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Gray Girl #1
Gray Girl: Honor Isn't Always Black and White
West Point will never be the same!
Ten men for every one woman. Those odds are stacked against Jan Wishart as a freshman at West Point. Charged with an honor violation, Jan must defend herself before an all-male cadet jury. She's convinced that her accuser is likely the predator who violated a friend. The battle for justice will rage, not only for Jan, but for the victims of the predatory cadet. And one night will change everything--for better or worse.
The grayness of West Point is not only in its buildings and uniforms. Even honor isn't always black and white. Relying on her wits and a few friends in the hostile environment of the U.S. Military Academy, Jan discovers the value of friendship, the genuine marks of leadership and her own inner warrior.
2014 Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award WINNER! 2014 Eric Hoffer e-book fiction WINNER! 2015 Kindle Book Award semi-finalist!
The Gray Girl Series depicts authentic experiences of the early years when the United States Military Academy first admitted women cadets. Jan Wishart is both heroine and troublemaker. She and her friends sometimes create their own dilemmas but mostly solve the larger issues they face while at West Point in the early 1980's. Gray Girl: Honor Isn't Always Black and White is the first book in the Gray Girl Series. Area Bird: Duty Doesn't Always Follow the Rule is book 2. Book 3 is Witch Heart: Leadership Always Requires Sacrifice. Book 4 will be out in 2019. All books can be read alone, but best read in order.
For more information, go to GrayGirlSeries.com or SusanISpieth.com
Ten men for every one woman. Those odds are stacked against Jan Wishart as a freshman at West Point. Charged with an honor violation, Jan must defend herself before an all-male cadet jury. She's convinced that her accuser is likely the predator who violated a friend. The battle for justice will rage, not only for Jan, but for the victims of the predatory cadet. And one night will change everything--for better or worse.
The grayness of West Point is not only in its buildings and uniforms. Even honor isn't always black and white. Relying on her wits and a few friends in the hostile environment of the U.S. Military Academy, Jan discovers the value of friendship, the genuine marks of leadership and her own inner warrior.
2014 Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award WINNER! 2014 Eric Hoffer e-book fiction WINNER! 2015 Kindle Book Award semi-finalist!
The Gray Girl Series depicts authentic experiences of the early years when the United States Military Academy first admitted women cadets. Jan Wishart is both heroine and troublemaker. She and her friends sometimes create their own dilemmas but mostly solve the larger issues they face while at West Point in the early 1980's. Gray Girl: Honor Isn't Always Black and White is the first book in the Gray Girl Series. Area Bird: Duty Doesn't Always Follow the Rule is book 2. Book 3 is Witch Heart: Leadership Always Requires Sacrifice. Book 4 will be out in 2019. All books can be read alone, but best read in order.
For more information, go to GrayGirlSeries.com or SusanISpieth.com
277 pages, Paperback
First published October 26, 2013
56 people are currently reading
887 people want to read
About the author
Susan I. Spieth
7 books29 followersSusan I. Spieth graduated from West Point in 1985 and served five years in the Army as a Missile Maintenance Officer. After completing her military service, she attended Seminary where she earned a Master of Divinity degree. She is an ordained clergywoman in the United Methodist Church, having served five churches as Pastor/Associate Pastor for seventeen years. Susan and her husband have two children and live in NJ.
The Gray Girl Series depicts authentic experiences of the early years when the United States Military Academy first admitted women cadets. Jan Wishart is both heroine and troublemaker. She and her friends sometimes create their own dilemmas but mostly solve the larger issues they face while at West Point in the early 1980's. Gray Girl: Honor Isn't Always Black and White is the first book in the Gray Girl Series. Area Bird: Duty Doesn't Always Follow the Rule is book 2. Book 3 is Witch Heart: Leadership Always Requires Sacrifice. Book 4 is Fall Out: Courage Always Stands it's Ground.
More recently, Susan has published a non-fiction book about her first-time visits to 50 churches. It's a candid look at worship styles in various denominations. Also, an informative read about the basics of the Christian faith.
