Review of A Mother's Worry

[Justine Ocsebio]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Mother's Worry" by Ian Bagzar Stiles OAM, JP.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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A Mother's Worry by Ian Bagzar Stiles OAM, JP presents an account of a young man and his journey as an Australian soldier during the Vietnam War. Guns and warships have been subjects of his fascination ever since he was a boy, and his ultimate dream was to participate in the guerilla warfare in Vietnam. Having gone through rigorous training as a member of Australia's elite Special Air Service (SAS), he soon found himself trekking the tenacious terrain of Vietnam. A remarkable journey filled with hardships and adventure awaits a hopeful 19-year-old soldier.

This is an autobiographical book that sheds light on the author's experiences, from a struggling impoverished boy to a dedicated, honorable military veteran. Since the book shares glimpses of life in the late 1950s to the late 1960s, I was primarily intrigued by the peek at some bygone historical and social norms. For instance, the mid-60s saw the rise of young women becoming more sexually liberated, as the female contraceptive pill had just been introduced at the time. I also appreciated the meticulous attention to detail, especially in the wartime narratives where details about military weaponry were crucial. I find the writing straightforward, with the author recalling the events in his life as they happened. The only drawback I can call out is the title, seemingly unfitting for the overall narrative. In my opinion, the book explores more about the author's military life shared through his own perspective and less about a mother's feelings of distress and concern. Also, I would have appreciated a little more exploration of the author's deep reflections, having seen war atrocities and poverty overseas. I believe that it would have made this book more compelling. 

My final rating of this book is 4 out of 5 stars. The author's dedication to historical accuracy and attention to details are commendable. I only came across a couple of errors, a testament to the book's professional editing. I subtracted a star owing to some drawbacks in the narrative. Regardless, this is a well-written and well-organized book that should be read by those fascinated by wartime memoirs, especially about the Vietnam War. 

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A Mother's Worry
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