eye roll*, well now I can say she’s 12 dammit. But that’s not the worst bit. The narrator imitating Betsy’s voice was. If I didn’t hate her while reading, I definitely would’ve (and did) because of the audio. It was terrible. So cringy.
On the other hand, Lulu didn’t act like 4 years old. I mean if she had a mental disability, that would be understandable for such behavior and talk. But this wasn’t hinted at in this book so I cannot assume that. 4 years old don’t act this way. I mostly come across too smart children but I don’t think I’ve come yet about a worse portray of a 4 yo. It made me cringe, again yes, and roll my eyes. Her comments were so stupid that Hannah made me feel like she’s never met a kid at that age before… I know kids that age, I had 2 cousins who are this age, and no, their mental capabilities go a lot beyond ice cream.
Another thing that annoyed me about the narrator was how she was trying to imitate the character's reactions by changing the tones of her voice and whilst it worked sometimes, other times it was just like a and acting and very fake.
This isn’t Hannah's best work but I’m still looking forward to reading the rest of her books. The next one should be Winter Garden, Firefly Lane, or the Four Winds… Depends on which audiobook I get my hands on first.
Briefly, this isn’t Hannah’s best work and if you’re not an established fan who has read a lot of her books, I wouldn’t recommend it. And definitely NOT the audiobook… I believe she has much better novels over there that are worthy of your time.
August 13, 2016
This book affected me in a very deep way. I have not cried this much in months (a year?). This book reminds me of how lucky I am to live where I live with my small hardships and my small sacrifices. I am so thankful for those who have given their fellow Americans so much by taking on large hardships and enduring large sacrifices. I strive to be worthy. I give this book my highest recommendation.
February 5, 2012
Home Front is the newest book by author Kristin Hannah, and I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this book through GoodReads First Reads.
When I first read the synopsis of this book, I will admit it didn't seem like something that would appeal to me. After reading and loving Night Road I gained confidence in Hannah's writing, though. I loved that book so much I decided I will read everything she writes from now on.
This book is really about a lot of things. Jolene is a 41-year old woman who had a pretty messed up childhood, but met the love of her life when she was 17 years old. The story takes place in 2005, and is told from the POV of Jolene, and her husband, Michael. Again I will say for those who are worried about multiple POVs Kristin Hannah does them flawlessly. Jolene was a character that every wife can relate to in my opinion. She's also a great mother. She has abandonment issues as an adult, because of what happened to her as a child, and those issues fuel the fire for some of the problems in her marriage.
Kristin Hannah always tackles issues in a way that never sound preachy. In this book she writes about marriage, war, loneliness, honor, and hope. Jolene's husband Michael tells her that he is no longer in love with her right before she finds out that she is being deployed to Iraq. When the story is told from Jo's POV we see what is going on in Iraq. We see her thoughts, and I personally could literally feel her heartbreak. Hearing your husband doesn't love you right before you leave, and just when you need him he's not there. Hoping you will get home safely, because your children need you. These are just a few of the things swirling around in Jo's mind as she lives in fear trying not to get hit by explosives or crash her helicopter she flies.
When the story switches to Michael's POV we are seeing his everyday life at home with the family. Struggling to take care of two daughters when he hasn't got a clue. At the same time he is also trying to figure out a way to help a client who apparently killed his wife while suffering a severe case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after serving in Iraq. While dealing with this case he learns a lot of what is actually going on in Iraq while America is (and his family) being sheltered from the truth.
This book dealt with a lot, and she certainly gets her views across about how America treats their mentally unstable vets when they return from Iraq. Again, I don't feel like she pushed her opinions on anyone, but I agree with everything she said. You can tell that Hannah really did her research in preparation for this book too. Whether or not you agree with the war in Iraq you will gain a new sense of understanding for our soldiers and their families. Not only do they put their lives on the line during the war, but oftentimes they come home emotionally wrecked, and find out that the government doesn't want to help them get better.
I feel like this book could cater to a much broader audience than her normal chick-litty dramas. Fans of war novels could probably enjoy this too. This book didn't make me a blubbering mess like Night Road, but I definitely felt for the characters. Someone else who has been affected by war on a more personal level or knows a military family will get more of a reaction than I did, probably.
So 4/5 stars. Beautifully written with a great flow and pace. Hannah will not disappoint her fans with this book, and I think she may even gain a few new fans. Holding back 1 star just because it didn't spark as much emotion with me as I have come to expect with Hannah's writing, but like I said others may feel completely differently about that.
When I first read the synopsis of this book, I will admit it didn't seem like something that would appeal to me. After reading and loving Night Road I gained confidence in Hannah's writing, though. I loved that book so much I decided I will read everything she writes from now on.
This book is really about a lot of things. Jolene is a 41-year old woman who had a pretty messed up childhood, but met the love of her life when she was 17 years old. The story takes place in 2005, and is told from the POV of Jolene, and her husband, Michael. Again I will say for those who are worried about multiple POVs Kristin Hannah does them flawlessly. Jolene was a character that every wife can relate to in my opinion. She's also a great mother. She has abandonment issues as an adult, because of what happened to her as a child, and those issues fuel the fire for some of the problems in her marriage.
Kristin Hannah always tackles issues in a way that never sound preachy. In this book she writes about marriage, war, loneliness, honor, and hope. Jolene's husband Michael tells her that he is no longer in love with her right before she finds out that she is being deployed to Iraq. When the story is told from Jo's POV we see what is going on in Iraq. We see her thoughts, and I personally could literally feel her heartbreak. Hearing your husband doesn't love you right before you leave, and just when you need him he's not there. Hoping you will get home safely, because your children need you. These are just a few of the things swirling around in Jo's mind as she lives in fear trying not to get hit by explosives or crash her helicopter she flies.
When the story switches to Michael's POV we are seeing his everyday life at home with the family. Struggling to take care of two daughters when he hasn't got a clue. At the same time he is also trying to figure out a way to help a client who apparently killed his wife while suffering a severe case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after serving in Iraq. While dealing with this case he learns a lot of what is actually going on in Iraq while America is (and his family) being sheltered from the truth.
This book dealt with a lot, and she certainly gets her views across about how America treats their mentally unstable vets when they return from Iraq. Again, I don't feel like she pushed her opinions on anyone, but I agree with everything she said. You can tell that Hannah really did her research in preparation for this book too. Whether or not you agree with the war in Iraq you will gain a new sense of understanding for our soldiers and their families. Not only do they put their lives on the line during the war, but oftentimes they come home emotionally wrecked, and find out that the government doesn't want to help them get better.
I feel like this book could cater to a much broader audience than her normal chick-litty dramas. Fans of war novels could probably enjoy this too. This book didn't make me a blubbering mess like Night Road, but I definitely felt for the characters. Someone else who has been affected by war on a more personal level or knows a military family will get more of a reaction than I did, probably.
So 4/5 stars. Beautifully written with a great flow and pace. Hannah will not disappoint her fans with this book, and I think she may even gain a few new fans. Holding back 1 star just because it didn't spark as much emotion with me as I have come to expect with Hannah's writing, but like I said others may feel completely differently about that.
