4 out of 4 stars
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On Afghanistan's Plains tells the gripping story of author Barry Alexander's 2007 deployment with the British military. Fast paced and remarkably detailed, the author conveys his story with startling clarity. The title is borrowed from a poem written by Rudyard Kipling, and is a fitting reference to Great Britain's past and present involvements in Afghanistan.
I have to begin by stating that I enjoyed this book immensely. This is a well-crafted story that transported me from my comfortable Midwest setting to the dusty, inhospitable Afghan plains. The author did a superb job of balancing the descriptions of his physical surroundings with his personal impressions without becoming overly introspective. Within each moment, the sensations, perceptions, and emotions of the author (and sometimes, those with whom he served) were portrayed with an enormous amount of realism that had me captivated.
The writing within this book is top-notch, with only a few minor typographical errors. The author recounted his experiences with precise detail, but also kept the narrative at a good pace so that it never became dull or tedious. Additionally, he did an excellent job of explaining military acronyms and terminology in an easy-to-understand manner, which is always helpful to the readers.
The author himself is also someone who is worthy of respect. Throughout the book, his competence, professionalism, and dedication to his fellow soldiers remained constant. At the time of the events, the author was a nurse in the military, and was well within his rights to use both his rank and specialized training to stay in the rear (a term I use very loosely) rather than go out on missions. Instead, he willingly went into harm's way on multiple occasions to be alongside those who depended upon his medical expertise.
I also appreciated the fact that the story did not end with the author's deployment. Instead, he shared his post-deployment experiences with re-acclimatization to "civilian" life, along with the effects of PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) upon himself and other members of the military. As many people already know, PTSD is a serious psychological by-product of combat and other traumatic experiences, with symptoms that range from irritability to suicidal ideation. Although PTSD has garnered much attention is the last decade or so, there is still a strong stigma attached to it (as with any mental illness), and I admire the author for sharing his personal battle with PTSD and for highlighting the long-term negative effects of combat upon service members.
I learned a great deal from reading On Afghanistan's Plains, and I give this book 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend that all adults read this book, regardless of personal opinions about the recent conflicts in the Middle East. This book is relevant to current world events, and will give readers a greater understanding and appreciation of what service members were (and still are) facing during deployments.
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On Afghanistan's Plains
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