Review of Coincidence, You Say?

[Annabell Samuel]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Coincidence, You Say?" by Patrick Hogan.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

One of the beautiful things I've seen is that war veterans can now pen down their personal experiences and publish them as books for public consumption. Over the years, there's been a dichotomy between what the media says about the events of these wars and what the key players have to say. So, with veterans sharing their war experiences, we can compare personal accounts with official publications to see where there are information gaps. On this note, I express my joy in reading "Coincidence, You Say?" by Patrick Hogan.


In this book, the author shares his experiences during and after the war. He also tells the tale of his time at the Teaneck Police Department. He also spends a significant portion of the narrative talking about his health challenges, struggles with the Division of Veterans Affairs (DVA), and his faith in God. This book is a compendium of an emotional and spiritual journey.

I already stated that I was happy to read this book, as I would always jump on any book with personal accounts of war veterans. However, this book was more about the author's life after the Vietnam War than his experiences during the war. While the author shared a few of the things he experienced in the war, like the spraying of pesticides in Vietnam that made some veterans like the author sick, this narrative was more about the life of a veteran after the war. The author's experiences were not far from what many other veterans had shared. However, what readers can take away from this narrative is the hope that a lot has changed for the better since the Vietnam War, especially when it involves how veterans are treated.

A key thing to note about this book is the author's strong faith in God and the Bible. He is very vocal about his faith and uses this book as an avenue to share the message of Jesus Christ with interested readers. However, there is more to this book than the author's unequivocal expression of his faith. Some readers will enjoy the stories about his days as a police officer. I like that the author isn't biased about the relationship between the police and the people. However, he uses practical examples to show how a police officer's job can go a long way to save lives.

This book is riddled with pictures. It is untrue to say that every page has a picture, but it feels like the pictures are everywhere. While I appreciate the author's inclusion of pictures, the frequency can be distracting. Sometimes, after looking at a picture, you might want to go back to the texts preceding the picture before continuing with the texts after the picture. However, this is a subjective opinion and does not negatively affect the book's rating.

The book is exceptionally edited. Regardless of the minor concern about being distracted by the frequency of the pictures, I rate it five out of five stars. Lovers of veteran narratives will enjoy this book.

******
Coincidence, You Say?
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Yin Jiang]

This book sounds really interesting! Not sure if I would fully enjoy a veteran narrative, but it sounds very enticing! Thank you for your review

[Amy Luman]

I’m sure that the pictures added to your successful reading journey. I have noticed that many veterans, like my father do not enjoy talking about their experiences. While war itself can account for their reluctance, their less than stellar involvement with the government agencies assigned to veteran’s affairs probably contribute to I it as well. Thanks

[Loner Pen]

Hey there,

This review gives a positive impression of "Coincidence, You Say?" by Patrick Hogan. It highlights the author's personal experiences after the Vietnam War, his struggles with the Division of Veterans Affairs, and his strong faith in God. The inclusion of pictures throughout the book is noted, although it may be a bit distracting. Overall, it's rated five out of five stars and recommended for those interested in veteran narratives. Give it a read! Authentic dialogue, felt natural and realistic.

[Mojisola Omowunmi Omotosho]

Thank you for sharing this thoughtful review! Your appreciation for veterans' personal accounts shines through, and I'm intrigued by Patrick Hogan's "Coincidence, You Say?" The focus on his post-war life, faith, and police career adds depth to the narrative. Despite the distraction from the frequent pictures, your high rating speaks volumes about the book’s impact. This sounds like a compelling read for those interested in veterans' stories.

[Liam Patel]

Review: Ya know, I took a gander at this review 'bout a book called "Coincidence, You Say?" by Patrick Hogan, and I gotta say, it sounds like a mighty good read. It seems like the author shares his war experiences and also talks 'bout his life after Vietnam. The fella seems to have a strong faith in God and even uses this book to spread the word 'bout Jesus Christ. The only thing that might bug some folks is that there's a heapin' amount of pictures in there, could be a bit distractin'. Overall, though, I reckon it's a five outta five stars kinda book. Heartwarming story, filled with love and warmth.