April 24, 2023
4 very solid stars for this almost 20 year old K. Hannah back list title that still feels really fresh & relevant today. Incredibly heart-warming & realistic story about a female BlackHawk pilot being deployed to Iraq & leaving her family = a self-absorbed hubby, a sullen teen & a precocious toddler. Loved it & it just flew by. I may need to read some more of these older ones…
January 31, 2013
I tried to like this book. For the love of book club I really did. In the end I decided that there are two kinds of people in this world: those who like Nicholas Sparks and cats; and those who don't. I fall into the latter category. Kristen Hannah must be in the first.
December 24, 2021
I loved this book. First of all there are few books out there that truly put women in combat during wartime. What these ladies and their families went through was gut wrenching.
I learned a lot. I was engaged to a man during the first war. He came back changed. I was too young to understand. PTSD was not really out there yet.
But there were some things i didn’t like. If the book wasn’t as good and me as connected would have made a difference in my rating. The children were brats. Having grandchildren the ages of these kids I can tell you Kristin did them over the top. The 4 yo was depicted as more of a 2 year old. The 12 yo maybe 10. Total nasty brats. And the husband -a self absorbed, self entitled narcissistic ass. Though he does straighten up he continues to act like SHE owes him something.
These are strong characters. Well developed? Who is to say. I’ve never experienced humans such as. Jolene was spot on. Both before and after. Perhaps a bit controlling or OCD, but she is a mother after all leaving for a year to go into combat.
Overall, the book is worth the read. I 100% recommend it if you enjoy historical fiction (though this is set too much in the present to be true HF and strong female characters.
I forgot to add. I do not cry when reading books or watching movies. I cried like a frickin baby multiple times. Getting to be a softy in my old age.
Girl Power 😉
I learned a lot. I was engaged to a man during the first war. He came back changed. I was too young to understand. PTSD was not really out there yet.
But there were some things i didn’t like. If the book wasn’t as good and me as connected would have made a difference in my rating. The children were brats. Having grandchildren the ages of these kids I can tell you Kristin did them over the top. The 4 yo was depicted as more of a 2 year old. The 12 yo maybe 10. Total nasty brats. And the husband -a self absorbed, self entitled narcissistic ass. Though he does straighten up he continues to act like SHE owes him something.
These are strong characters. Well developed? Who is to say. I’ve never experienced humans such as. Jolene was spot on. Both before and after. Perhaps a bit controlling or OCD, but she is a mother after all leaving for a year to go into combat.
Overall, the book is worth the read. I 100% recommend it if you enjoy historical fiction (though this is set too much in the present to be true HF and strong female characters.
I forgot to add. I do not cry when reading books or watching movies. I cried like a frickin baby multiple times. Getting to be a softy in my old age.
Girl Power 😉
January 11, 2012
I find it hard to believe that the same person who wrote Winter Garden wrote this. None of the characters were even remotely close to being likable; they were all obnoxious whiners. If life gave you do-overs I would definitely invest the time I wasted reading this book in doing something else.
September 26, 2012
This novel was truly disappointing, and I say this from the perspective of a military spouse. The one slightly unique aspect was that the military member in this case was the wife. But the storyline was hardly imaginative. The wife, Jolene, enjoys serving her country and cares a lot about her job. Michael is the callous civilian husband who doesn’t like that his wife’s line of work. In an already tension-filled home, further conflict arises when Jolene is deployed. Surprised? Even more surprising is the fact that the children don’t handle the deployment well. (Are you sensing my sarcasm?) Of course, no story (and particularly one involving a military family) is complete without a wartime tragedy and so this novel goes its boring way along familiar plot lines. I simply could not enjoy it because it relied too heavily on the usual cliches and didn’t offer anything new or enlightening to the reader.
I guess I’m also just sick of novels about military families that rely solely on deployments to create drama. It’s not that that isn’t a major source of stress, but I think it would also be worthwhile to point out that military families (like civilian families) also cope with “normal” family challenges. That being said, there are other stressors that military families face that are not deployment-related and so authors who only use deployments to move their plots along seem lazy to me.
I guess I’m also just sick of novels about military families that rely solely on deployments to create drama. It’s not that that isn’t a major source of stress, but I think it would also be worthwhile to point out that military families (like civilian families) also cope with “normal” family challenges. That being said, there are other stressors that military families face that are not deployment-related and so authors who only use deployments to move their plots along seem lazy to me.
March 21, 2022
This isn’t my favorite Kristin Hannah novel, but, like many of her books, I did tear up at times.
Michael and Jolene are facing challenges in their marriage as they raise a 12-year-old girl who’s dealing with mean girls at school and a 4-year-old daughter who, when upset, can screech loud enough to cause hearing damage. Switching from full-time service to the National Guard had enabled Jolene to continue flying while concentrating most of her time on her children. Now in 2005, Jolene is called to serve in Iraq. When she leaves, defense lawyer Michael suddenly has to balance being a full-time father with a demanding career. Jolene only talks about upbeat things in her emails and letters home, until something happens that makes the entire family face the true cost of war.
Michael and Jolene are facing challenges in their marriage as they raise a 12-year-old girl who’s dealing with mean girls at school and a 4-year-old daughter who, when upset, can screech loud enough to cause hearing damage. Switching from full-time service to the National Guard had enabled Jolene to continue flying while concentrating most of her time on her children. Now in 2005, Jolene is called to serve in Iraq. When she leaves, defense lawyer Michael suddenly has to balance being a full-time father with a demanding career. Jolene only talks about upbeat things in her emails and letters home, until something happens that makes the entire family face the true cost of war.
April 30, 2024
"How can we possibly survive without each other?"
July 20, 2024
Courage is most likely to be found in the least likely of all places.
This was my third Kristin Hannah novel and I'd write the same line that I wrote in
my review of the book ""Independence" by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni -
Historical fiction has been my favourite genre and it is books like these that make me fall in love more and more with this genre, and in general, with reading!
A mother of two girls aged 12/13 and 5/6, going through a troubled marriage, and yet having a steel in her spine, Jolene, the protagonist of the novel was nothing short of a powerhouse! Just like "The Nightingale" and "The Great Alone", this book was also a paradigm example of how indefatigable a woman can be, particularly when unbearably suppressed from all sides. A magnificent portrayal of how a woman can hold herself together when everything else is falling apart. And above all, a great portrayal of what it means to be a mother, whose instinct is to "protect" and which can be so difficult and yet the mother does that with ease and grace!
Such unwavering strength executed with a remarkable resilience! Awe - inspiring!
I believe Kristin Hannah's skills as a historical fiction author are commendable and I'd always be looking forward to reading more and more of her works!
And yes, by now it'd have been pretty evident that was a 5 star for me!
5/5!
This was my third Kristin Hannah novel and I'd write the same line that I wrote in
my review of the book ""Independence" by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni -
Historical fiction has been my favourite genre and it is books like these that make me fall in love more and more with this genre, and in general, with reading!
A mother of two girls aged 12/13 and 5/6, going through a troubled marriage, and yet having a steel in her spine, Jolene, the protagonist of the novel was nothing short of a powerhouse! Just like "The Nightingale" and "The Great Alone", this book was also a paradigm example of how indefatigable a woman can be, particularly when unbearably suppressed from all sides. A magnificent portrayal of how a woman can hold herself together when everything else is falling apart. And above all, a great portrayal of what it means to be a mother, whose instinct is to "protect" and which can be so difficult and yet the mother does that with ease and grace!
Such unwavering strength executed with a remarkable resilience! Awe - inspiring!
I believe Kristin Hannah's skills as a historical fiction author are commendable and I'd always be looking forward to reading more and more of her works!
And yes, by now it'd have been pretty evident that was a 5 star for me!
5/5!
November 5, 2022
Home Front by Kristin Hannah
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
OMG…I can not put into words how incredibly amazing this story is!!!
Kleenex please…😭
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
OMG…I can not put into words how incredibly amazing this story is!!!
Kleenex please…😭
June 10, 2012
Started and finished this on one tear-soaked Sunday afternoon. Reading it reminded me somewhat of the experience of watching Lord of the Rings - cried through the whole thing for no good reason. There's just something about the characters that tugs on your heartstrings. And there were all the orcs and elves running around*.
Okay, really not so much like Lord of the Rings, but definitely stirring emotionally. I didn't think I'd find much in common with a woman in the military, but the author made her incredibly relatable. Same problems as any other working mom - maintaining a marriage, raising teenage kids, etc etc. But unlike most working moms, she also had to go overseas into dangerous situations and fight. You find yourself really invested in the outcome - very well-written in that sense.
One thing I noticed: maybe it's the selection of Kristin Hannah books I've read, but why are there always dying or dead parents? I feel like one of the main characters is always an orphan.
*bad joke
Okay, really not so much like Lord of the Rings, but definitely stirring emotionally. I didn't think I'd find much in common with a woman in the military, but the author made her incredibly relatable. Same problems as any other working mom - maintaining a marriage, raising teenage kids, etc etc. But unlike most working moms, she also had to go overseas into dangerous situations and fight. You find yourself really invested in the outcome - very well-written in that sense.
One thing I noticed: maybe it's the selection of Kristin Hannah books I've read, but why are there always dying or dead parents? I feel like one of the main characters is always an orphan.
*bad joke
August 9, 2018
EXCERPT: Prologue 1982
The way she saw it, some families were like well-tended parks, with pretty daffodil borders and big, sprawling trees that offered respite from the summer sun. Others - and she knew this firsthand - were battlefields, bloody and dark, litteredwith shrapnel and body parts.
She might only be seventeen, but Jolene Larsen already knew about war. She'd grown up in the midst of a marriage gone bad.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Bestselling author Kristin Hannah explores the intimate landscape of a troubled marriage with this provocative and timely portrait of a husband and wife, in love and at war.
From a distance, Michael and Joleen Zarkades seem to have it all: a solid marriage, two exciting careers, and children they adore. But after twelve years together, the couple has lost their way; they are unhappy and edging toward divorce. Then the Iraq war starts. An unexpected deployment will tear their already fragile family apart, sending one of them deep into harm’s way and leaving the other at home, waiting for news. When the worst happens, each must face their darkest fear and fight for the future of their family. An intimate look at the inner landscape of a disintegrating marriage and a dramatic exploration of the price of war on a single American family, Home Front is a provocative and timely portrait of hope, honor, loss, forgiveness, and the elusive nature of love.
MY THOUGHTS: I cried buckets of tears listening to this book on audio. It is a very moving and humbling read.
Kristin Hannah shows great understanding of the slow disintegration of a marriage, the terror of going to war, the angriness of being a teenager, the demands of a four year old, the struggles of a mother trying to hold it all together, of trying to be everything to all her family members until circumstances beyond her control bring it all crashing down about her. Her understanding is conveyed in the way she writes about these subjects with great sensitivity. There is not one cheesy or 'Hallmark' moment in here.
Jolene and her best friend Tammy are ordinary women; wives and mothers, with all the demands and pressures that these roles bring. But at the same time these are extraordinary women - pilots of Black Hawk helicopters in the armed forces. Their deployment to Iraq is something both women have trained for, but never really expected. Jolene leaves behind a crumbling marriage, an angry teenage daughter and a bewildered four year old who every day asks "Will Mommy be home tomorrow?"
In an effort to protect her family from the reality of her life in a combat zone, Jolene writes home painting a very different picture to the life she actually lives, where the horrors she witnesses daily slowly become the norm. So nobody is prepared when tragedy strikes and the lives of the family are irrevocably changed.
There were times I had to put this book down and walk away from it. There were days I could not listen to it at all. It is at once heart-breaking, but full of hope. I now know so much more about PTSD and survivor guilt. I have always had a great respect for those that put their lives on the line to defend our homelands, but that is now so much deeper.
I recommend you keep a large box of tissues at your side.
😍😢😍😢😍
THE AUTHOR: Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels including the international blockbuster, The Nightingale, which was named Goodreads Best Historical fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People's Choice award for best fiction in the same year. Additionally, it was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week.
Kristin's highly anticipated new release, The Great Alone, will be published on February 6, 2018 (St. Martin's Press). The novel, an epic love story and intimate family drama set in Alaska in the turbulent 1970's is a daring, stay-up-all-night story about love and loss, the fight for survival and the wildness that lives in both nature and man. It has been listed as one of the most anticipated novels of the year by The Seattle Times, Bustle.com, PopSugar, Working Mother, Southern Living, and Goodreads.
The Nightingale is currently in production at Tri Star, with award-winning director Michelle MacLaren set to direct. Home Front was optioned for film by 1492 Films (produced the Oscar-nominated The Help) with Chris Columbus attached to write, produce, and direct. Movie news on The Great Alone is coming soon.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of Home Front by Kristin Hannah, narrated by Maggi-Meg Reed via OverDrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
The way she saw it, some families were like well-tended parks, with pretty daffodil borders and big, sprawling trees that offered respite from the summer sun. Others - and she knew this firsthand - were battlefields, bloody and dark, litteredwith shrapnel and body parts.
She might only be seventeen, but Jolene Larsen already knew about war. She'd grown up in the midst of a marriage gone bad.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Bestselling author Kristin Hannah explores the intimate landscape of a troubled marriage with this provocative and timely portrait of a husband and wife, in love and at war.
From a distance, Michael and Joleen Zarkades seem to have it all: a solid marriage, two exciting careers, and children they adore. But after twelve years together, the couple has lost their way; they are unhappy and edging toward divorce. Then the Iraq war starts. An unexpected deployment will tear their already fragile family apart, sending one of them deep into harm’s way and leaving the other at home, waiting for news. When the worst happens, each must face their darkest fear and fight for the future of their family. An intimate look at the inner landscape of a disintegrating marriage and a dramatic exploration of the price of war on a single American family, Home Front is a provocative and timely portrait of hope, honor, loss, forgiveness, and the elusive nature of love.
MY THOUGHTS: I cried buckets of tears listening to this book on audio. It is a very moving and humbling read.
Kristin Hannah shows great understanding of the slow disintegration of a marriage, the terror of going to war, the angriness of being a teenager, the demands of a four year old, the struggles of a mother trying to hold it all together, of trying to be everything to all her family members until circumstances beyond her control bring it all crashing down about her. Her understanding is conveyed in the way she writes about these subjects with great sensitivity. There is not one cheesy or 'Hallmark' moment in here.
Jolene and her best friend Tammy are ordinary women; wives and mothers, with all the demands and pressures that these roles bring. But at the same time these are extraordinary women - pilots of Black Hawk helicopters in the armed forces. Their deployment to Iraq is something both women have trained for, but never really expected. Jolene leaves behind a crumbling marriage, an angry teenage daughter and a bewildered four year old who every day asks "Will Mommy be home tomorrow?"
In an effort to protect her family from the reality of her life in a combat zone, Jolene writes home painting a very different picture to the life she actually lives, where the horrors she witnesses daily slowly become the norm. So nobody is prepared when tragedy strikes and the lives of the family are irrevocably changed.
There were times I had to put this book down and walk away from it. There were days I could not listen to it at all. It is at once heart-breaking, but full of hope. I now know so much more about PTSD and survivor guilt. I have always had a great respect for those that put their lives on the line to defend our homelands, but that is now so much deeper.
I recommend you keep a large box of tissues at your side.
😍😢😍😢😍
THE AUTHOR: Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than 20 novels including the international blockbuster, The Nightingale, which was named Goodreads Best Historical fiction novel for 2015 and won the coveted People's Choice award for best fiction in the same year. Additionally, it was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, iTunes, Buzzfeed, the Wall Street Journal, Paste, and The Week.
Kristin's highly anticipated new release, The Great Alone, will be published on February 6, 2018 (St. Martin's Press). The novel, an epic love story and intimate family drama set in Alaska in the turbulent 1970's is a daring, stay-up-all-night story about love and loss, the fight for survival and the wildness that lives in both nature and man. It has been listed as one of the most anticipated novels of the year by The Seattle Times, Bustle.com, PopSugar, Working Mother, Southern Living, and Goodreads.
The Nightingale is currently in production at Tri Star, with award-winning director Michelle MacLaren set to direct. Home Front was optioned for film by 1492 Films (produced the Oscar-nominated The Help) with Chris Columbus attached to write, produce, and direct. Movie news on The Great Alone is coming soon.
DISCLOSURE: I listened to the audiobook of Home Front by Kristin Hannah, narrated by Maggi-Meg Reed via OverDrive. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.
This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 10, 2012
Maybe I expected too much after Hannah's brilliant NIGHT ROAD and most of her other books. I found the story to be incredibly predictable and cliche. The premise of the story is a good one, but this story lacks the originality found in most of Hannah's books. I don't want to say too much detail about what was predictable, for fear of spoiling the book. The character of Michael is the most well rounded and well written, because he's a flawed good guy. His major flaws--workaholism, poor communication skills--are sophisticated and nuanced. The book, however, is written in the POV of Jolene. She lacks the depth necessary to make her a character I truly cared about. She's the perfect soldier, the perfect mother, the perfect wife, the perfect snoozer. The younger daughter seems poorly researched. I don't know of any 4-year-olds who play paddy-cake, though this game was central to the girl's arc. The older daughter Betsy, 12 years old, bullied by the mean girls, yet wants to be one, bullies the son of Tami, her mother's best friend and fellow soldier. You can guess what happens in the end Betsy and Tami's son.
Hannah did a good job of describing Jolene's PTSD reactions and didn't flinch from the devastating psychiatric condition, however Jolene's recovery from her war injuries follow a predictable cliche-brave person gets hurt, brave person feels sorry for herself, brave person rises above.
I know from reading almost all of Hannah's books that she is capable of better stories.
Hannah did a good job of describing Jolene's PTSD reactions and didn't flinch from the devastating psychiatric condition, however Jolene's recovery from her war injuries follow a predictable cliche-brave person gets hurt, brave person feels sorry for herself, brave person rises above.
I know from reading almost all of Hannah's books that she is capable of better stories.
December 11, 2022
"I know about hurting all the way to your bones. And I know about giving up. It ain't the way."
°•*⁀➷
This book was a very tough read for me. I feel like I grew up at the perfect time, although arguably worst, to have this hit just a bit too hard.
This begins with a very intimate look into a broken marriage. Two people who love each other had grown apart due to different experiences with loss. Joleen lost her parents at a very young age and found solace in the routine of the military. Michael lost his father and tried to find solace in his wife. The difference is, he felt grief, she only ever felt loss.
She comes to find that there is a very big difference between the two.
As duty requires, Joleen is sent off to war. In her absence, Michael needs to step up and take care of his children. In doing so, he remembers who he was before grief changed him so entirely. He remembers how much he loves his wife and regrets the way he treated her before they had to say goodbye.
He also takes on what his father always calls, "the case that changes everything." He's a defense lawyer defending a man with PTSD. It hits so close to home for him and helps him to learn what his wife may need from him when she comes home one day.
This book is heart breaking, and was hard to get through. I cried through so much of it due to my own experiences with friends and family that came home from Iraq. If you told me Michael and Joleen didn't exist, I wouldn't believe you.
That's how incredibly Kristin Hannah wrote this.
Sometimes a five star book sneaks up on you. I wanted to give this four stars almost the entire read, and then I started writing this. It's five stars. It's knowing that while you may never be the person you were before, you can always become someone to be proud of now.
- Paige
°•*⁀➷
This book was a very tough read for me. I feel like I grew up at the perfect time, although arguably worst, to have this hit just a bit too hard.
This begins with a very intimate look into a broken marriage. Two people who love each other had grown apart due to different experiences with loss. Joleen lost her parents at a very young age and found solace in the routine of the military. Michael lost his father and tried to find solace in his wife. The difference is, he felt grief, she only ever felt loss.
She comes to find that there is a very big difference between the two.
As duty requires, Joleen is sent off to war. In her absence, Michael needs to step up and take care of his children. In doing so, he remembers who he was before grief changed him so entirely. He remembers how much he loves his wife and regrets the way he treated her before they had to say goodbye.
He also takes on what his father always calls, "the case that changes everything." He's a defense lawyer defending a man with PTSD. It hits so close to home for him and helps him to learn what his wife may need from him when she comes home one day.
This book is heart breaking, and was hard to get through. I cried through so much of it due to my own experiences with friends and family that came home from Iraq. If you told me Michael and Joleen didn't exist, I wouldn't believe you.
That's how incredibly Kristin Hannah wrote this.
Sometimes a five star book sneaks up on you. I wanted to give this four stars almost the entire read, and then I started writing this. It's five stars. It's knowing that while you may never be the person you were before, you can always become someone to be proud of now.
- Paige
December 4, 2013
This book initially caught my attention because it was about a female soldier in Iraq. As a civilian we are actually clueless when it comes to the sacrifice and service that soldiers give to hold our freedom. I think we forget the real men and women involved in War and focus on numbers or statistics. It is easier for us to be blissfully ignorant. Kristin Hannah reveals an intimate dual experience of both the soldier and the family. She explores the journey from both sides before, during, and after war. I love that she researched this story so well. I was touched by this story and felt connected to the characters. It is definitely a good read.
December 23, 2023
This is a well-written, entertaining, contemporary fiction novel. It has well developed characters, including a likable female protagonist, whom I rooted for throughout the novel, tragedy, heartbreak, loss, hope, resilience, and a bittersweet ending. It is a wonderful tribute to those who serve our country, and deals sensitively with PTSD. I listened to the audio book, and the narrator, Ms. Maggi-Meg Reed, has a lovely voice and is truly talented. Ms. Hannah's question and answer section at the end of the novel, in her own voice, is engaging and is truly appreciated.
May 22, 2020
Home Front will stay with me for a long while. It’s one of those stories that I enjoyed and read quickly but more than that it really made me think and those types of stories I do not forget.
November 6, 2021
In this powerhouse of a novel, Homefront by Kristin Hannah, explores the intimate landscape of a troubled marriage with this provocative and timely portrait of a husband and wife, in love and at war.
Like many couples, Michael and Jolene Zarkades have to face the pressures of everyday life—children, careers, bills, chores—even as their twelve-year marriage is falling apart. Then a deployment sends Jolene deep into harm's way and leaves defense attorney Michael at home, unaccustomed to being a single parent to their two girls. As a mother, it agonizes Jolene to leave her family, but as a soldier, she has always understood the true meaning of duty. In her letters home, she paints a rose-colored version of her life on the front lines, shielding her family from the truth. But war will change Jolene in ways that none of them could have foreseen. When tragedy strikes, Michael must face his darkest fear and fight a battle of his own—for everything that matters to his family. At once a profoundly honest look at modern marriage and a dramatic exploration of the toll war takes on an ordinary American family, Home Front is a story of love, loss, heroism, honor, and ultimately, hope.
Just a note of caution: you may experience something you are not familiar with in your normal readings, specifically moisture rolling down your face due to some expertly written descriptions of life stories.
Like many couples, Michael and Jolene Zarkades have to face the pressures of everyday life—children, careers, bills, chores—even as their twelve-year marriage is falling apart. Then a deployment sends Jolene deep into harm's way and leaves defense attorney Michael at home, unaccustomed to being a single parent to their two girls. As a mother, it agonizes Jolene to leave her family, but as a soldier, she has always understood the true meaning of duty. In her letters home, she paints a rose-colored version of her life on the front lines, shielding her family from the truth. But war will change Jolene in ways that none of them could have foreseen. When tragedy strikes, Michael must face his darkest fear and fight a battle of his own—for everything that matters to his family. At once a profoundly honest look at modern marriage and a dramatic exploration of the toll war takes on an ordinary American family, Home Front is a story of love, loss, heroism, honor, and ultimately, hope.
Just a note of caution: you may experience something you are not familiar with in your normal readings, specifically moisture rolling down your face due to some expertly written descriptions of life stories.
April 26, 2024
Is it even a Kristin Hannah novel if you don’t sob at the end? Lots of tears. Full review to come.
December 7, 2015
All marriages have a breaking point.
All families have wounds.
All wars have a cost...
I just finished reading this really great book!! For a change of pace from my usual reads, it's actually not a Romance, it's more in the Women's Fiction genre but it's by an author whose writing I LOVE because she writes with such powerful imagery and raw honesty that it feels like you're living the story with the characters. This story is about a woman who serves in the military flying helicopters and who is also a loving mother and a wife at home with a husband she loves and two little girls... and it's about what happens to her and her family when she gets deployed. This is a very character-centric story and I'll be honest, that it's a very serious read. I don't come from a military family, but the story is written in such a way that it FEELS real.
This author is my go-to for anytime I want to step outside my beloved Romance world, and this was another winner!! Ultimately, the blurb gives the perfect description:
"At once a profoundly honest look at modern marriage and a dramatic exploration of the toll war takes on an ordinary American family, Home Front is a story of love, loss, heroism, honor, and ultimately, hope."
Full review to come.
Standalone. 4.5 stars.
Women's Fiction.
August 25, 2018
A story about a military family. Michael and Joleen Zarkades are dealing with normal family issues - marriage, children, and work. Their situation is complicated when Joleen is called to active duty and must leave her family to go into a war zone.
This story is mainly from Joleen's point of view, but some of Michael's viewpoint is included. Michael is an attorney unhappy with his wife and marriage. Joleen is a helicopter pilot in the military. She loves her husband and children, and is surprised and disappointed with the problems they are having. When Joleen is called to into service, the family life becomes even more upset.
As usual, Kristin Hannah presents an emotionally heavy story. Home Front address issues that many families deal with, like marriage and children, but also focuses on the complications presented when being a military family.
I enjoyed the story, but I didn't really connect to any of the characters, except for maybe Tami, Joleen's best friend. However, the characters were all well written and believable. The only character I despised was Betsy, Joleen's daughter. Seriously, that kid had a major attitude problem.
Some difficult topics are presented, with one main focus of the story being PTSD. Heartbreaking and inspiring.
This story is mainly from Joleen's point of view, but some of Michael's viewpoint is included. Michael is an attorney unhappy with his wife and marriage. Joleen is a helicopter pilot in the military. She loves her husband and children, and is surprised and disappointed with the problems they are having. When Joleen is called to into service, the family life becomes even more upset.
As usual, Kristin Hannah presents an emotionally heavy story. Home Front address issues that many families deal with, like marriage and children, but also focuses on the complications presented when being a military family.
I enjoyed the story, but I didn't really connect to any of the characters, except for maybe Tami, Joleen's best friend. However, the characters were all well written and believable. The only character I despised was Betsy, Joleen's daughter. Seriously, that kid had a major attitude problem.
Some difficult topics are presented, with one main focus of the story being PTSD. Heartbreaking and inspiring.
Shelved as 'dnf'
September 17, 2013I'm not even going to rate this one because I only got to 36% before I moved on to bigger and better books. One lady in the book club assured me that she was crying and sobbing in the end.
This book was just so boring for me. I couldn't relate to the characters at all. Jolene was such a push-over in every aspect of her life. If her husband was bothering her, she would sometimes say something and then drop it. If her daughter was acting like a total bitch, as she was for the majority of what I read, Jolene just lay down and took it. And just the way she thought about her husband Michael pissed me off. As if he couldn't do anything she was used to doing around the house because he was a man. NO.
Granted, Michael was a total douchebag and proved her right in that respect. He's basically an absentee father forced to spend time with and take care of his children because his wife is going off to war. His attitude towards his wife’s chosen profession disgusted me. Even if you don’t support the army, why can’t you support something your partner is so passionate about? It’s like hating your spouse because they support a different political party. It’s just stupid.
