Home Front: A Novel

Before she became Jolene Zarkades, she was Jolene Larsen, a child of alcoholic parents and all-too familiar with domestic violence. At seventeen, she described families like hers as "battlefields, bloody and dark, littered with shrapnel and body parts." When her parents died in a car accident that year, she grabbed onto a life that would give her a sense of family, strength, and purpose. She became a helicopter pilot in the Air National Guard. For years, that life was only a part-time one, with occasional flights and drill weekends. Her husband Michael, a successful attorney in Seattle, had been the love of her life. But lately their lives seemed to be moving on alternate pathways. Between daily routines and the children--preteen Betsy and four-year-old Lulu--there wasn't much time or energy for the relationship. Their marriage seemed to be splintering, a piece at a time. Everything changes when Jolene is deployed to Iraq. She and best-friend Tami Flynn, who lives next door, are off together to put their training to use. Left behind, Michael struggles; he is angry at Jolene's choice to be in the military, yet feeling guilty about his feelings. He'd never really believed she would go to war. As a workaholic, he has submerged himself in work; now he is forced to manage on his own, and can't believe how difficult this single parenting has turned out to be. In an alternating narrative voice, we come to see how Michael and Jolene separately suffer and cope with how their lives have turned out. But just as Michael is finally getting the hang of parenting, a phone call turns his world upside down. What happens next to change everything for the two of them? How will Jolene's fate affect Betsy and Lulu, and how will she finally come to terms with who she is now? Home Front is a story about love, loss, heroism, honor, and hope. It's about coping, rediscovering who you are, and rebuilding the fragile bonds that have broken. The characters felt like real people, with vulnerabilities exacerbated by the horrific experiences they have faced. I felt compassion for Jolene and Tami, trained in the military life, relying on stoicism to see them through, while burying their feelings of fear and vulnerability. My heart went out especially to Jolene, who went from an embattled childhood to a war zone. These experiences rendered her especially susceptible to PTSD. Recovery would require something she has no experience with: the ability to ask for help and to allow those around her to give it. I also finally came to feel some empathy for Michael, who, in his own way, is also unable to reach out for help. A beautifully wrought tale that brought me to tears throughout, I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to delve into the emotional issues of families struggling with war, at home and in the field. Five stars.

Summary: Michael and Jolene's marriage is falling apart--they are not even sure they love each other anymore. Add to that a 12 year old moody almost teenager, and a 4 year old who likes to play kitten. Oh let's not forget that Jolene is a pilot for the Army National Guard unit, and they are deploying. Deployment and homecoming throw this family through changes and realizations that will break and mend your heart in a very meaningful way. Review: I am not a crier. I don't cry during movies, weddings, or even when my own husband deploys. I don't cry during a book. But I did cry in more than one place through this book by Kristin Hannah. I received mixed feedback for this book. I think a major problem a lot of people have is that a (military) family is not supposed to act this way! But I think focusing on that is missing the point entirely. A lot of people didn't like the characters. I for sure did not like Michael in the beginning, and thought the kids were bratty. I was less sympathetic to Jolene than I thought I would be. But this book isn't about fake happiness, but rather a candid look at the human condition: our feelings, thoughts, and actions. Michael was a jerk and a half in the beginning of the book, but he learned he was wrong and grew. Being a military spouse myself, I understood the feelings of abandonment, guilt associated with being the one left behind. Jolene was cold and fake--who learned the true value of her feelings. I recognized the need to keep your family from worrying about you. Betsy is a confused tween, learning to navigate the world, and Lulu is this bright eyed child who sees the world simply as only a child can. Those children were not any different from the children who are confused and do not understand what is going on around them. Each character was flawed but written in a manner that you cannot help but identify with. There are many layers to this book. You have the marriage that is falling apart, and both have to learn to give and take. Jolene and Michael cannot relate to their children, and it shows. Then there is the deployment on top of all of their already there problems. When tragedy strikes, everything comes to head, and they have to face their troubles. Hannah has crafted a story about a real family. The story evoked different feelings in the reader, from disgust to love and everything in between. The ending is happy, sad, and bittersweet--a good emotional roller coaster. If you are looking for the perfect military family--don't look here. We probably don't exist, anyways. But if you are looking for a sweet story about a genuine family wading through their struggles, then I highly recommend this book. Sex: a short non graphic sex scene Violence: Scenes of war, nightmares getting out of hand Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Quote: "He hadn't known [...]. The cost of war was here, in this room. It was families being torn apart and babies born without their parent at home and children forgetting their mother's face. It was soldiers-- some of them his age and others young enough to be his sons-- who would come home wounded ... or not come home at all."

