ARA Review by colmaelstrom1 of Sons of a Citizen Soldier

[colmaelstrom1]

[Following is an OnlineBookClub.org ARA Review of the book, Sons of a Citizen Soldier.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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This is the story of a father and his two sons during the turbulent days of 1970 when the war in Vietnam was raging, and the country was roiled by protests. The author follows the maxim “write what you know”, telling an enjoyable story describing the intricacies of cars, boats, sailing, and fishing. The fun is rounded out with girls and guns. Nothing intelligent here, just low-brow entertainment.

There are multiple shootouts with the Mafia and a drug cartel. In scenes that grab the reader with intensity and realism, violent confrontations become steadily more complex, but the fights also become more formulaic and predictable. The action segments give way to more calming moments like the bucolic scenes of camping along the seashore where the heroes enjoy the euphoria of youth.

In the early pages, the writing is sometimes choppy with erratic transitions that tend to slow the narrative. If the author had added a few sentences here it would have smoothed things and kept the story moving. Some characters are flat and seem sketched in for effect. Cliches abound, especially in the dialogue. “This really is God’s country, isn’t it?” or, “I wouldn’t want to be thrown to the wolves.” In a story supposedly taking place in 1970, another line is not only trite but anachronistic: “The cousins were as excited as little kids on the night before a family vacation to Disney World”. The famous theme park did not open till late 1971.

But things pick up in the book’s second half where Abernathy hits his stride, and the writing is much better. One interesting point that held my attention was the Copeland family’s search for gold. But this angle hits a dead end and is left hanging. This was the only disappointment in the story line. For most of the book the author spins a good tale, introducing characters as if by chance then deftly weaving action in a wide-ranging plot that ultimately comes together in a unifying and satisfying conclusion.

This is an enjoyable escape for readers who like stories with cars, girls, and guns.

The book is rated 4 out of 5.

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