For more information, please visit: www.susanispieth.com
The Gray Girl Series depicts authentic experiences of the early years when the United States Military Academy first admitted women cadets. Jan Wishart is both heroine and troublemaker. She and her friends sometimes create their own dilemmas but mostly solve the larger issues they face while at West Point in the early 1980's. Gray Girl: Honor Isn't Always Black and White is the first book in the Gray Girl Series. Area Bird: Duty Doesn't Always Follow the Rule is book 2. Book 3 is Witch Heart: Leadership Always Requires Sacrifice. Book 4 is Fall Out: Courage Always Stands it's Ground.
More recently, Susan has published a non-fiction book about her first-time visits to 50 churches. It's a candid look at worship styles in various denominations. Also, an informative read about the basics of the Christian faith.
For more information, please visit: www.susanispieth.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
March 11, 2015
As a graduate this book brought back a lot of memories. It accurately portrays West Point and the trials and tribulations of the early classes of women at the Academy. The writing is solid and the story moves along.
I did think some portions were over the top-- it seems as it one is a drunk that can drive on to be a rapist and I wasn't sure of the connection. The ending seemed a bit contrived, but overall a good mystery.
I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in the Academy and a solid mystery.
I did think some portions were over the top-- it seems as it one is a drunk that can drive on to be a rapist and I wasn't sure of the connection. The ending seemed a bit contrived, but overall a good mystery.
I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in the Academy and a solid mystery.
October 8, 2014
I'm a little ticked off at this author. I had things to do today. Places to go, and errands to run. But did I do them as planned? Nooooooo. No, because I didn't want to put this darned book down until I finished it. For that, I blame Ms. Spieth. Her book is simply too darned good. Think I should give her a demerit...?
Really. Going to a military academy when I was a young woman wasn't a possibility, but thanks to this book... this too darned good book... I now have a pretty good idea of what it's like to be a female plebe at the USMA. Or at least, what it was like in the early '80s. I hope things have gotten better for women since then.
This is an easy-reading, well-written, and fascinating story with surprising twists and turns, and I enjoyed every page of it. Spieth makes readers care about the characters. So much so, I truly hope she intends to write more books to continue their stories. If she does, I'll happily remove that demerit...
Really. Going to a military academy when I was a young woman wasn't a possibility, but thanks to this book... this too darned good book... I now have a pretty good idea of what it's like to be a female plebe at the USMA. Or at least, what it was like in the early '80s. I hope things have gotten better for women since then.
This is an easy-reading, well-written, and fascinating story with surprising twists and turns, and I enjoyed every page of it. Spieth makes readers care about the characters. So much so, I truly hope she intends to write more books to continue their stories. If she does, I'll happily remove that demerit...
July 20, 2014
As a mother of a West Point Cadet and friend of the author, I had a ton of fun reading this novel. I learned more about the military academy lifestyle reading this book than I have from my son who is finishing his third year. I think even readers without any connection to West Point would enjoy this aspect of the book.
Gray Girl is a captivating mystery in an historically unique setting. The main protagonist, Jan, is a female cadet with the fiery independence and dogged persistence every mom would want her daughter to possess, especially if she was accepted into one of the first female classes attending West Point. After being subjected as a 'plebe' to a fair amount of overzealous hazing bordering on harassment, Jan becomes embroiled in an Honor Board which jeopardizes her very existence at the academy. She must defend herself against an upperclassman, one she is convinced has committed an offense far more serious than harassment. Will Jan make it through her plebe year or will she be driven out by her fellow male cadets who don't want her there?
Gray Girl is a captivating mystery in an historically unique setting. The main protagonist, Jan, is a female cadet with the fiery independence and dogged persistence every mom would want her daughter to possess, especially if she was accepted into one of the first female classes attending West Point. After being subjected as a 'plebe' to a fair amount of overzealous hazing bordering on harassment, Jan becomes embroiled in an Honor Board which jeopardizes her very existence at the academy. She must defend herself against an upperclassman, one she is convinced has committed an offense far more serious than harassment. Will Jan make it through her plebe year or will she be driven out by her fellow male cadets who don't want her there?
