REVIEW: Home Front by Kristin Hannah @stmartinspress

Description

In her bestselling novels Kristin Hannah has plumbed the depths of friendship, the loyalty of sisters, and the secrets mothers keep. Now, in her most emotionally powerful story yet, she explores the intimate landscape of a troubled marriage with this provocative and timely portrait of a husband and wife, in love and at war. 

All marriages have a breaking point. All families have wounds. All wars have a cost. . . .

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 an unexpected 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 solider 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. 

About the Author

Kristin Hannah is the New York Times bestselling author of eighteen novels. A former lawyer turned

writer, she is the mother of one son and lives with her husband in the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii.

Details Hardcover: 400 pages Publisher: St. Martin's Press (January 31, 2012) Language: English ISBN-10: 0312577206 ISBN-13: 978-0312577209 SOURCE: PUBLISHER MY THOUGHTS LOVED IT Jolene and Michael deal with daily life like other couples, they have their ups and downs, although currently, there are in a down phase.  So when reservist Jolene is called up for duty to serve in Iraq, the family is thrown into turmoil.  Although she hides it, as a mother of young children, what she sees there tears her apart and leaves her with PTSD (post traumatic stress syndrome).  Michael must step up and become a single parent while defending another soldier who kills his wife and is clearly suffering from PTSD as well after being shot down from her Black Hawk helicopter. (Note:  major tears at this point)  Michael feels sorry for himself after the death of his father and feels he doesn't love Jo anymore and lets her know.  (Serious weeping at this point) Kristin Hannah tackles some very important subjects in her latest release.  I have always felt that the public doesn't really know what happens in a combat zone, unless you are related to someone who has been there and even then, you don't get the full story since these people are trained to push aside their feelings.  It also brings up the question of whether women should serve in combat.  To say this is an emotional read is an understatement and much like Jodi Picoult, Hannah mines the depth of research and character development to bring to life a story that I am sure is happening all over the country but mostly not talked about.