REVIEWED BY SUNNY HOME FRONT starts by giving us a look back at how Jolene Zarkades grew up, so we can understand who she becomes. This important glimpse into the heroine's early life provides a meaningful backstory that was critical for the development of this main character. Most of the story revolves around the evolution of Jolene and those that fill her life. She is married to Michael, has two daughters, Betsy (12) and Lulu (4), and a best friend, Tami. She is a wife, a mother, and a dutiful helicopter pilot for the Army National Guard. Kristin Hannah weaves these people and these roles into a beautiful story about a family just trying to survive all that life throws their way. It took me some time to get into this book. I was frustrated with the pace of the story at first. What I understood later was the importance of all the early events. They created the full picture of how the characters were in pre-deployment life, and how it was different for them post-deployment. The news of Jolene being deployed is when this story really started picking up. Imagine being pretty much a full-time mother, then getting the directive to start putting your affairs in order. Hannah did such a beautiful job of writing Jolene's transition. She began writing things down to prepare her husband for the day to day, and more importantly, preparing her family for life without her. As a woman helicopter pilot, she told those she loved that she wouldn't be in harm's way, yet she created beautiful videos for her daughters, just in case leaving was her final goodbye. I was emotionally touched by the circumstances and suddenly overwhelmed that soldiers across the country are preparing their own videos every day and saying goodbyes to protect our freedoms. Things were difficult for everyone once Jolene left. Everyone was just trying to survive the circumstances and all of the new challenges at war and at home. This was when another special transition in the book occurred. Jolene protects her family from the truth while documenting actual events of war in a personal journal. A subplot for Michael has him defending a soldier, which provides him with clarity of Jolene's situation. This allows his character to develop into who he needs to be to support his post-deployment family. All characters grow substantially in HOME FRONT. Oddly, I felt like and dislike for pretty much every character in the book at one time or another. At times, I was frustrated by the selfishness, the naiveté, the cowardice. Then I would be shockingly reminded of the reasons for those actions/feelings. Kristin Hannah plots out her storylines and characters well to weave a special story. The post-deployment life of the Zarkades family is another challenge that is beautifully written. How this family comes back together and starts healing is wonderful. I can't say that I have much personal experience with this storyline as none of my close family or friends have ever gone to war. This book was truly an eye opener for me, and even though I had the utmost respect for our soldiers before, I had no idea what going to war was like. After getting a look into the life of a frontline soldier, it made me appreciate even more all who have fought for our freedoms. I am ashamed to say I wouldn't have the strength it must take to do what so many soldiers have. I am thankful to have read HOME FRONT to gain a better understanding of a soldier's sacrifice as well as the sacrifices of the family left behind. This story will stick with me for a long time! BOTTOM LINE This book is a slow starter, but if you are willing to put in a little time upfront to gain a better understanding of the impacts of war on a struggling family, you would enjoy this book. If you are interested in learning more about the life of a soldier, HOME FRONT portrays it well. RATING: B+

What a beautiful story once again by one of the best writers of our time.

Very intensive and quite an emotionalexperience. I learned a lot about women in the military (something I aspired to when I was much younger) well written as usual with this wonderful author.

Couldn’t put it down. Author does much research before she writes. So you get a great story and learn something too. My favorite writer.

Wow! This story is so dynamic - heartbreaking, gut-wrenching, funny, sad, bold, filled with love. The attention to detail was incredible, each character was so well developed and I loved the different perspectives; I could truly imagine every scene. This book shared great insights and experiences on the military - both those who serve, and their partners and loved ones. The sacrifices, both visible and invisible, are unimaginable. I would recommend this book - it’s very well written!

There is a reason I am stingy with 5-star ratings and this book is a prime example of that reason. Every now and then you read a book that is just so far above the rest of the pack that you know you will not soon forget it. For me, this is one of those books. The last one I read that touched me to this degree was Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, which also deserves 5 stars. This is one of the most compelling books I have read in a long time. Periodically I had to put it down and walk away, regain my perspective and return to my own world, but I was never able to walk away for long. This book centers on the Zarkades family, Michael, Jolene, Betsy and Lulu. It is a book about family, friendship, war, loss, grief, courage, hope and most of all, love. The characters are complete with all the human flaws and frailties that are sometimes lacking in fiction. Jolene, a National Guard helicopter pilot, committed and courageous, willing to die for her country even while being scared that she might do just that. Yet she is also controlling, presumably as a result of her childhood where she learned that she could depend on no one else. Michael, a defense attorney, restless and trying to find a way to cope with the recent death of his father. Betsy, 12 years old and dealing with the typical pre-teen issues of peer pressure and wanting to grow up before she's ready and whose favorite word is "whatever". And Lulu, 5 years old and ... well, 5 years old, need I say more? These are the most real characters I have come across in a work of fiction recently. There is nothing flat or unbelievable about any of these people. They are good people, nice people; we like them and care about them, even when they aren't being very likeable. Things haven't been quite right between Jolene and Michael, but Jolene is sure it's just a blip and that this too shall pass. Until the night that Michael informs her he "doesn't love (her) anymore". Jolene is devastated but certain they can work through this, until the next day when she receives the news: her National Guard unit is being deployed to Iraq. Jolene's departure is tragic for all. For Betsy it is the embarrassment of having a mother in the military, the lack of a mother to guide her through those pre-teen traumas. For Michael it is that in his mind she "chose" the military over him, especially now when he is undergoing his own "mid-life crisis". And for little Lulu it is missing mommy to kiss her boo-boos, read her a story at bedtime and hold her when she's scared. One sub-plot is that Michael is currently representing a veteran of the Iraq war who is accused of killing his wife. He is suffering PTSD, post-traumatic stress syndrome, and Michael's defense is made more difficult by the fact that the young man doesn't seem to remember what happened the day his wife was killed. The research into this issue is obviously extensive and sheds light on that which most of us have only heard of in a vague sense. I don't do spoilers, so I leave it at this. This is Kristin Hannah at an all-time best, this is the book that needed to be written, and that I suspect was simmering in her thoughts for a long time. This book conveys the reality of a soldier going to war and returning someone different. I have read very little by Ms. Hannah before, but I am certain this is her best work to date and will be a tough act to follow. It is very emotionally intense, and one that I guarantee you will be glad you read and you won't soon forget.