December 11, 2013
Grey Girl by Susan I. Spieth is a well written, thought provoking mystery set in the first year of a female cadet's life at West Point in 1981-1982. It is an impressive thriller with excellent character development and keen insight into life at West Point. The flow and pace of events and the mix of personalities hold one's attention making the book difficult to put down. In the end, exposure of the culprit / predator surprises but satisfies the plot's needs. Grey Girl exposes the strengths and weaknesses of individuals and groups in the midst of institutional change. And, while these adjustments are often difficult and painful, in the end one is left with hope that people and institutions will be able to grow and develope. As a retired Army officer, I found Grey Girl to be an excellent read.
October 26, 2014
What a powerful, engaging, vivid and memorable novel that reminded me of my trials and tribulations during Naval Officers Candidate School at Newport Rhode Island. Ms. Spieth, a West Point graduate, wrote with conviction, and engages the reader to devour her book which depicts in marvelous detail the famous Plebe year at West Point. The military academies are known for their challenging curriculum, watches, physical training and stressful environments. Moreover, during the early 1980's, West Point had very few female cadets, so Jan has to deal with plenty of egotistical and mean male cadets during her Plebe year. The author added sufficient intrigue, mystery, and scandals to keep me reading this novel until well at night. I finished the novel in a few days, rooting for Jan, Kissy, and Angel along the journey. Gray Girl earned the 2014 Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award and the 2014 Eric Hoffer e-book fiction award. I read it on my Kindle and it felt like I was in the company of another military friend who understood so well what I went through during OCS. BRAVO to Ms. Susan Spieth, and for any aspiring military training applicants, this book is a must read! I want to share something Ms. Spieth said at the conclusion of her book that resonated with me: "Yet, USMA gave us more than it took away. Despite, and perhaps because of it, its harsh nature when we were cadets, most of us have become proud members of the Long Gray Line. I feel blessed to be among the men and women who have experienced something that is not comparable anywhere. We share a bond. I feel this ever more deeply with each passing year, especially among my classmates and women who were once cadets." I also feel that OCS gave me more than it took away, and not only prepared me for the challenges ahead but for my new life at Los Angeles, CA. I am currently a LCDR in the US Navy Reserve after serving over 15 years active duty across the nation. My intention is to complete my naval career in Los Angeles and commenced a new career path in the city that swept me off my feet and placed a string of lights around my heart.
October 10, 2014
Beautifully written and edited, with just one typo and one grammar issue.
Wow. This is a really fantastic book with amazing detail that never becomes tedious, just continues to build the realism and tension of the story. There's a lot to admire about the women she writes about, as well as some of the men. There's also much to be disturbed by, because all of it seems very plausible.
As a woman who attended college in the '80's (not at a military academy,) I recall the controversy and vitriol around decisions to let women attend military academies, stories about hazing, and my own experiences with overt and unfounded sexism in ordinary life, which always came as a jarring shock, since my own experience growing up didn't prepare me for judgments not based on merit or results.
For the women who chose to be the first waves of students at these military academies, I suspect many were like the students described here. Girls who had been good at almost everything they did and natural leaders. I'm sure it was incredibly depressing and demoralizing to be vindictively targeted because of something that they could never overcome. The strength of character it took to overcome and pave the way is captured in this book. It's a story I won't soon forget.
Strongly recommend.
Wow. This is a really fantastic book with amazing detail that never becomes tedious, just continues to build the realism and tension of the story. There's a lot to admire about the women she writes about, as well as some of the men. There's also much to be disturbed by, because all of it seems very plausible.
As a woman who attended college in the '80's (not at a military academy,) I recall the controversy and vitriol around decisions to let women attend military academies, stories about hazing, and my own experiences with overt and unfounded sexism in ordinary life, which always came as a jarring shock, since my own experience growing up didn't prepare me for judgments not based on merit or results.
For the women who chose to be the first waves of students at these military academies, I suspect many were like the students described here. Girls who had been good at almost everything they did and natural leaders. I'm sure it was incredibly depressing and demoralizing to be vindictively targeted because of something that they could never overcome. The strength of character it took to overcome and pave the way is captured in this book. It's a story I won't soon forget.
Strongly recommend.
November 15, 2013
A solid story that involves you with the main character's plight as a woman trying to get through her first year at West Point. It's a fast read, with a well paced story and some surprising twists. Truly a fun and recommended read.
January 11, 2015
(The gray woolen blanket issued to every new cadet is known as a gray girl). Times have rapidly changed but people are slower to accept and adjust to these changes. West Point is the oldest and most respected military academy in the United States. The honor system has been part of this institute from its conception and still plays a crucial role, touching every cadet that enters its hallowed halls. 119 women were admitted to West Point in 1976. This story takes place in the years 1981-1982, a mere five years later. Cadet Jan Wishart felt she was up for the challenges imposed by a service academy but soon found out that honor wasn’t a black and white concept and finds herself on the defense. During a hazing incident she is ultimately accused of lying and has to defend herself of false charges. This story brought back many memories for me. I can truly sympathize with Jan and realize the precarious position in which she has been placed. Readers may ask why anyone would put themselves through the pain, frustration and suffering of a service academy. Don’t forget the old idiom, “no pain, no gain”; there are many universities that are academically equal to West Point but none invoke the pride or feelings of accomplishment. The good memories more than make up for the relatively short present and remain with the surviving graduates long after their service requirement is served. It is a fast paced and gripping story that will keep the reader turning the pages. It is well worth the effort as the story is bound to stay with you long after the last page is read.
June 11, 2015
Captured the plight of young women leaders in the '80's.
I was affected by Gray Girl. It touched the emotional memories of the confusion and struggles faced by women (and men) in the early eighties. It was a time full of the promise of gender equality, but the reality was far far from it. Gray Girl showed all the shades of gray in a world with few clear black and white solutions.
And now three decades later, Protect Our Defenders, is struggling to change a military still stuck in its blindness to justice and good leadership.
I highly recommend Gray Girl to be read by both young and old, men and women.
I was affected by Gray Girl. It touched the emotional memories of the confusion and struggles faced by women (and men) in the early eighties. It was a time full of the promise of gender equality, but the reality was far far from it. Gray Girl showed all the shades of gray in a world with few clear black and white solutions.
And now three decades later, Protect Our Defenders, is struggling to change a military still stuck in its blindness to justice and good leadership.
I highly recommend Gray Girl to be read by both young and old, men and women.
December 22, 2014
Authors are advised to write about what they know. Mrs. Spieth intimately knows the subject of being a female plebe at 90%+ West Point. The drama, the story, is less taut than I would like but that should come with time and more writing. I enjoy reading about women who are strong in the face of (unfair) adversity and her character is. From other books about life at WP there are more hazing practices, more hurdles, she did not address ... yet. I hope you do Mrs. Spieth in future books. Jon
January 13, 2015
I have a second hand love of West Point because my husband is a 1985 class graduate. Beat Navy! I've visited West Point, the mess hall, the cadet rooms and the chapel and I think this caused me more anxiety while this book unfolded. I've often wondered what West Point was like from a woman's perspective and I'm now impressed anyone survives! I loved the story and the mystery. This book is hard to put down.
November 9, 2013
Fast read! I loved it. I enjoyed the book and it was a trip down memory lane for me. Susan wrote a great story with some good twists. I was surprised several times with what happened next. Loved the quotes of Bugle Notes (Book of knowledge Freshmen/Plebes need to memorize) at the beginning of each chapter. Can't wait for the next book.
November 6, 2015
A very well written book! As a 1983 graduate of another service academy, many of Jan's experiences resonated and I will probably again experience the cadet nightmares I thought I had successfully repressed.
April 23, 2014
This book was great.
