The Road That Doesnt Glitter

I have discovered, over the last 20 or so odd years, that the majority of authors tend to steer away from the gritty side of reality. Now, I’m not talking about psychological thrillers and autobiographies of young Hollywood starlets with coke addictions, what I’m talking about is the full rang of emotions people feel during loss.

When Kristen sent me “Homefront” I thought…”wow… this seems kind of interesting…” but I was in no way prepared for what I read.

For at least 9 years now our country has been dealing with some pretty radical changes. 1. We had our hearts crushed as we watched 2 of NYC’s most prominent features burn to the ground. 2. Our worlds were turned upside down with the decline of what was once a steady economy, and 3. We waved to our sons, husbands, brothers, uncles, and friends as they packed their gear and headed off to war.

It’s hard to image what it feels like to watch a loved one go off to war, unless you have been in those shoes. It’s hard to image the tricks your mind plays on you or the damage the absence can do to your physical body. It’s hard to image what it feels like to wake up everyday hoping that there isn’t a knock on your door.

Mia is 1 half of a whole…Jake is the other half, and now Jake is gone.

The events that unfold after he leaves is just a small glimpse into the life of a soldiers other half. Without the stability of marriage or an engaging job Mia is left with nothing to do but cope with the facts of life, but when coping consist of bottomless bottles of booze and a broken home, it becomes the most difficult adjustment in the world. What happens to the mind when it can’t get past loss? What happens to the mind when it can’t see past the haze of being alone? What happens to a persons will to live, when they think their “heart” is dead?

“Kristen Tsetsi” did what most authors wouldn’t dare do… she wrote the ugly side of waiting. She wrote it without flowery words or manipulated perception…what she wrote was, simply put, the truth. I have cried while reading before (you already know this) but never once has it been because of raw unbridled emotion. “Homefront” made me realize that things aren’t always so peachy on the other side, that people are damaged…or can get damaged very easily. I said that the writing wasn’t flowery, but that doesn’t take away from the brilliantness of it, writing this novel, in any other way, would have been inconceivable. To change it would be a crime.

I understand the necessity for people to read “happy,” I understand that 90% of the time, when someone decides to read a book they want to escape from the realities of everyday life, and I know that this book is by no means consoling, happy, or light hearted…but I still think it deserves your time.

Grab this book. Read this book. Then put it down and never pick it up again.

Not because it’s not great, but because sometimes the lesson only needs to be taught once.

Happy reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: This is your moment to walk a mile in their shoes, don’t miss that opportunity!

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