My wife was originally asked to review this book. She really didn’t have the time to read it, nor, I think, the inclination to finish it once she attempted the read. Good thing I was around to pick up the slack. I do that with leftovers at the dinner table and in the fridge as well. I’m the garbage disposal around my house. ‘Tis my lot in life. It’s not a lot. But it’s a life.
Let me give you the bottom line first concerning this book. I don’t recommend it. It just isn’t worth the read except and unless you are curious about West Point trivia as concerns literature or literary reading lists. Even then, I can think of better ways to get the reading list. Calling a West Point graduate would be one way. Calling the West Point literature department would be another.
I don’t think I’m the first milblogger to “dis” this book. As I recall, the milblogger “Gazing at the Flag” pretty much said the book stunk too. My guess is that the book’s anti-war flavor ruined the book too much for most milbloggers to take it seriously. I have to admit the anti-war flavor tasted bitter for myself as well but I had more important reasons for not enjoying the book.
First and foremost, it was inappropriately titled. “soldier’s heart (note the lack of capitalization – a kewl marketing ploy I guess), Reading Literature Through Peace and War at West Point” really should have been named “Professor’s Heart, My personal encounters and observations while instructing at West Point“. The book had not so much to do with future soldiers as it did the professor’s personal adventures and anecdotes.
The reviews on the rear jacket of the book are equally misleading. Try this one on for size:
Not since John Gardner’s “On Moral Fiction” has the intersection of literature and morality been so powerfully examined. In “soldier’s heart” the examination occurs in the conscience of a teacher whose students are en route to war. This is a thoughtful, moving, but also troubling book – exactly as it should be.” – James Carroll, author of “House of War” and “An American Requiem”.
Oh my. What heady stuff. This is clearly worth a peace prize or two, right? I mean. Gosh. Just look at who endorsed this book. James Carroll. THE James Carroll!! In case you’re wondering; I’m being sarcastic here. James Carroll is no friend of the military. He’s a complex, sanguine, and leftist author whose book “House of War” is complex, interesting, and ultimately wrong. Look him up. He has a nice website. I won’t link it here.
The book he reviews for Elizabeth Samet is, sadly simple, uninteresting, and ultimately sends a mixed message. For mister Carroll to tell us that “Not since” blah, blah, blah, has “literature and morality been so powerfully examined” says more about paid announcements than it says about what to expect upon reading Ms. Samet’s book.
Ok, I’m sure you get the point. What the book purports to be versus what it actually is causes such a mental discord as to be a significant detraction.
There are other problems with the book. The author’s political correctness shows through in her forced gender usage. It is very discordant to read along a pleasant flow of thought only to be tripped up by an obviously forced change of a “HE” for a “SHE”. Why bother to turn a nice phrase (which authors are supposed to do, right?) then ruin it for the sake of politically correct gender neutrality. Bah. That sort of thing is dishonest to the craft.
Let me see. What have I covered? Ms. Samet’s book shows her anti-war thought, and is not about a soldier’s heart but rather her own. It is not about reading literature but rather about her teaching literature (sort of), and it is endorsed by those not so friendly with the military. The endorsements are as misleading as the title.They claim much more for the book than is present, the book is rather simple, the writing is pretty good but spoiled for the sake of political correctness, and what else? Oh yeah!
Ms. Samet’s adventure at West Point, while mildly interesting and revealing some West Point trivia, is simply not worth the length of a book. No more than my adventure at OCS is worthy of a book. Both adventures, mine and hers, are worthy of a short account or some such (a blog?) but NOT a book. Come on.
To Ms. Samet’s credit she really has begun to understand and care for the individuals who make up her student body at West Point. I also think that in spite of her leftist background she is drawn to the military. She seems a woman with a foot in both worlds being pulled most strongly in the direction of the military community. Perhaps this book is her cathartic method of justifying to herself her presence in both worlds? If so then maybe, just maybe, she needs to let go of her past and join the Army as a full fledged member. It seems from reading her book that she would be happiest if she were fully engaged in that world.
But what do I know. I’m biased.
Mr.Hooah! out.
Tags: Army, Mr. Hooah! Writes, communication, literacy, military by Mr_Hooah
3 Comments »
I do agree that reading is indeed fundamental, but reading can also be a very powerful tool. When I was in undergrad I led a fairly large sized group of female inmates in a low level security prison through a literature course. These women were one step away from leaving the prison system and reentering the world as free citizens — for some it would be decades since they had been free to come and go as they please.