When Reagan Sent in the Marines review

Title: When Reagan Sent in the Marines: The Invasion of Lebanon 

Author: Patrick J Sloyan 

Chapters: 14 plus prologue and epilogue 

Pages: 240

Genre: nonfiction 

Rating: 4 stars 

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books 

I'm not going to lie When Reagan Sent in the Marines: The Invasion of Lebanon by Patrick J Sloyan was a hard read at least for me. Not because of the writing level or the amount of information, but because of the subject material.  Unlike most people, my age who weren't alive when the events in this book happened I grew up hearing about the attack and the events leading up to it and the Marines effected have pretty much affected my life and the lives of members of my family.  The Date of October 23, 1983, is forever burned into my memory as the day my dad lost Marine brothers and my home state lost five Marines two from my hometown and one from my mom's hometown and a distant relative. 

Patrick J Sloyan disused both sides as well as gave an overview of what was happening in the Middle East at the time as well as the rest of the world.  As a journalist turned writer it clear that he tried to remain unbiased as much as he could but there were some parts where you could tell it was hard for him to keep it out of the writing.  What sets this book apart from previous books about the topic is that by the time it was published 36 years had passed since the bombing.   As well as getting an overview and history of what was happening at the time. As well as more information on Reagan's role in Lebanon and why he sent the Marines there.  However, there are things we will never know.  

Also reading you learn that the main reason that the Invasion of Grenada happened was Reagan was trying to find a way to save face from the issues in Lebanon and so the Marines headed to Lebanon to back up the drowning Marines in Beirut were rerouted to be part of the Invasion force for Grenada.   What a reader should take away from this book if they take nothing else from it is that the bombing that killed 241 Americans 220 of them Marines was the first and worst terrorist attack our Nation would have until 9/11, and that this attack and the response to it is still felt today and paved the way for other terrorist attacks.  And for me personally after reading this book I better understand my dad and what he went through as a 20-year-old Marine. 

You are Worth it review

Title:  You Are Worth it: Building a Life worth fighting For 

Author: Kyle Carpenter with Don Yaeger 

Chapters: 18 plus intro and parting thoughts 

Pages: 320

Genre: memoir 

Rating: 5 stars 

Publisher:  Harper Collins 

You are worth it: Building a Life Worth Fighting for is a memoir by Kyle Carpenter who happens to be the youngest living Medal of Honor recipient. But this book is more than just a memoir.  I listened to the audio of the book and it's read by Kyle so you get to hear his story in his own words.   Kyle's story shows that an act of heroism can happen in the blink of an eye without thinking however he stresses that he didn't join the Marines thinking about being a hero nor receiving medals no one he stresses wants to receive medals you just want to get your brother on your left and right and yourself home in one piece. What stuck with me after finishing the audio is that everyone on earth is Worth it. Worth it, as applied to this book, is that Kyle was saying that every American and the people of Afghanistan were what he went through to have freedom. 

I listened to the audio book so I don't know what my experience would have been like if I had read the book instead, I do know it would have been different I just don't know how different.  Listening to the audio book there were times I was laughing and times in which tears were pouring down my face. I'm pretty sure the parts that made me cry would still have made me cry while reading the book but I don't know if the funny lines would have been as funny reading them instead of hearing them in Kyle's voice.  One of my favorite lines in the book was his mom saying something about the gray hair he was giving her. And I think it’s safe to most kids have heard their mom say that at one point or another. 

You are Worth it is a memoir worth reading and everyone can get something out of this book. I recommend the audio version and I'm picky about my audio book narrators, but nonfiction audio books are best when narrated by the author.   And listening/reading this book I am reminded again how much we owe our Servicemen and women and our veterans. 

Review of All Made Up

Title: All Made Up

Author:   Kara Isaac

Ch: 35

Pg: 376

Genre: Christian Contemporary

Rating:  5

All Made Up is my favorite of Kara’s books.  It is also the most emotional of her books at least two me. Katriona McLeod has been a secondary character in Kara’s first three books. She had a career as a professional make-up artist that is dealing with a strong case of what might have been.  She working as a makeup artist the set of the reality TV show Falling for the Farmer when she finds herself on   the show. And the farmer is none other than her ex Caleb Murphy.

Caleb Murphy can’t believe that his mother signed him up for this show nor can he believe that Kat is one of the constants. He sees this as a second chance.  Katriona’s not so sure.

Katriona’ was the easiest character of Kara’s for me to relate to. Not because of the relationship issues nor the reality TV show aspect.  That part was a bit of a turn off because I don’t really care for reality TV. I never did.  But because of the medical issues that she goes through. As I also deal with the same issues. Though not to the level that Katriona does. I was blessed that mom recognized the symptoms and kept taking me to doctors till we got one to listen and start my treatment. So I felt Kat’s plan as well as how she felt when her felt her like her dreams for the future were gone.

Kara did her research on the condition and actually talked to women who have suffered from the condition so that she could write a character true to life. I feel like this book brought to awareness to the condition of Endometriosis. This is the first book I have read that I read that had this condition. And quite frankly we need more books like this tastefully done.   I am thankful that Kara was thoughtful and brave enough to get Katriona her own book.

Review of Drums of Autumn

Title: Drums of Autumn

Author:   Diana Gabaldon

Ch: 71

Pg: 1070

Series: Outlander book 4

Genre: Historical fiction, Historical romance, time travel

Rating:  4 Stars

Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon is the fourth book in the Outlander series. And two me the first book in the series that starts turning it in two a family saga instead of a romance between the series main characters of Jamie and Claire. As in this book Jamie’s and Claire’s daughter Brianna starts to play a bigger role in the books as does Roger Mackenzie Wakefield. The Oxford history professor. 

     Outside of Outlander the first book in the series Drums of Autumn is my favorite book. I think that’s mostly due in part to fact that I like Roger more than Jamie I know it’s an unpopular opinion but it’s mine.  This book to me was the most emotional of the books so far. There were a few scenes in this one that I either skipped or skimmed over for personal reasons.

     Diana did her research for this one. She got the anger and reaction spot on for a father would react to hearing a certain type of news from his daughter. And not just for the time period. It’s the emotions that I think even a modern father would feel. They just couldn’t react the way Jamie did.

     As much as I enjoyed the Scottish highland setting of book 1 and part of book 3 I am looking the backwoods 1760s North Carolina. As a history nerd American Colonial history leading up to the American revolution is one of my favorite time periods.

     I am looking forward to book 5 The Fiery Cross and hope that Brianna and Roger continue to play a big part in the series as well as Jamie and Claire and I also want to see Ian again.  Drums of Autumn was my favorite of the series so far.