THIS WEEK IN BOOKS: Civilianized: A Young Veteran’s Memoir by Michael Anthony
Memoirs and novels about the horrors of war are far more common than memoirs and novels that explore the less recognizable horrors of slowly losing oneself to despair or addiction after the soldier returns home, which makes Civilianized an important addition to recent war literature. Whatever your opinion on the United States’s involvement in conflicts around the world, Anthony’s memoir shows that the men on the front lines in those conflicts aren’t superhuman or lacking in emotion—quite the opposite. They are people with hopes, dreams, and fears just like the rest of us.
But what can civilians do beyond putting “Support Our Troops” stickers on our cars? How can we actually support our returning war veterans? CNN offers this list of nine easy ways to help, all of which have the potential to make an impact, including simply saying “Thank you” to donating money to an organization that helps veterans adjust to civilian life.
To that list I would add to read as many books written by veterans as you can—like Civilianized—whether you buy them or check them out of your local library. Pick up a copy of Civilianized from Pulp Books.
-- Kelly Lynn Thomas
