When Elliot was 8, he announced he wanted to be a history teacher and specialize in medieval times. I thought this was weird. When I was 8 I wanted to be a nurse because my mother was a nurse, and in real life I read voraciously and wrote stories about infants with small feet born in a country where everyone had big feet and other wildly original tales that are mercilessly lost to time. I didn’t have the same kind of drive and far-sightedness. Elliot has always been very different from his mother.
I also didn’t think it would last but so far, it’s holding. He’s 14 now and a total history buff, and is planning, as when he was 8, to become a history prof. He has broadened out his interests to include military history in general (thanks to his aunt sending him some very cool books) and WWII in particular. He’s fun to travel with, as he can most likely tell you something about where you’re visiting.
So when Marcus Brotherton, an old college friend of mine, wrote a book about the original “Band of Brothers*” and mentioned that Penguin Publishing would probably send me a free review copy, I agreed with alacrity. I knew Elliot would love it.
This is Marc’s second book on the topic. He wrote “We Who Are Alive and Remain,” a look at the personal stories behind those presented in the mini-series. “A Company of Heroes” contains interviews with family members, and presents an in-depth look at war in all its horror and glory. The result also shows the aftermath of war; the toll it takes on soldiers who return to their families irrevocably changed. Given our current history as a nation, it’s a very timely book and interesting on many levels.
Penguin sent it promptly, and Elliot read it promptly, enjoyed it very much, and is now passing it around his friends. He even wrote a review. Here it is:
“This is a great book that tells the stories of some of the surviving (and not surviving) members of the “Band of Bothers”. This story is really touching as it tell about the back grounds and life after the war of these different soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend and protect America and her ways. The story is composed of four parts each taking a different section of the army and telling the story of some of the men who served in that specific part of the army. Part I: Enlisted Men, Part II: NCOs, Part III: Officers, Part IV: Easy Company’s fallen.
The book contains twenty-six chapters and an epilogue. Each chapter is the story of a different soldier. Every story is recounted by a family member (sometimes more then one) which I think is a great way to do some research. These men are true heroes from my perspective: they sacrificed every thing they knew to fight for the freedom of America. We sometimes take our freedom for granted and it’s really great to be reminded of these men who gave it to us.
One really good story is chapter 21 Part IV (1st sgt Bill Evans), I just really like this one part because it’s a really good example of the sacrifice these men made: “I never met my great-uncle, as he was gone long before I was born […] My grand-mother said he volunteered for the service so his brothers, who had children, might not have to go to war.” This is a great example of sacrifice on Sgt Bill Evans part.
This is a must-read for anyone who has a family member who took part in WWII or who is interested by the subject of WWII.”
*you remember that mini-series that I refused to watch because I’ve seen enough WWII movies now, thankyouverymuch, and me watching another harrowing Holocaust movie or a mini-series of personable young men getting blown to bits isn’t actually going to help anyone. I already hate war—I don’t need to be reminded why.
8 comments
May 16, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Nicole
I know what you mean about war movies. I can’t watch them either, or anything sad, or anything sad involving children. Too many real sad things. It’s all escapism for me.
I think it’s cool when you see a person pursue childhood dreams, because my own childhood dreams were so different than what actually happened to me. When I was a kid I wanted to be either a concert pianist or theatre actress. Then I became an economist. Then I became a stay at home mom.
May 17, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Kit
I’m in awe of anyone who knows what they want to be at any age.
All I ever knew was that I wanted to have kids, but in the Seventies that wasn’t an acceptably feminist aspiration!
Thanks for the review Elliott. I prefer reading about war to watching it – it’s no less horrific really but easier to deal with somehow.
May 17, 2010 at 8:27 pm
KathiD
I am in awe of anyone who sets their course at any time, let alone early. I am so flighty that at 60 I am still waiting to grow up (although I am pretty sure it’s not going to happen).
A favorite dentist of mine had a framed paper in one of his exam rooms. It was an essay he wrote for school when he was 7 or 8. It said, “When I grow up I want to be a dentist like my dad and live in the mountains.”
I lost him as my dentist when he left town to live in the mountains. I now see him once a year (socially) in Sun Valley, Idaho.
May 17, 2010 at 9:26 pm
Jennifer (ponderosa)
Like Nicole I can no longer watch violence of any kind, unless it’s slapstick, in which case I laugh until I cry. (Who knows how the psyche works?)
I wanted to be writer when I was a kid. This here blogging schtick is the furthest I’ve gotten!
May 19, 2010 at 1:52 am
Tonggu Momma
I adore history… especially military history. I know, call me whacked. And I have absolutely no idea how I ended up becoming a kindergarten teacher. (???) I will say, as difficult as it is to watch, Band of Brothers is one of THE best out there. During my three week sickness stay on the couch, I watched the entire miniseries over again. We’ve been really disappointed with recent airings of The Pacific. Be sure to tell Marc it’s because absolutely nothing can compete with Band of Brothers.
May 19, 2010 at 5:29 am
Tristi Pinkston
This sounds like an excellent book, and a very articulate review from your son.
May 19, 2010 at 6:08 am
LG
new picture on your web page header….
May 27, 2010 at 7:12 am
J
One of Sgt. Evans’ brothers was my dearly departed grandfather. Your son is wise beyond his years and I appreciated Elliot’s review.