Official Review: The Darkness of Treading Water

Post by **Kajori Sheryl Paul** » 20 Jul 2019, 15:56

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Darkness of Treading Water" by Bradley Spencer.]

3 out of 4 stars

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I am not an educated writer only a writer who does so from his heart..

--Bradley Spencer

Bradley Spencer's The Darkness of Treading Water is truly written from the heart. In this emotionally charged memoir, Spencer depicts his story in a profound manner.

Spencer had a carefree childhood imagining himself to be a “warrior fighting on the fields of battle” until he came to know that his parents had abandoned him at birth. He was actually raised by his grandparents. This made him retreat into his world of imaginations. At the age of eleven, he had to leave his first love and relocate to Arizona. This was a hard move for him. Things kept changing as he grew up. He sought various avenues of escape. He immersed himself in various substances. He made friends, but he always kept his mask on. It was during this time he met his first real girlfriend. Things were going well, yet he still could not remove the mask. After high school, he contemplated becoming a zoologist. However, his quest for adventure proved bigger. He decided to join the army. The army changed his life forever. His time in Afghanistan made him a warrior who “grew to understand pain and emotional struggle.” It is the story of how a soldier adapts to civilian life after war. It is the story of how one treads through water.

The Darkness of Treading Water is a unique book. Sprinkled with poems and journal entries, it reflects the author's emotions in an intense manner. I loved the way we get to read the journal entries that were written when Spencer was in Afghanistan. This made the reading experience more realistic. I could actually feel Spencer's frustrations and longings. I believe I should also talk about the poems. The poems are deep. In fact, they are tragically romantic.

The book aptly sheds light on the struggles a soldier has to go through. It talks about depression and the misfortune of not being understood. On the other, hand it also highlights the camaraderie shared by the soldiers.

My biggest complaint about the book is its lack of editing and proofreading. I found a ton of errors. I believe this diminished the impact that the book could have had. This book deserves thorough editing and proofreading.

Keeping in mind the pros and cons, I rate The Darkness of Treading Water 3 out of 4 stars. I recommend this book to those who like to read memoirs and journals. People who are interested in the army may also give this book a try.

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The Darkness of Treading Water
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Post by **kandscreeley** » 24 Jul 2019, 08:54

I can't even imagine what it would be like to try to adapt back into regular life after being a soldier. I know it can't be easy. I'm glad that the author opens up about how it affected him. It's an important subject that we all should try to understand a bit better. Thanks!

María Andrea Fernández Sepúlveda · 24 Jul 2019, 18:21

The title of this book is so evocative!
I can't possibly imagine the hardships the author must've faced in war and later trying to come back to "normal" life. I guess even when our stories are different, we're all on a quest to remove that mask, discover ourselves and carve our own path so it will be very interesting and moving to read this book.
A very compelling review, thanks!

Magnify3 · Post by **Magnify3** » 25 Jul 2019, 16:21

My Aunt was a soldier and I think that even after she retired there was still that element in her. I think it must be a touching story. Thanks for the review.

Kathleen Wolfe · Post by **Kathleen Wolfe** » 26 Jul 2019, 22:27

It must be really tough to readjust after war. I would love to read this book. Thanks for the review.

Prisallen · Post by **Prisallen** » 27 Jul 2019, 08:46

This sounds like a very poignant book, dealing with feeling abandoned by his parents and also dealing with the adjustments a soldier must make when he returns home. Thank you for a wonderful review!

snovanna · Post by **snovanna** » 28 Jul 2019, 14:19

The cover of the book makes it seem serious enough, but one should not judge the book by its cover (as it is said); this review makes me want to read it, so well done. It would be interesting to see the development of the protagonist and how he overcomes the challenges placed over him, hopefully the 'ending' is a happy one.