I HATED THIS RELATIONSHIP. Being inside both their heads was boring. Internal monologues put me to sleep. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
I thought I would continue on with this book, just to see what happened, but once Jolene got to Iraq and saw the reality on the ground, I realized that I didn’t even care what happened to her (I know, I’m cold-hearted). I also didn’t care what would happen to Michael or any of the other characters because the author made me hate them before anything even happened. It’s sad because this book has a lot of potential in terms of character development and a sob-worthy plot, but I just didn’t care enough to finish it.
This book was just so boring for me. I couldn't relate to the characters at all. Jolene was such a push-over in every aspect of her life. If her husband was bothering her, she would sometimes say something and then drop it. If her daughter was acting like a total bitch, as she was for the majority of what I read, Jolene just lay down and took it. And just the way she thought about her husband Michael pissed me off. As if he couldn't do anything she was used to doing around the house because he was a man. NO.
Granted, Michael was a total douchebag and proved her right in that respect. He's basically an absentee father forced to spend time with and take care of his children because his wife is going off to war. His attitude towards his wife’s chosen profession disgusted me. Even if you don’t support the army, why can’t you support something your partner is so passionate about? It’s like hating your spouse because they support a different political party. It’s just stupid.
I HATED THIS RELATIONSHIP. Being inside both their heads was boring. Internal monologues put me to sleep. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
I thought I would continue on with this book, just to see what happened, but once Jolene got to Iraq and saw the reality on the ground, I realized that I didn’t even care what happened to her (I know, I’m cold-hearted). I also didn’t care what would happen to Michael or any of the other characters because the author made me hate them before anything even happened. It’s sad because this book has a lot of potential in terms of character development and a sob-worthy plot, but I just didn’t care enough to finish it.
November 17, 2016
Home Front is a raw, gritty and stunning portrayal of a woman battling two separate wars: her crumbling marriage and well, war. Literally.
Jolene, a mother of two and a helicopter pilot in the National Guard, is called up to serve in the Iraq war. Never questioning her commitment to serve, Jolene must leave behind her husband and two young girls and fight for her country as she trained to do.
This book really got to me. At times, I found myself listening with tears running down my cheeks- especially after Jolene returns home from war. The magnitude of what she faced was so difficult to read about. It hurt. And the healing took time.
This book is not an easy read, but an important one. I am so glad that I finally took the time to read it, as it has been on my TBR for years. This is not a story that I will soon forget.
4.25 stars!
Jolene, a mother of two and a helicopter pilot in the National Guard, is called up to serve in the Iraq war. Never questioning her commitment to serve, Jolene must leave behind her husband and two young girls and fight for her country as she trained to do.
This book really got to me. At times, I found myself listening with tears running down my cheeks- especially after Jolene returns home from war. The magnitude of what she faced was so difficult to read about. It hurt. And the healing took time.
This book is not an easy read, but an important one. I am so glad that I finally took the time to read it, as it has been on my TBR for years. This is not a story that I will soon forget.
4.25 stars!
December 23, 2023
3.75 stars
This was my sixth book by this author. I simply adore her writing and storytelling.
This book was published in 2012.
It’s quite enjoyable and it’s a very easy read.
It’s also quite emotional.
The development of the story around PTSD was skillfully executed.
The family dynamic was a bit unbelievable and the conclusion was a bit too easy, but overall I thought that this book as a good entertainment.
Not all characters are likeable, and I think that most readers rated this book negatively just based on that.
I read it practically in one sitting.
The audiobook narrated by Maggi-Meg Reed is excellent!
Don’t miss the interview with the author, at the end of the book.
Ebook (Kobo): 416 pages, 129k words
Audiobook: 15.5 hours (normal speed)
This was my sixth book by this author. I simply adore her writing and storytelling.
This book was published in 2012.
It’s quite enjoyable and it’s a very easy read.
It’s also quite emotional.
The development of the story around PTSD was skillfully executed.
The family dynamic was a bit unbelievable and the conclusion was a bit too easy, but overall I thought that this book as a good entertainment.
Not all characters are likeable, and I think that most readers rated this book negatively just based on that.
I read it practically in one sitting.
The audiobook narrated by Maggi-Meg Reed is excellent!
Don’t miss the interview with the author, at the end of the book.
Ebook (Kobo): 416 pages, 129k words
Audiobook: 15.5 hours (normal speed)
May 14, 2014
This book was one I kept putting aside after I bought it with an "Eh, I don't really wanna read about war." I'm so sorry I did that. I will be honest, I am one of those people who thought (and still thinks) that the war is a waste of U.S. citizens and resources, but I certainly support the soldiers who are just doing their job. I would prefer them home, safe and well! I think that's what many people think. I'm not from a military family, have never really understood "military mentality", etc. This book was an eye opener for me, showing what a possible miltary family would think and feel, and I thought that it was so well written and believable, very honest. I think the best part was it highlighted the sacrifice and burden that many soldiers and their families actually endure with deployment. I never really thought about all that would have to change, and adding the element that it's a female made the twist very interesting, especially in the character of Michael who felt immasculated and disconnected from the military. I truly wanted to hate him, but in many ways, I had similar feelings... until I kept reading and then understood what a sense of honor is, and how that's an amazing emotion and without that, where would we be as a country? I would make a terrible soldier, but this book made me see what a true soldier could be, and what many of them are every day and I'm so thankful for that.
March 30, 2017
Bullet Review:
This book is HUGELY offensive. Offensive to military families (how the f$&@ did Michael survive THAT LONG married to a Army National Guard officer?!). Offensive to women (assuming it's the wife's responsibility to teach her husband to leave work for his OWN F$&@ING DAUGHTER'S TRACK MEET). Offensive to people who like good writing and characters (Lulu is that 4-year old that exists in Family Circle comics and in imaginations only).
But it was this line that made me DNF at 16% or at the start of Chapter 18:
"What kind of mother could leave her children?"
WHAT KIND OF DAD puts his JOB over his family??! OHHHHHH but THAT is okay because kids need moms not dad?!!!! F$&@ that sh!t - I needed my dad as much as my mom!!
As for this "oh you can just tell the UNITED STATES ARMY you're not going on deployment" is BULLSH!T. If Michael has been married for any length of time he would F$&@ING KNOW THAT - I knew that and I was a CHILD for my dad's Navy career!
DO NOT BUY.
Full Review:
Jolene was the child of alcoholic parents with an abusive father. Her parents die when she is 3 months shy of 18; she ends up going to Michael Zarkades, a local lawyer, to avoid being in the foster care system, and, when her case is done, promises to meet him when she gets older (does anyone else find this creepy?). Because she has little other options, she joins the Army and becomes a helicopter pilot. But after she and Michael get married and have Betsy, she goes into the Army National Guard to be able to be home with the family.
Fast forward to Jolene's 41st birthday. She's learned to be hard as steel and cool as ice; her husband, Michael, is addicted to work and doesn't like how Jolene is in the military (uhhhhhhh, you married her when she was in the Army, sooooooo...) and is so independent and steely. She has a bratty teenager named Betsy and an oddly cherubic 4-year old named Lulu along with her token friend, Tami. Michael is an @$$, a horrible husband, and a terrible father and forgets her birthday, comes home super late even when she reminded him and is mad Jolene isn't openly mad at her. (For some reason, independent "I don't need people" Jolene didn't divorce his @$$ the first time he did this.)
