Review of Memoir of a Deserter

[Paschaline Anah]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Memoir of a Deserter" by Thomas Foster.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Memoir of a Deserter by Thomas Foster is an introspective and well-written autobiography. It explores the theme of war, addiction, self evaluation etc. The author set out to describe his childhood where he moved around a lot from Las Vegas to Los Angeles to Texas due to his parents' separation; he also describes his struggle with weed addiction in high school. Eventually, he settled in Texas, where he got a job in an insurance company, which was also where his girlfriend Simone worked. He, however, found the job unfulfilling and monotonous, and this led to the decision of him joining the Army.

Thomas started off with basic training in the medical corps and was later sent to the combat zone in Afghanistan during the Forever Wars. He returned and was again deployed to Iraq; this experience was eye-opening for him and it made him see the role played by the United States in instigating these wars under false pretenses. He later deserted the army while on leave and eventually settled in the Caribbean for a fresh start.

The book portrays the effects of the psychological toll taken on soldiers by service in sustained periods of war and the realities of war in places like Afghanistan. The author also took time to reflect on his deployments, his decision to desert highlighting the inner conflict between personal principles and societal expectations and the cost of following one’s conscience: life after deserting, not just the fear of being caught but the struggle of living with one's choices.

I didn't dislike anything about this book it was well written in a chronological order and the pacing was very fit for it. The book was thought-provoking and enlightening for me, giving a clear description of what war is like in these parts of the world. I also didn't find any error in this book which showed that the book was professionally edited and made me enjoy the reading process.

I rate the book a 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to people who are curious about or interested in learning more about the military service.

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Memoir of a Deserter
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