The Things They Carried, The Awakening, The Sun Also Rises & my collection of Hemingway shorts, The Portable Dorothy Parker, World According to Garp & most others by Irving, A Prayer for Owen Meany, most Palahniuk, 1984, The Handmaid's Tale, The Winter of Our Discontent, The Catcher in the Rye
Heroes
Truly free spirits, and
Visit a MySpace site developed primarily to help facilitate the networking of United States' Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, current military personnel of all service branches, and their supporters.
"One of the most brilliant and powerful books I have read in a long time. An intimate and personal look into a soul bared raw. Make this the next book you read." - Pop Culture Zoo
"Homefront, so skillful at plumbing the depths of doubt and the agony of fear, is equally skillful at portraying how that agony can turn to ecstasy through the redemptive power of love. Homefront is where most of us spent the Iraq war; reading it makes vividly clear that those who were closest to its combatants—whatever their politics or beliefs—suffered enormously too, and still found the strength to struggle on." - Paul Griner, author of The German Woman
(Scroll down for purchasing links/information)
"Beautiful and stark. It seems like there has been a real lack of narratives out there about the experiences of those who love those in the military, especially this time around...Reading Homefront will give you such insight into the daily battles at home caused by this messy war..." - feministing.com
"The prose is exquisite, the mood heartbreaking." - N. Frank Daniels, author of futureproof
Homefront takes place in the military town of Clarksville, TN. Reader reactions, reviews, and more below.
A recent reader wrote the following:
"I read the bulletin about Homefront, read the reviews on it, and immediately downloaded it. I just finished it and I just want to tell you how amazing it was. My husband is currently in Iraq and....everything in the book was so incredibly accurate. From coming home after he left and not wanting to touch any of his things, to feeling guilty about any moment of happiness. Wondering every few minutes I didn't think of him, if that was the moment he died. It's so morbid, but it's nice to realize I'm not crazy and everyone feels that way. I really appreciated the book because it felt like I had written it myself, and I think that's what makes it so powerful. Thank you so much. Just reading about someone else feeling these same private thoughts gave me some comfort."
Homefront by Kristen J. Tsetsi is available at Davis-Kidd Booksellers (Nashville), and a number of online bookstores including Amazon.com, KINDLE, Scribd, or as a regular download ($6.50.)
A soldier's review:
"So many times I found myself clutching at my chest at the terrible pain I was feeling...because my wife, back on the homefront, couldn't understand what I was expressing to her. The truth is she was expressing things to me that, until reading Homefront, I just didn't understand. Homefront is powerful." - Andrew A., US Army, Infantry/Ordinance
Josip Novakovich, Guggenheim fellowship recipient and author of April Fool's Day, Infidelities: Stories of War and Lust, and The Fiction Writers Workshop, calls Homefront "soulful...thrilling and seductive."
Reader reviews, followed by critical reviews.
"As the spouse of a soldier who spent a year in Iraq, I must say that Tsetsi caught the feelings perfectly and I'm amazed that you can translate feelings of that magnitude into words." - Christina Evans, MT
"For those of us left behind, this is a story that I, for one, am so glad was told." - G. Arvizu, AZ
"I have read the book three times. I keep going back to this story, I think, because it makes me feel understood. And given the present state of things, it is a comfort to be understood, and to know there is an opportunity for others to understand what they may never experience." Beth Kernaghan, Ft. Rucker, AL
"I strongly recommend this book to any other military wife." - Alicia Padilla, Watertown, NY
"The war has been ongoing for years and I have not seen any books that describe with such detail and with such emotion the experience those who stay behind go through." - T. Dalton, MN
"Kristen Tsetsi’s Homefront is one of the most moving and evocative portraits of people left back at home while their spouses fight overseas." - Henry Baum, SPR
"Like watching an accident in slow motion, Homefront incisively depicts the many ways a military deployment impacts individuals, families and communities. Tsetsi convincingly demonstrates that a daily battle is being waged by those who wait for their soldiers to return, and the enemy is within. Almost every paragraph is a stand-alone gem of insight and observation. After reading Homefront, you will see a much more complex story behind the stock news footage of the families who worry, wait, and grieve." - Rick Shefchik, journalist, columnist, and author of Amen Corner
"Kristen Tsetsi's Homefront, an emotional novel about a young couple's separation when Jake is shipped to Iraq, is a worthy new entry in this category." - Levi Asher, Literary Kicks
"That my thoughts stray from the [military] pilots to the loved ones waiting [at home] is a tribute to Kristen J. Tsetsi's novel Homefront, which is an intensely intimate and affecting story...I was 100 pages into Homefront before I looked up from the book." -- Steven McDermott, Editor, Storyglossia Magazine
"This is a thoughtful and elegant book; the writing immersive, evocative, and polished." -- PODler review
"[Tsetsi's] solid, seamless and detailed writing has the power to bring us into each scene." -- Sonia Reppe, BookPleasures.com
First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist; Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist; Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist; Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew; Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.
Many of you, my dear friends, have asked me how JJ is doing. I'm caring for him like a sick child nearly 24 hours a day. I don't get much sleep (I'm not complaining) these days so I often forget to get back to you as I have limited computer time as well. It's not that I don't read your messages or think about what wonderful friends God has blessed me with. I truly enjoy hearing from you and love getting messages, comments and emails. I do want you to know that if I don't reply right away I will as soon as I get a chance. I love each of you dearly and thank you so much for everything. We need many, many prayers for JJ. Prayers were answered for Winston (and continue to be) and without you I don't know if he'd be here with us today. I have put up a web page on Winston's site for JJ. This will make it easier if you would like to check in on JJ. I will continue to update this page. I invite you to visit it as well as our regular updates page. Here is the link:
Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday , I will be posting some pics of my project this year, How has your spring gone so far..We have had soooo much rain!! Lot's of hugs, LjHooah Mom!
I am truly blessed with the gift of your friendship. I'm very sorry that I haven't been in touch like I should have lately. With all that has been going on with Winston I have not gotten too many chances to be online. The weeks have really gone by fast. I praise God so much that Winston is improving and is almost back to 100%. Hopefully everything will be back to normal soon. Thank you for understanding and continuing to be my friend. I miss you!
Stopping by to say....
Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday , I will be posting some pics of my project this year, How has your spring gone so far..We have had soooo much rain!! Lot's of hugs, Lj
Hooah Mom!
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