A Door in the Earth by Amy Waldman

A DOOR IN THE EARTH by Amy Waldman (The Submission) is a complex text. In this novel, a recent Berkeley college grad and Afghan-American named Parveen is inspired by the earlier efforts of Dr. Gideon Crane to bring medical care to women in Afghanistan.  She decides to take a risk and retrace his steps, to live in a remote village for a few months in order to better document changes in attitudes and experiences for these women. Of course, the changes and observations which Parveen makes about the contrasts between her earlier life and current circumstances are fascinating, too, such as when she reflects on the items in her suitcase or on returning to a pre-digital life. Thinking about the absence of the written word, Parveen muses, “reading was perhaps the only learned behavior that became as involuntary as breathing. It couldn’t be unlearned, couldn’t be switched off, … Only now did she feel … how much work, how much filtering, her brain had been doing to withstand it.” And flashbacks allow for incorporating provocative comments by her professor: “Might opens the door for mission, which in turn justifies might.  Controlling land and bodies paves the way for saving souls, and saving souls solidifies control over land.” 

If there is any criticism of this novel it is that Parveen seems unwilling or unable to trust the evidence of her own eyes and, as a result, parts of the novel move slowly. However, Waldman is masterful at helping readers to appreciate the Afghan culture, particularly the role of women. While reading, many will recall the popularity and subsequent controversy associated with Greg Mortenson’s Three Cups of Tea – I was surprised to learn that Jon Krakauer had written Three Cups of Deceit, one of the many texts that Waldman consulted when writing this. Her references to media portrayal by “usual prominent white men (Charlie Rose, Tom Friedman, Tom Brokaw, David Brooks)”, the military, and America’s use of “kind power” are certainly thought-provoking and Waldman’s latest novel is a title worth considering as an addition to our Global Voices class’ syllabus.  A DOOR IN THE EARTH received starred reviews from both Booklist and Kirkus.

Sea Stories by William H. McRaven

SEA STORIES: MY LIFE IN SPECIAL OPERATIONS by William H. McRaven is my favorite book of the year so far.  Over the course of a long road trip, I just listed to the 10 plus hours of stories told by McRaven, a retired naval Admiral who qualified as a Navy Seal and subsequently spent over 37 years in the Navy.  He begins his book with stories of his childhood, first in Europe, listening to stories from his father and others in the Greatest Generation, and later in Texas where he attended high school and college. The events of Hell Week and Navy Seal training are amazing, but so are stories that McRaven shares about adventures in the Philippines, sky diving in California and working in the White House. One might suspect that the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound (which McRaven directed) would be the highlight, and it is certainly memorable.  However, what struck me is the patriotic tone throughout the text, especially when the admiral offers important - and often humble - words of wisdom, much as he did in his 2014 commencement speech at UT Austin (video below).

SEA STORIES received a starred review from Booklist which described this memoir as “inspirational and full of life lessons that are applicable far beyond military special operations and a great choice for teens.” I have already been recommending this title to faculty and look forward to book-talking it with students.

For more by McRaven, see his earlier book Make Your Bed which, like SEA STORIES: MY LIFE IN SPECIAL OPERATIONS, has appeared on best seller lists.

The Fighters by C.J. Chivers

THE FIGHTERS by C.J. Chivers is a highly praised analysis of military history and American

combat in Afghanistan and Iraq which offers the perspective and experiences of six combatants described by the publisher as a fighter pilot, a corpsman, a scout helicopter pilot, a grunt, an infantry officer, and a Special Forces sergeant. Chivers said that his one organizing idea was to convey “that they are human,” especially to readers who may not have served or know anyone in the military. It is certainly eye-opening and at times an almost overwhelming emotional experience to read the personal details about the danger and suffering that these soldiers and their families faced, both during and after deployment.

Chivers was an infantry officer in the United States Marine Corps in the Persian Gulf War and is a Pulitzer Prize winning correspondent for The New York Times. THE FIGHTERS was recently featured on PBS NewsHour and here is a short video interview with Chivers:

THE FIGHTERS received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, Library Journal, and Publishers Weekly. You can read or here an excerpt here.  Please look for a copy on our shelves soon.