And that's Jolene's life. (Don't you want to sign up for that?! Me neither!)
This all changes on the day she learns she will be deployed. Michael is astonished and even though he's been a military husband for 12+ years, he's like, "Can't you just say no?!" (UM F@#$ no! Not unless you want to be courtmarshalled!) You see, Michael doesn't approve of the war or of her being in the military, even though Jolene is happy, so he's actively hostile anytime she even remotely brings it up including when she hangs out with her coworkers.
Because THAT'S how adults act when they oppose a senseless war. *cue eyeroll*
The point whereupon I ragequit was when he said,
"What kind of mother leaves her children?"
F@#$ you, @$$hole! What kind of FATHER forgets his daughter's track meet, his wife's birthday, to buy his wife a gift she actually wants and buys her something she does not want? Or a father that is constantly late coming home, is emotionally distant, is a self-centered prick, who leaves all the parenting to his wife and won't demand his children treat their mother with respect?! Oh, but THAT is okay, because men are men and women are just supposed to not have lives outside their kids!
DNF at 20% or Chapter 8. I did skip to the end and read the last chapter and the Epilogue and that made me doubly glad I didn't bother to read this in its entirety.
To understand why I'm rating this 1-star, let me give you some of my history. I am a Navy brat; my dad was in the Navy for 21 years. He went on multiple deployments - and yes, I was upset, but my mom never let us dwell on it, instead having us focus on being supportive of him in the trying time (there wasn't anything we could do anyway). In the middle of one of his standard 6-month deployment, for 2 months we received absolutely no word from him and were worried sick about him. And after 9/11, I was concerned that, although Dad was retired, he would be called into active duty. I even contemplated joining ROTC after high school.
So I have some limited experience with military families - and I am appalled at the way Jolene and Michael's family acts in this book. Being a family is tough, a military family doubly so (since you have a member gone for months at a time in dangerous locations), but many families took up the challenges and didn't act anything like Michael and Jolene. Sure, there were many divorces in the military - many spouses could not deal with their loved one gone so much and said goodbye. But I'm surprised, if Michael is such an anti-war, anti-military guy 1) he married Jolene at all (it's absolutely creepy and feels terribly ethically wrong that he married the client he helped when she was 17) and 2) he lasted half as long as he did! How did they manage over a decade of marriage?! If he hates her career so much, how did that not aggravate their relationship say 5 years in or 10 years in?!
Both Michael and Jolene have the problem of being unable to just sit down and TALK about things. Again, you would assume after 10+ years of marriage, they would have figured out the importance of communication or divorce - but nope, neither of them knows how to use a phone or open their mouths.
Michael is a horrible person - a workaholic, pouty, unsupportive - but Jolene is a mystery. On one hand, she's tough and demands everything her way - but then Michael certainly isn't doing any parenting, so the problem is?? Also I find it hard to believe that a woman as tough as Jolene supposedly is would let her family walk all over her - to let Michael forget her birthday (I envision a strong woman would be filing divorce papers) or her child call her "braindead" (more about that in a bit). In short, Jolene is a very inconsistent character.
As for the children - let me just say, if I said or did even 1/10th of the things Betsy did, I would be picking myself off the floor. At one point, Betsy calls her mom "Braindead" - if I had said that to MY mom, I would have been in deep sh!t!! Also, Betsy freaks out when her mom is deployed (how does a military kid NOT expect that at some point?!) and threatens to not love her mom anymore if she leaves (again, what??!). Everything about Betsy is so horrible, it's impossible to want anything other than her to fall off a cliff!
As for Betsy's humiliation over her mom's career, I'm mystified. I was PROUD of my dad being in the military. I STILL am proud. And most people around me never picked on me for my dad being in the military - most of the time I got the opposite reaction!
Then we have Lulu. Lulu wasn't obnoxious and repulsive in the same vein as Betsy, but she still was disgusting - just because no 4-year old child is that "sweet and cute and cherubic"!
And the names of these children! Good lord! Betsy would have been born in the 90's - can't believe that anyone would choose "Betsy" for a 90's child! And Lulu in the 00's?! What world did we get transported to??
And then Tami. Her entire character is being Jolene's friend, a token Native American (no mention of what tribe she's from, only that she has long black hair and high cheekbones), a pilot, and someone to tell Jolene "It will get better". (Her husband Carl cheated on her, and it was sad but now it's totes not! And they are now totes better!) The sad part is - she's not a character. She's a cardboard cutout. Making her Native American was just like putting a costume on a dolly - it was cheap and lame and I'm insulted for our Indigenous population.
Once I got done being angry at the horrible, stupid characters, I realized I knew that made me maddest - this isn't really a story about redemption. It's one of those books where the focus is on how awful the author can make things before Deus Ex Machina-ing the sh!t out of it to make life perfect again. I don't mind bad things happening, but I'd like to see more than a couple of paragraphs on how amazing life suddenly got overnight after wading through 90% of a book of misery.
I skipped through from chapter 8 to the end, reading the final chapter and the Epilogue, and each page was rife with "this horrible thing happened" or "Jolene drank more wine" or "Jolene took sleeping pills". But then magically, she's fine; she's suddenly having sex with her husband again (there's a gross line where they hint at it in front of their children), she FINALLY goes to see a therapist in the final chapter, and what they discuss is glossed over. Basically, this book is "hurt/comfort" fic, with emphasis on the "hurt" but no real analysis of the healing.
And it's not that well written either! Good lord, after reading Laini Taylor and Pauline Gedge, this reads like something I read in 8th grade.
So that's why I quit the book. It was cliched and boring, with the most immature writing and plot structure. It gave no nuance to characters, it reveled in making things horrible for Jolene so we can all feel better that our lives aren't that bad. But it's also incredibly insulting to the many military families who act nothing like the Michael's and Betsy's in this book.
I tend not to give sweeping recommendations, as all people are different, but I personally do not recommend.
This book is HUGELY offensive. Offensive to military families (how the f$&@ did Michael survive THAT LONG married to a Army National Guard officer?!). Offensive to women (assuming it's the wife's responsibility to teach her husband to leave work for his OWN F$&@ING DAUGHTER'S TRACK MEET). Offensive to people who like good writing and characters (Lulu is that 4-year old that exists in Family Circle comics and in imaginations only).
But it was this line that made me DNF at 16% or at the start of Chapter 18:
"What kind of mother could leave her children?"
WHAT KIND OF DAD puts his JOB over his family??! OHHHHHH but THAT is okay because kids need moms not dad?!!!! F$&@ that sh!t - I needed my dad as much as my mom!!
As for this "oh you can just tell the UNITED STATES ARMY you're not going on deployment" is BULLSH!T. If Michael has been married for any length of time he would F$&@ING KNOW THAT - I knew that and I was a CHILD for my dad's Navy career!
DO NOT BUY.
Full Review:
Jolene was the child of alcoholic parents with an abusive father. Her parents die when she is 3 months shy of 18; she ends up going to Michael Zarkades, a local lawyer, to avoid being in the foster care system, and, when her case is done, promises to meet him when she gets older (does anyone else find this creepy?). Because she has little other options, she joins the Army and becomes a helicopter pilot. But after she and Michael get married and have Betsy, she goes into the Army National Guard to be able to be home with the family.
Fast forward to Jolene's 41st birthday. She's learned to be hard as steel and cool as ice; her husband, Michael, is addicted to work and doesn't like how Jolene is in the military (uhhhhhhh, you married her when she was in the Army, sooooooo...) and is so independent and steely. She has a bratty teenager named Betsy and an oddly cherubic 4-year old named Lulu along with her token friend, Tami. Michael is an @$$, a horrible husband, and a terrible father and forgets her birthday, comes home super late even when she reminded him and is mad Jolene isn't openly mad at her. (For some reason, independent "I don't need people" Jolene didn't divorce his @$$ the first time he did this.)
And that's Jolene's life. (Don't you want to sign up for that?! Me neither!)
This all changes on the day she learns she will be deployed. Michael is astonished and even though he's been a military husband for 12+ years, he's like, "Can't you just say no?!" (UM F@#$ no! Not unless you want to be courtmarshalled!) You see, Michael doesn't approve of the war or of her being in the military, even though Jolene is happy, so he's actively hostile anytime she even remotely brings it up including when she hangs out with her coworkers.
Because THAT'S how adults act when they oppose a senseless war. *cue eyeroll*
The point whereupon I ragequit was when he said,
"What kind of mother leaves her children?"
F@#$ you, @$$hole! What kind of FATHER forgets his daughter's track meet, his wife's birthday, to buy his wife a gift she actually wants and buys her something she does not want? Or a father that is constantly late coming home, is emotionally distant, is a self-centered prick, who leaves all the parenting to his wife and won't demand his children treat their mother with respect?! Oh, but THAT is okay, because men are men and women are just supposed to not have lives outside their kids!
DNF at 20% or Chapter 8. I did skip to the end and read the last chapter and the Epilogue and that made me doubly glad I didn't bother to read this in its entirety.
To understand why I'm rating this 1-star, let me give you some of my history. I am a Navy brat; my dad was in the Navy for 21 years. He went on multiple deployments - and yes, I was upset, but my mom never let us dwell on it, instead having us focus on being supportive of him in the trying time (there wasn't anything we could do anyway). In the middle of one of his standard 6-month deployment, for 2 months we received absolutely no word from him and were worried sick about him. And after 9/11, I was concerned that, although Dad was retired, he would be called into active duty. I even contemplated joining ROTC after high school.
So I have some limited experience with military families - and I am appalled at the way Jolene and Michael's family acts in this book. Being a family is tough, a military family doubly so (since you have a member gone for months at a time in dangerous locations), but many families took up the challenges and didn't act anything like Michael and Jolene. Sure, there were many divorces in the military - many spouses could not deal with their loved one gone so much and said goodbye. But I'm surprised, if Michael is such an anti-war, anti-military guy 1) he married Jolene at all (it's absolutely creepy and feels terribly ethically wrong that he married the client he helped when she was 17) and 2) he lasted half as long as he did! How did they manage over a decade of marriage?! If he hates her career so much, how did that not aggravate their relationship say 5 years in or 10 years in?!
Both Michael and Jolene have the problem of being unable to just sit down and TALK about things. Again, you would assume after 10+ years of marriage, they would have figured out the importance of communication or divorce - but nope, neither of them knows how to use a phone or open their mouths.
Michael is a horrible person - a workaholic, pouty, unsupportive - but Jolene is a mystery. On one hand, she's tough and demands everything her way - but then Michael certainly isn't doing any parenting, so the problem is?? Also I find it hard to believe that a woman as tough as Jolene supposedly is would let her family walk all over her - to let Michael forget her birthday (I envision a strong woman would be filing divorce papers) or her child call her "braindead" (more about that in a bit). In short, Jolene is a very inconsistent character.
As for the children - let me just say, if I said or did even 1/10th of the things Betsy did, I would be picking myself off the floor. At one point, Betsy calls her mom "Braindead" - if I had said that to MY mom, I would have been in deep sh!t!! Also, Betsy freaks out when her mom is deployed (how does a military kid NOT expect that at some point?!) and threatens to not love her mom anymore if she leaves (again, what??!). Everything about Betsy is so horrible, it's impossible to want anything other than her to fall off a cliff!
As for Betsy's humiliation over her mom's career, I'm mystified. I was PROUD of my dad being in the military. I STILL am proud. And most people around me never picked on me for my dad being in the military - most of the time I got the opposite reaction!
Then we have Lulu. Lulu wasn't obnoxious and repulsive in the same vein as Betsy, but she still was disgusting - just because no 4-year old child is that "sweet and cute and cherubic"!
And the names of these children! Good lord! Betsy would have been born in the 90's - can't believe that anyone would choose "Betsy" for a 90's child! And Lulu in the 00's?! What world did we get transported to??
And then Tami. Her entire character is being Jolene's friend, a token Native American (no mention of what tribe she's from, only that she has long black hair and high cheekbones), a pilot, and someone to tell Jolene "It will get better". (Her husband Carl cheated on her, and it was sad but now it's totes not! And they are now totes better!) The sad part is - she's not a character. She's a cardboard cutout. Making her Native American was just like putting a costume on a dolly - it was cheap and lame and I'm insulted for our Indigenous population.
Once I got done being angry at the horrible, stupid characters, I realized I knew that made me maddest - this isn't really a story about redemption. It's one of those books where the focus is on how awful the author can make things before Deus Ex Machina-ing the sh!t out of it to make life perfect again. I don't mind bad things happening, but I'd like to see more than a couple of paragraphs on how amazing life suddenly got overnight after wading through 90% of a book of misery.
I skipped through from chapter 8 to the end, reading the final chapter and the Epilogue, and each page was rife with "this horrible thing happened" or "Jolene drank more wine" or "Jolene took sleeping pills". But then magically, she's fine; she's suddenly having sex with her husband again (there's a gross line where they hint at it in front of their children), she FINALLY goes to see a therapist in the final chapter, and what they discuss is glossed over. Basically, this book is "hurt/comfort" fic, with emphasis on the "hurt" but no real analysis of the healing.
And it's not that well written either! Good lord, after reading Laini Taylor and Pauline Gedge, this reads like something I read in 8th grade.
So that's why I quit the book. It was cliched and boring, with the most immature writing and plot structure. It gave no nuance to characters, it reveled in making things horrible for Jolene so we can all feel better that our lives aren't that bad. But it's also incredibly insulting to the many military families who act nothing like the Michael's and Betsy's in this book.
I tend not to give sweeping recommendations, as all people are different, but I personally do not recommend.
June 19, 2024
Another great Kristin Hannah read & enjoyed the more recent setting. Definitely had a sad theme to it the 2nd half but I appreciated the realistic perspective of what our heroes go through
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