Review of Memoir of a Deserter
Posted: 05 Jun 2025, 03:21
[Following is a volunteer review of "Memoir of a Deserter" by Thomas Foster.]
Memoir of a Deserter by Thomas Foster details the life of the author, Thomas Boggs, before joining the U.S. Army, during his deployment in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and after deserting the army to start a new life. From a young age, the author never had the financial stability to afford the lifestyle and romantic relationships he truly desired, wandering through life in search of meaning in drugs, romance, and religion. Following the 9/11 attacks, Boggs saw this attack on his country as an opportunity to enlist in the army and accomplish a lofty and meaningful goal of taking out the bad guys while making some much-needed money. In the army, the author became a medic, choosing a military specialization that matched his kind and violence-averse personality. Despite having gone through unforgiving military training, the author didn’t feel like they belonged in the military. This feeling of alienation worsened when the author started confronting the sober reality of the wars his country was fighting. These wars didn’t align with the author’s values, threatening his emotional health, at which point he deserted. What became of the author after desertion?
I liked the author's conversational narrative style, which, combined with multiple entertaining short stories, made for an enjoyable and smooth reading experience. These short stories focused on Boggs’ romantic relationship woes, his passion for marijuana, and his relationships with family, friends, and military training mates. I loved the author's openness and unfiltered view of the U.S. Army, the author's strengths, weaknesses, and intimacy, making these stories seem genuine. Boggs' life exemplifies the importance of upholding personal values and overcoming life's obstacles with determination. This book provided me with an opportunity to read about the culture, fauna, and geography of countries like Afghanistan, partially brought to life via the multiple coloured photos dispersed throughout the book. A decent portion of this book focused on the routine activities of a U.S. soldier in barracks.
I rate this book five out of five stars for the following reasons: Firstly, it was pleasing to read due to its conversational narrative style and is virtually free of editing errors. Secondly, the author’s stories felt authentic and relatable due to the author's openness about the author's strengths and weaknesses. I felt very motivated seeing how the author handled his life after desertion. Thirdly, this book wasn’t boring because the author included the right amount of relevant and mundane facts about their life. Lastly, this book provides an opportunity to learn about exotic cultures and places the author encountered. This book contains multiple instances of non-borderline profanity, but the sexual and violent content is slight. I have nothing negative to say about this book, and I recommend it to readers of all religions.
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Memoir of a Deserter
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Memoir of a Deserter by Thomas Foster details the life of the author, Thomas Boggs, before joining the U.S. Army, during his deployment in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and after deserting the army to start a new life. From a young age, the author never had the financial stability to afford the lifestyle and romantic relationships he truly desired, wandering through life in search of meaning in drugs, romance, and religion. Following the 9/11 attacks, Boggs saw this attack on his country as an opportunity to enlist in the army and accomplish a lofty and meaningful goal of taking out the bad guys while making some much-needed money. In the army, the author became a medic, choosing a military specialization that matched his kind and violence-averse personality. Despite having gone through unforgiving military training, the author didn’t feel like they belonged in the military. This feeling of alienation worsened when the author started confronting the sober reality of the wars his country was fighting. These wars didn’t align with the author’s values, threatening his emotional health, at which point he deserted. What became of the author after desertion?
I liked the author's conversational narrative style, which, combined with multiple entertaining short stories, made for an enjoyable and smooth reading experience. These short stories focused on Boggs’ romantic relationship woes, his passion for marijuana, and his relationships with family, friends, and military training mates. I loved the author's openness and unfiltered view of the U.S. Army, the author's strengths, weaknesses, and intimacy, making these stories seem genuine. Boggs' life exemplifies the importance of upholding personal values and overcoming life's obstacles with determination. This book provided me with an opportunity to read about the culture, fauna, and geography of countries like Afghanistan, partially brought to life via the multiple coloured photos dispersed throughout the book. A decent portion of this book focused on the routine activities of a U.S. soldier in barracks.
I rate this book five out of five stars for the following reasons: Firstly, it was pleasing to read due to its conversational narrative style and is virtually free of editing errors. Secondly, the author’s stories felt authentic and relatable due to the author's openness about the author's strengths and weaknesses. I felt very motivated seeing how the author handled his life after desertion. Thirdly, this book wasn’t boring because the author included the right amount of relevant and mundane facts about their life. Lastly, this book provides an opportunity to learn about exotic cultures and places the author encountered. This book contains multiple instances of non-borderline profanity, but the sexual and violent content is slight. I have nothing negative to say about this book, and I recommend it to readers of all religions.
******
Memoir of a Deserter
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon