Mrs. Lieutenant: A Sharon Gold Novel by Phyllis Zimbler Miller Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Mrs. Lieutenant: A Sharon Gold Novel
Book Review: A Viet Nam Era Story with Meaning for Today
Summary: 4 Stars
A new way of looking at the Viet Nam war, through the eyes and experiences of military wives, women with seemingly nothing in common except saying goodbye, maybe forever, to the men they love. While the narrative gives us baby boomers specific reminders of those tumultuous and prejudiced 60s and the Viet Nam war years, the story has timeless application. After all, there have been Mrs. Lieutenants in every war, including the one raging now. And today, prejudices still separate us until something like war reminds us of our common humanity. I like the manner in which we're introduced to each character traveling unassumingly from her little corner of the country on her journey to Ft. Knox with her soldier man. And I especially like how Ms. Miller includes in each introduction some element of the 60s that suddenly comes alive again. Items like the Sunbeam coffee pot, stereos, albums and black and white tv seem so far gone, but then we realize it was not so long ago. Reading the passage about Kent State aroused the same outrage in me today as it did then, when I too was a student. Ms. Miller gives us a private, first hand peek inside the life of a military wife, and crosses racial, religious and cultural lines to bring these women together. In a broader sense, I believe this story will play out as one for all of us, about all of us; and that is what makes it compelling. Book Review: Stories not frequently told...
Summary: 4 Stars
The most engaging aspect of this piece is the unique perspectives it illustrates. Vietnam as a subject of literature and popular entertainment usually falls into either category of service-record or protester's memoir. This story begins to add to the depth and the breadth of the era.
It feeds curiosity and understanding to learn how major events occupy the landscape of everyday life. The peril of soldiers at war is frequently analyzed, but not enough attention is given to the effect of war on civilian life. Or the lives of the civilians connected to conflict. It is very interesting to read about people who don't have the option of promoting or rejecting the war, but are bound by duty or fealty to have a role in it.
Book Review: a moving portrayal
Summary: 4 Stars
Mrs. Lieutenant is a moving portrayl of 4 women as they face their fears and prejudices as they enter their new life as officers wives. I enjoyed entering the world of these 4 completely different women, distinctly separate by race, religion,and life experience. Underlying all their differences is a commonality of hope -- hope for love, hope to keep their husbands out of harm's way and hope to find friendship. The characters are emotionally moving and the different points of view allow us to enter their four different worlds, feel their individual pain and joy, get an intimate look at four different cultures -- as different as night and day-- yet all American and compelled, even if not all willingly, to serve their country. A very important look into the lives of army wives and despite the uniqueness of the historical period, probably not much has actually changed for today's officer's wives. Thank you Phyllis Miller for tackling this important subject. A well crafted and emotional story. I'd love to read more!Book Review: "'Mrs. Lieutenant'" scores a hit
Summary: 5 Stars
For baby boomers like myself (age = 61), this book is very timely as discussions with my contemporaries on-line and in real time invariably turn to events of wartime in Southeast Asia: What number did we draw in the draft lottery? Did we enlist in officers' school or file for exempt service such as CO? What did we learn in the service?
Ms. Miller has whetted my appetite to see the rest of her book with her preview. Her characters are engaging and remind me that a narrative is often best told from several different vantage points. Her characters are engaging and well fleshed out, in part because they represent multicultural perspectives. A good deal of detail is succinctly laid out, including what is going on in the larger world - e.g., Kent State, the Kentucky Derby, and in the lives of family members who have vastly different points of view concerning the war.
Positive points: quick to engage this reader's interest, moves along nicely because of the way it's constructed, good dialogue - brief and to the point.
I look forward to seeing the whole book as I want to learn what happens to the main characters, as well as how she paints the whole cloth of the war in SE Asia and at home.
Book Review: More Mrs. Lieutenants
Summary: 4 Stars
I found Phyllis Miller's chapters intriguing and compelling. I like the way she sets up the action and her narrative style is detailed and engrossing. I look forward to reading the entire novel.