March 27, 2014
The story jumped around a bit, but still kept you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what happened.
July 25, 2015
Good book. Fast paced and totally believable. I loved Jan"s character what with her strengths and her weaknesses. It was a pleasure to read and I'd definitely recommend it.
April 24, 2014
Enjoyed it !!
November 7, 2016
Awesome
The storyline is great. It kept me interested and wanting to read more. Gives you some insight as to what West Point is like.
The storyline is great. It kept me interested and wanting to read more. Gives you some insight as to what West Point is like.
October 19, 2014
I picked this book for a strange reason! I have never excelled at athletics and I knew that you have to be physical strong among other things at West Point. This book brought back some scary feelings that I had in junior high and high school gym. And oddly enough, it helped me deal with them. I also have a tough time dealing with authority. In short I was never West Point material! Gray Girl by Susan I. Spieth helped me examine my feelings and get closure.
Besides being set at West Point, the story took place in 1982. Jan Wishart is a new cadet who wondered if she would make it to the end of her 1st year. While reading the Gray Girl, I often wondered why did she sign up in the first place, was it to please her father or to give herself the satisfaction that she could do it? Didn’t she know that she was getting herself into a lot of harassment simply because she a first year cadet and even more because she was one of the few females invading a male institution?
I identified with Jan, with her determination and independence and especially some of her physical difficulties on the required obstacle course. I wish that I had some of the tips that she was given about conquering some of the obstacles. And like Jan, when I was her age, I could easily do sit ups all day easy! Jan’s story is fully engaging. Who was her “mystery friend” was and who was the person who was engaged in sexual abuse and even rape? It was very difficult to lay this book down! The characters became real and the situations were vivid. I enjoyed the back and forth play of the past and the present. It was like puzzle pieces falling into place. I learned so much about life at West Point.
Susan I. Spieth, please write more and more! I loved your book.
Although I received this book as a win from FirstReads, that in no way influenced my thoughts or feelings in my review.
Besides being set at West Point, the story took place in 1982. Jan Wishart is a new cadet who wondered if she would make it to the end of her 1st year. While reading the Gray Girl, I often wondered why did she sign up in the first place, was it to please her father or to give herself the satisfaction that she could do it? Didn’t she know that she was getting herself into a lot of harassment simply because she a first year cadet and even more because she was one of the few females invading a male institution?
I identified with Jan, with her determination and independence and especially some of her physical difficulties on the required obstacle course. I wish that I had some of the tips that she was given about conquering some of the obstacles. And like Jan, when I was her age, I could easily do sit ups all day easy! Jan’s story is fully engaging. Who was her “mystery friend” was and who was the person who was engaged in sexual abuse and even rape? It was very difficult to lay this book down! The characters became real and the situations were vivid. I enjoyed the back and forth play of the past and the present. It was like puzzle pieces falling into place. I learned so much about life at West Point.
Susan I. Spieth, please write more and more! I loved your book.
Although I received this book as a win from FirstReads, that in no way influenced my thoughts or feelings in my review.
March 10, 2014
This book gave a very personal look (through fictional characters that I believe were based on the author's experiences) at what it was like to attend West Point in the early 1980s, only a few years after women were allowed to attend. This also touches the experiences of what it can be like to be a plebe (freshman) and all of the hazing involved. The characters were very believable and their experiences earned my sympathy and respect. I do wish that the reason Jan originally signed up for military academy was made more clear since her struggle to know why she was staying was a central issue. Also, very little information is given as to her life before the academy and about her family, but I think this is because it really wasn't applicable to the plot of the story, though I think it would have added much to character development. Maybe I am just used to such provided background from most other books I have read.
Very enlightening into the early times of women being accepted into the military from a young inexperienced woman's point of view with a bit of mystery for a plot line. I can't help but hope Jan's yearling(?) (sophomore) year will be shared in a sequel!!
Very enlightening into the early times of women being accepted into the military from a young inexperienced woman's point of view with a bit of mystery for a plot line. I can't help but hope Jan's yearling(?) (sophomore) year will be shared in a sequel!!
