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Lunch » Tags » Books » Reviews » Home and Away: A Story of Family in a Time of War

Home and Away: A Story of Family in a Time of War

1 rating: 5.0

A book

"Nancy French stands for everything right about red-state America: love for God, country, and Wal-Mart. She's funny, she's Southern,andshe's smart. I think I'm in love! Just don't tell my wife." (Michael Graham, radio talk show host and author ofRedneck … see full wiki

Tags: Books

Publisher: Center Street

1 review about Home and Away: A Story of Family in a Time...

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A Fascinating Read Which Will Stir Your Thoughts about Family

Aug 24, 2011

by terrywhalin
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More

Rating:

Millions of families in the United States are separated from each other through military service in the wars. David and Nancy French write their own story in HOME AND AWAY. This pointed autobiography/ memoir will capture your heart and keep you turning the pages to see how they pulled their family together even when apart.

The back and forth style is engaging. David writes a chapter from his perspective of serving in Iraq and then Nancy writes about her life as a military spouse keeping the family going at home. As a reader, I was engaged from the opening chapter and it kept my attention to the end. Here’s a small sample of the writing, "The first and last question everyone asked when they saw us--at church, parties, or Wal-Mart--was, "When does David leave?" In other words, the pull of his departure hung over us at all times, so we were intrigued when the Army gave him the option of leaving earlier.

"Going sooner means getting home faster," I said tentatively."

"David nodded his head, 'Yeah, Plus, I want to start counting down the days till I get home instead of the days till I leave.’

"'Right."

"What both of us knew but neither of us said was that a change of departure means a change of mission. We both sat silently in the discomfort and ambiguity of fate." (Page 24)

I found HOME AND AWAY a terrific book and highly recommend it.