The official Sebastian Junger community
War- review
Sebastian has given everyone a chance to peak through the window at what soldiers are really like when they are in combat. I know all the reviews have said how amazing the book is, and how realistic and eye opening it is - which is all true. As a military wife I wanted to write about the emotions I felt reading it.
My husband and I are fortunate enough to tell each other absolutely everything, so I already knew a lot of what Sebastian wrote about. However seeing it in black and white is different from discussing it with your husband. It's almost as though it's proof that there was a really really hard 15 month deployment, and it affected everyone in different ways. It's the green light to go ahead and say, "hey, those guys out there are so amazing, they wrote a book about them!"
As a couple it's always hard to be away from each other. As a military couple, it's always hard to say 'cya later' and be strong alone, wishing, hoping, or praying for his safety. You wait while he's at war, and when he comes back you go to war. You deal with everything he's had to deal with for 15 months, and you are his punching bag. If you don't take the time to figure out why he's treating you differently, then you both end up arguing and breaking up. If you take the time to understand, you have to be strong enough to stand by him through every trial he faces.
Reading War made me relive a different part of the deployment. It made me realise I made the right choices helping my husband the way I did, and standing by him when it mattered most. It also made me realise that I haven't fought hard enough for the support that military wives need in order to really understand their soldier.
I encourage all the wives that don't talk to their husbands, or can't talk to their husbands to read this book. If it isn't exactly him, it'll bear an extremely close resemblance and it will help you deal with the after effects of a deployment. It's not therapy, or counselling, but having that knowledge will lead to a better relationship.
Thank you Sebastian.
Tags: Military, Review, War, wives
Views: 17
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by mouse on -
Hi Monita,
You did a wonderful job on Joy Behar tonight with Sebastian! I wish she had had more time to talk with you both, but she actually asked some pretty good questions - and she doesn't always. You could tell she really liked the film and the book and respected and "got" the goal.
I just wanted you to know that I think you're very brave for tackling this incredibly difficult and personal subject of what happens when a spouse/loved one comes back from war.
Elliott is very lucky to have you and my thoughts and prayers of safety go with him, back into the fray.
Very sincerely and with much hopefulness,
Katarina
P.S. You looked beautiful, too! : )
© 2013 Created by Clay.
Powered by