August 2, 2014
"Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong..."
GRAY GIRL was not an easy book to read. Author Spieth graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1985, five years after the very first women admitted to West Point graduated. So in some ways, even though this is a novel, it reads like a journal of what female plebes possibly had to suffer through - misogyny, sexual harassment, sexual abuse and quite possibly rape. The book read like a real-life account.
Great character development, an absorbing storyline, surprise twists at the end that I was not expecting - all bundled together in an excellent look at life as a female plebe at West Point.
Chapters did skip around among different times and places which got confusing once in awhile but not enough to downgrade the book.
My oldest son is a graduate of West Point (quite a few years after the author) and even life as a male plebe was far from easy. It was enlightening to read this book coming from the female perspective.
GRAY GIRL was not an easy book to read. Author Spieth graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1985, five years after the very first women admitted to West Point graduated. So in some ways, even though this is a novel, it reads like a journal of what female plebes possibly had to suffer through - misogyny, sexual harassment, sexual abuse and quite possibly rape. The book read like a real-life account.
Great character development, an absorbing storyline, surprise twists at the end that I was not expecting - all bundled together in an excellent look at life as a female plebe at West Point.
Chapters did skip around among different times and places which got confusing once in awhile but not enough to downgrade the book.
My oldest son is a graduate of West Point (quite a few years after the author) and even life as a male plebe was far from easy. It was enlightening to read this book coming from the female perspective.
January 16, 2015
Good book -
Great author, sounds very knowledgeable about her subject, very detailed, well developed characters and sadly seems to be very true of the type of institution she writes about.
Some of the reviewers said they read it in one sitting but I could not. At times and even now as I try rtf o write this review I feel absolutely ill, because even as we read this type of behaviour is still going on.
These young people are taught honor but is it honorable not to step forward and tell the truth no matter if the person involved is 2 weeks from graduation. Is it honorable for your career to be ruined if you do step forward? Is it honorable to tell students that you may be treated badly and there is nothing we can do about it?
I realize this is fiction but did anyone, even Jan, contact Deborah to let her know her rapist was dead? Did they resolve any of the other rapes with the victims?
I would like to have know what the back and forth messages why Dogerty went to Jan to take the message when he knew there had been What happened to Drew?
Great author, sounds very knowledgeable about her subject, very detailed, well developed characters and sadly seems to be very true of the type of institution she writes about.
Some of the reviewers said they read it in one sitting but I could not. At times and even now as I try rtf o write this review I feel absolutely ill, because even as we read this type of behaviour is still going on.
These young people are taught honor but is it honorable not to step forward and tell the truth no matter if the person involved is 2 weeks from graduation. Is it honorable for your career to be ruined if you do step forward? Is it honorable to tell students that you may be treated badly and there is nothing we can do about it?
I realize this is fiction but did anyone, even Jan, contact Deborah to let her know her rapist was dead? Did they resolve any of the other rapes with the victims?
I would like to have know what the back and forth messages why Dogerty went to Jan to take the message when he knew there had been What happened to Drew?
April 5, 2014
The book started off just like plebes start off at West Point: you have NO idea what's going on until a few chapters in. But once you catch the flow of the book, things start to become clearer and make sense. At first I wasn't sure I was interested in a book like this, but as I read, I couldn't STOP reading. I stayed up all night to finished this book.
While some things have changed for women in the military (and some things haven't), it's an interesting perspective and throwback to what things were like in the 80s for women officers. My husband is in the military and has been for 14 years, and he'll vouch for a lot of what happened in this book happening to women even now.
Unsure at first, but ended up being addicted to it!
While some things have changed for women in the military (and some things haven't), it's an interesting perspective and throwback to what things were like in the 80s for women officers. My husband is in the military and has been for 14 years, and he'll vouch for a lot of what happened in this book happening to women even now.
Unsure at first, but ended up being addicted to it!
