365 Deployment Days: A Wife's Survival Story

by Sara Dawalt

365 Deployment A Wife's Survival Story follows a military wife's experiences during her husband's deployment to Iraq exploring the wide-ranging emotions brought about by a loved one's deployment. Through self-exploration Sara Dawalt learns the skills necessary to make sense of her life during turmoil. Her quest for happiness during potentially her darkest year will touch your life.

Genres: Military Fiction

127 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2007

Reviews

[Linette · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was not what I was hoping. Rather, it was very simply written and poorly organized. The chapters blended together and Dawalt repeated herself ex) lack of sleep in at least five chapters. It is a fast read however, and may be good for people who just want to read someone's account/rant of being without their spouse, but does not give helpful advice, per se. I would give 1.5 stars if I could.
Read "Married to the Military" instead.

[Lindsay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very disappointing! The rambelings of this author are annoying, and her suggestions will not work for all military wives. Additionally, her feelings are not something all military wives will go through, however she assumes all military wives are feeling this miserable and weak. She endures 1 deployment, which admittedly the first is the hardest, and provides her insight to her feelings and experience durring that time. A military wife who reads this book MAY be able to relate to some of these feelings, finding comfort that she is not alone, however there are much better resources out there. I've been through deployments and trust me I understand it is difficult, but you don't have to go into a complete depression while your spouse is away. The book is an entire pity party; she goes on to say how horrible it is that she has to send her hubsband items he needs, take out the trash, etc. I often look for resources for military wives dealing with deployment and this is one I recommend wives NOT read. Find something that will be helpful and uplifting. Something that empowers you and gives helpful hints and tips. Additionally, the title misleads one to beleive that this is about a year of deployment, or a devotional, or how to get through each day; it is none of those things but rather a hundred something pages (a few pages a chapter) about the author's personal experience.

[Brittany · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book while my husband was on his first deployment. I had hoped that it would help me grow or feel better/stronger. All it did for me was realize that I never want to be whiny like this woman. I finished the book mainly because it was short, I still felt as if I wasted part of my life reading it though. I do not recommend this book. If you need a laugh or pick me up about deployment this is not it.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this book while my husband was on his third deployment. I was hoping for something enriching but all it did was make me realize this woman is selfish. This is the exact review I left on my Facebook in 2013 when I finished it. That book 365 Deployment Days sucked! She's a spoiled brat. She would get angry if her husband called from Iraq to talk to her and interrupt her show, yet whine that he couldn't call everyday, take vacations and plan on ending her marriage over the lack of phone calls. I bought it because of the great reviews ... really, who reviewed this crap? It sucked. She made me sick. She's a selfish ungrateful child-like adult, seriously I can't even believe this garbage was published.

[Sarah Purpura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book. As a girlfriend, I'd recommend it to any army girlfriend. Mrs. Dawalt gave a good description of the types of emotions you go through and opened my eyes about things. I cried, laughed and couldn't put the book down.

[Exoticdynamite · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book too on the count of one wife's story and what she went through during her trying times alone away from her husband. It's not easy to get by during deployments, but through this woman's story I find that you can do your own soul searching during those hard times.

[Debra · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book would be better for someone on their first deployment. Not written well and it gets annoying. Every chapter is a new topic; she rambles then sums it up.