A Year of Absence: Six women's stories of courage, hope and love | 
 enlarge | Author: Jessica Redmond
Publisher: Elva Resa Publishing LLC
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $14.00
You Save: $10.95 (44%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  33 reviews
Sales Rank: 159037
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 232
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1
ISBN: 0965748316
Dewey Decimal Number: 956.704431
EAN: 9780965748315
ASIN: 0965748316
Publication Date: November 1, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A Year of Absence follows the lives of six women whose husbands, all members of the U.S. Armys First Armored Division based in Germany, deploy to Iraq in April 2003. A young lieutenants wife comes dangerously close to alcoholism. Marriages are pushed to the breaking point by the constant strain of fifteen months apart. Each morning the women anxiously scan the headlines, wondering if they still have a husband, if their children still have a father. Some form friendships that become their lifeline. Others somehow find courage despite their isolation. Through tearful goodbyes, long-awaited communication from the front, and joyful yet troubled reunions, A Year of Absence captures what life is like for many families of deployed soldiers: the ever-present fear of death, the pressures of single-parenthood, and the strength and comfort that come with the support of close friends. Book excerpt Jena was strolling home from walking the dog when she noticed an official U.S. Army car carrying two soldiers in Class A uniforms heading toward her street. She felt her pulse quicken and, without meaning to, she started doing the math. If the soldiers stopped at her building, there was a one-in-twenty-four chance that Adam was dead. If they stopped at her stairwell, it was one-in-eight. Dont come down here, she prayed silently. Please let it be somebody else.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 28 more reviews...
 Thought provoking but more variety needed October 29, 2008
This was an interesting book. Not fantastic but I think it could have been. The author states she has her choice of stories from dozens of women and while she says she picked them for their variety, sometimes it didn't feel like it. That being said however, her portrayals of these women is excellent. She is able to empathize with them because she was going through the exact same thing. Army wives who are really hurting do so in silence because they don't want to be included in the ranks of whiners who want attention. She lets their voices be heard in a way that honors their sacrifices and the duty that their husbands are called to. This was one of the first books about deployment that I really enjoyed.
 A little disappointing April 29, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As a military spouse and after reading so many great reviews here and elsewhere, I felt the need to read this book. It was a little fluffy for my liking. I did relate to events and day to day life of the women. However, I felt as though a lot was missing from this book. I was left wanting to know more about the characters. I think it could have been developed a little more.
i cryed for 6 hours March 29, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
all i can say is that by reading this book the last 3 deployments my husband has gone thru and the time i have spent by myself and the kids are finally validated.
im a army wife of 8 years, and 3rd deployment survivor.
i am german where my husband was stationed at for 10 years, and deployed to iraq twice from there.
i got the book and instantly started to read, and i couldnt stop, i sat on the couch for 6 hours crying and sobbing.
and realizing what i have been thru, some of the things i have pushed aside, as my husbandactually deployed from darmstadt in january, pushing into iraq right away, i pushed aside not sleeping for 2 years, while everytime at night i started to jump up when i heared car doors slam, checking the window as my heart almost stopped.
i am one of these women, and i feel after reading this book that i am somewhat relieved.
now that my husband is deployed for the 4th time in his career, i told him as soon as he gets home he will read that book to understand what i had to deal with.
i absoloutly love this book and will keep it for my kids to read, when they grow.
i am at peace in a sence.
thank you jessica redmon
Extraordinary Book March 28, 2008
Although I am the wife of a retired soldier who spent 24 years in the Army with two tours in Viet Nam, I still could identify with these women during their husbands' deployments to Iraq. I was especially pleased to read about Baumholder since that was where we were stationed in the 70's. This is a different war from ours, the Army has changed, women are much more independent than I was in the late 60's and early 70's when my husband went to war; however, the loneliness, worry about your spouse, counting down of days until he/she comes home, sometimes the anxieties and sheer terror that you feel...those things remain the same. This is one of my favorite books about this war and I think that it is ideal reading for any woman who watches her man leave for war. I was glad to read that the Army has Family Readiness Groups and support groups for the families. A glimpse into these women's lives was so revealing and I felt their pain. Just an excellent read, in my old Army wife opinion.
Finally... March 23, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Finally, a book that got it right. I've gone through my husband's 6mo deployment in 2002 to Kosovo living by myself in Schweinfurt. Then the next deployment to Iraq in 2004 while stationed in GA. This time with the surprise of finding out I got pregnant sometime in the week before he left. There was talk about an extention for them, but thankfully, they came home 1 year to the day. We are now on our third deployment. This time Afghanistan. I'm now home with three dogs, a three year old and a new baby that was 3 mo old when he left. Each deployment has been totally different with our location and family size. I love this book because every woman's story was a bit different. In their job status, family size and coping mechanisms. All were right on! I know and knew women just like them. I read this book after borrowing it from the library on post. Now its going on my Amazon.com wishlist and will be recommending to anyone who will listen. Thank you Jessica for giving us an outlet to share with the world of what its really like.
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