July 17, 2015
Very realistic story. My son went through the Plebe year at West Point and this book explained alot of what he went through that year. The story was well written and kept my interest so much that I sat and read the last third of the book in one sitting. In fact, my husband fixed dinner so I could keep reading. Each chapter left me at the edge of my seat and I just had to continue. After reading the author notes, the story was even more believable as she was a graduate of West Point and lived the life she wrote about. Her weaving the mystery into the everyday life of a cadet was very well done especially since the mystery wasn't solved until the very end. It kept me guessing until it was finally solved. I look forward to reading her next book in the series.
March 23, 2014
I have to admit that I've let my GoodReads entries slip over the past few months. But, after reading Gray Girl, I felt compelled to share!
What a great book; absolutely loved it! I was hooked from the very beginning and had trouble putting it down. I know, or knew, nothing about life at a West Point before reading this novel. But, the author's personal experiences were evident throughout. Now, I feel a bit more informed---but left wanting to know more! I hope there's a sequel.
I seldom reread a book, but Gray Girl will be one that I'll not only read again, but will highly recommend to others.
What a great book; absolutely loved it! I was hooked from the very beginning and had trouble putting it down. I know, or knew, nothing about life at a West Point before reading this novel. But, the author's personal experiences were evident throughout. Now, I feel a bit more informed---but left wanting to know more! I hope there's a sequel.
I seldom reread a book, but Gray Girl will be one that I'll not only read again, but will highly recommend to others.
November 9, 2013
I am most likely biased as the author is a classmate from West Point, but I think this was a great story! Reading it brought back so many memories of being a plebe, and like Jan, the protagonist in the story, not all of those memories were good. I thought Susan did a great job of describing being a freshman at West Point and liked that she dealt fairly with the academy. I think she summed it up very well in her postscript when she said that West Point "may be the only college you grow to love long after you leave."
Great first novel!
Great first novel!
February 24, 2014
The story of a female's experiences at West Point in the 80s. I expected this to be a "woe is me" story of discrimination against women; I was pleasantly surprised that is was not. This is a "woe is me" story of suffering and survival of freshman (a/k/a plebes) at one of the most prestigious schools in the nation, no matter what your gender. Although a novel, it was written by a female who in fact attended West Point and tells the story of hell on earth trying to survive that first year. A riveting story ensconced in a real setting.
October 3, 2014
I liked this Goodreads book very much although it was a little disturbing.
It took me awhile to realize the switch from current time to past because I was sometimes so engrossed in the story that I failed to notice whether the chapter heading was the date and time or a quote.
It sometimes seemed as if the attitudes of some males at the service academies were still the same eg. p106.
There were plenty of plot twists and while some of the action near the end was a surprise, unfortunately the attitudes at the end were not and are probably the same today.
It took me awhile to realize the switch from current time to past because I was sometimes so engrossed in the story that I failed to notice whether the chapter heading was the date and time or a quote.
It sometimes seemed as if the attitudes of some males at the service academies were still the same eg. p106.
There were plenty of plot twists and while some of the action near the end was a surprise, unfortunately the attitudes at the end were not and are probably the same today.
October 15, 2015
Gray Girl (CreateSpace, 2013) by Susan I. Spieth is an engrossing novel set in the early 1980s. It’s about a female cadet at West Point facing a false charge of violating the school’s honor code. Cadet Jan Wishart discovers that the distinguished military academy, having only admitted females recently, is not only unwelcoming but dangerous, with an unknown sexual predator roaming the campus. The author skillfully juggles the two plotlines with vivid descriptions of life at West Point and its bizarre (to outsiders) rules. Strongly recommended.
February 22, 2014
Author Susan Spieth is a former Army Officer and graduate of West Point so her book "Gray Girl" is probably autobiographical up to a point. The story is based on the experiences of an 18 year old girl who is appointed to West Point in 1981 and then endures a cycle of brutal hazing and intimidation by the academy's senior cadets that tests her character and will to the extreme. This is a good book with an interesting plot that keeps up the interest level throughout.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews