Friday, May 8, 2009

FREE BOOK FRIDAY!!

Hey There CHICKS!!

IT's FRIDAY!!!



Standing By

The Making of a Military Family

in the Time of War

by Alison Buckholtz



Whatever your political affiliations may be, I hope that you support our men and women serving and who have served both here and over seas. As both an Air Force veteran and wife, I have lived the military for my entire adult life. I have no idea what it would be like to not have this family, these friends, this connection to our country that makes my heart swell everytime I listen to the National Anthem.

There are not enough good things for me to say about this book. The author, Alison Buckholtz, married her Navy Pilot husband, shortly after Septemper 11th, 2001. Having never experienced military life first hand, this is the story of her family, and some of the families they have served with. With sensitivity and respect, the author tells the story of the heroes who stay home, the husbands, wives and children who are left behind while their loved ones are serving.

The Author is honest in her views, and does not pull any punches. She describes herself as a "warrior on behalf of her family" which I feel is an incredibly accurate depiction of the family members of todays military.

This is NOT a book about politics, it seeks to show the reader what life is like for military families today. I've never read or seen anything that puts this life into words so well. I kept earmarking passages as I went through, there are just too many to put them all here...but for me in the first few pages Buckholtz is able to sum it up like no one ever has:


" Supporting America as a military family has little to do with who sits in the Oval Office, which political party dominates Congress, or even how we feel about the Global War on Terorism. I feel strongly that terms like "pro-war" and "antiwar" don't apply anymore because the complexity of the situation we find ourselves in as a country transcends past positions. My feelings about service members and their families, however, are not complicated. I have never met people who worked harder, spoke more earnestly, or internalized a stronger sense of responsibility towards their fellow citizens. Marrying into the military granted me a passport to an America I never knew existed, populated by a people whose overwhemling public silence masks lives lived at an intensity that would crush most mortals."


See what I mean?


I am giving away my copy of this book to one lucky reader!


To Enter:


1. Leave a comment WITH your email


and I will also be adding this to our book group at


Goodreads.com


Want to join? Just sign up at Goodreads and look under groups


for ChicBookChick and join us!!


Today's Random Linky winner is:


Mary (meah56)


Every Friday I pick someone who


has put my linky on their sidebar for a


random act of reading happiness


Winner of Joshilyn Jackson's


The Girl Who Stopped Swimming


are


Christine (Scullylove)


Nightdweller


Jackie (jacquelinez)


Kristen (whitreidsmama)


Jessica (livingthesilverdream)


Chicks, you'll be getting an email from me!!


that's it for today!!


READ On CHICKS!!


27 comments:

Mary (Bookfan) said...

I would love to read this book. It sounds great. I don't know if you noticed at the very bottom of my blog I link to Citizen SAM. When you have a moment, take a look!

meah56 AT gmail DOT com

Now I'm heading to goodreads (I'm a member) to check out your group.

ShadowsTomes said...

This sounds like a very interesting read. I'll also be checking out your book group :)

Melissa

must.read.faster@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Congrats to the winners. Everyone have a great weekend. :)

Robynccgirl said...

wow Amy! Looks like another great book! And as a spouse of a Marine I am always looking for positive books like this!

Minding Spot said...

Sounds like a wonderful read!

wendyhines (at) hotmail (dot) com

LuAnn said...

My stepdaughter's husband is leaving for his third tour in Iraq, so this would be a great book to read and pass on to her!

reading_frenzy@yahoo.com

Kelly said...

I bet that's an amazing book. I have great respect for military families and all they have to deal with.

Vera said...

Please enter me! vvperesk@gmail.com

Jessica said...

That sounds amazing! What a neat way to get another perspective.

livingthesilverdream@gmail.com

Kitten22 said...

This looks really fascinating! Please enter me!

BookCrossingKitten22[at]gmail[dot]com

Bridget said...

Half of my family has been in the military (all are retired by now). Just posted on Win A Book. No need to enter me.

Alyce said...

I would love to read this. I have had extended family in the military, but no one in my immediate family, so I'm sure this book would be educational.

akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com

FibreJunky said...

Hey Amy. When one member serves, the entire family serves, even if it's in a different way. Sounds like a very interesting read.

fibrejunky at g mail dot com

Misusedinnocence said...

I would love to read this.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Donna said...

I have to reiterate the comment made by my friend FibreJunky (whom I've been a friend to for over ten years now thanks to the military).

donna dot swafford at g mail dot com

Kelly said...

Amy, the Jessica that won today is my cousin!! She found your blog through mine. I didn't even realize it till she told me today. She's a HUGE book lover so I'm glad she found you!

Have a great weekend.

Ashley Newell said...

This is awesome AMY!
actressangel at gmail

Sarah E. said...

Amy, this looks like an awesome book. My husband is also a Marine and it is comforting to hear/read other people's stories. I am definitely going to be checking out your group! Looks like a great one! :)

saellis079@yahoo.com

Jeanne said...

Sounds like a very insightful book Amy. wingsfan01062@yahoo.com

Laurie said...

Wow, I've been an Army wife for 8 years now and I would love to read this! It would be nice to read someone's thoughts on the battles we face every day! Please enter me!

momabear@nc.rr.com

Carlene said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Carlene said...

What at interesting book. I support our troops and think this book sounds great.
Thanks
Carlene
iluvreading@verizon.net

Jackie said...

Sounds like a great book. Would love to be the lucky winner.

Jackie
Packerchick216@live.com

Jill Watkins said...

I would love to read this book. I support our military and especilly the families who remain behind to keep things together.

jill.watkins@gmail.com

bloggytreasures said...

I haven't ever had a connection to military life so this would be a riveting read and quite illuminating!
quelleheure4[at]gmail{dot}com

Anonymous said...

I'd love to win this book. Please enter my name in your draw. Thanks.

Scully Love Promo said...

I was so excited and happy to win and I thank Amy very much for sending me a copy of The Girl Who Stopped Swimming! I'm really looking forward to reading it.