Jem: A Father's Story

by John Little

On 6th July 2003, Jeremy Little was fatally wounded in a rocket attack near Fallujah in Iraq. He was a 27 year old sound recordist working for a US television network. For a week Jeremy's fight for life was headline news around Australia. After he lost his battle the interest of the public and media, inevitably, moved on. Yet for his father, John, his son's death was a tragedy that he will live with forever. To make sense of it, he began writing the story of Jeremy's life because, in his own words 'in the life and valiant death of my sunny, carefree son could be found lessons about love, hope, mateship and goodness, the qualities that make us human, and better than those who seek to destroy us' . Out of fear and pain and blood on a dark desert road in Iraq emerges a story of optimism and hope, made all the more powerful because it is recounted in the shadow of the dark forces that the world now faces.

276 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

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Reviews

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am quite a fan of John Little's writing. I have read many of his books and this one is a bit of a tear jerker so keep the tissues handy. The first quarter of the book was a little hard for me to get into because it was quite nautical with their yachting adventures when Jem was just a toddler. But my daughter on the other hand really enjoyed this part of the book. So don't be put off because the rest of the book is really an emotional roller coaster and very revealing. Just prior to Jem's death John Little became increasingly interested in the Christian faith and it appears as though this gave him some considerable solace after his son's passing. If you enjoy this book I recommend A Hospital by the River and Maalika which explores the journeys by Dr Catherine Hamlin in Ethiopia and Nurse Valerie Browning in the Afar Desert in northern Ethiopia. Both women have been responsible for the saving of thousands of African women's lives in difficult and dangerous circumstances.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful eulogy to his son killed in Iraq. But also a love story about sailing and living a life of adventure.
He's an excellent writer and I found it so moving read it in 1 day.

[Michael Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving and Emotional

Such an honest, loving and emotionally raw account of two parents who inspired their 2 Sons to adventure from early childhood. Their loss and their Son Jeremy’s story is a journey of life, Love and loss. Inspirational lives shared through their sadness.

[Anne-marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compelling read, makes you want to hug those u love and cherish them that little bit more- to tell them how you feel. The pain in this book is palpable.