I think I would have been able to appreciate this book more if I had read War & Peace...I've never said that about any other book.
Really though, this was an interesting read, if not completely spellbinding. At the very least it shows that soldiers are human like the rest of us, and have to deal with issues of conscience that few other Americans ever really consider. ( )

Very deep and insightful but difficult to stay with, for me. I had to stop fairly often and let my mind catch up to be able to again payattention. ( )

a book about a literature professor at west point military academy. she weaves stories about her teaching experience and her students with examples from literature and her musings about the purpose of literature and reading, especially in the context of training young men and women for war. a really interesting study about how west point operates and an inside look into some of the people serving our country. i really enjoyed this book. ( )

This IS NOT a book about soldiers. It does, however, reflect on the writings of some more famous soldiers and men of war. Being well written, IT IS a memoir of a female teacher to an elite group of young Americans who themselves are introduced to media/literature while training for the impending Iraq invasion. Samet does offer some mild critiques about what she finds disconcerting and disheartening in the military culture for her students. ( )

Elizabeth Samet, as a Literature professor at West Point, offers a great civilian view point into the world of military academies. Her use of literature to bridge the gap between herself, her students, and what they have and will experience is definitely worth a read. Not necessarily the most page-turning book ever, there are some point that drag a bit, but all-in-all a good read.