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Enlightenment
Sergeant Fritz Lehmann had completed tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, there had been a cost for him personally. This time he would encounter something he was not trained for, this time he would meet The Magic Man and things would never be the same again
ebook
First published July 1, 2012
3 people want to read
About the author
David McDonald
13 books6 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
"I have written all my life in one way or another, my passion for poetry has never waned and it is my greatest passion still. A wasted youth and an Eighteen year Military career gave me a dearth of material and emotion on which to draw. I am disabled both Physically and Emotionally and that impedes my work, a restricted short term memory does cause difficulties and my grammar suffers for it, indeed I try to draw strength from it. Having written Six books of poetry dealing with Military life my romanticised soul is now free (well sort of) to indulge and I am writing with other passionate emotions of Love, Lust and Life, I have also begun writing Novels which I am enjoying.I have begun putting my work to Video and working with musicians using my work as lyrics."
"I have written all my life in one way or another, my passion for poetry has never waned and it is my greatest passion still. A wasted youth and an Eighteen year Military career gave me a dearth of material and emotion on which to draw. I am disabled both Physically and Emotionally and that impedes my work, a restricted short term memory does cause difficulties and my grammar suffers for it, indeed I try to draw strength from it. Having written Six books of poetry dealing with Military life my romanticised soul is now free (well sort of) to indulge and I am writing with other passionate emotions of Love, Lust and Life, I have also begun writing Novels which I am enjoying.I have begun putting my work to Video and working with musicians using my work as lyrics."
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 6, 2012
This is a great book for both fans of military related stories and anyone just looking for a great read. From start to finish the story of Fritz will keep you guessing and unable to put the book down. His character goes on an emotional journey and the author does a great job of detailing the events every step of the way to make you feel the pages come to life.
August 6, 2012
This was a very well written Novella and it had enough detail to allow you to get to know the central character, Sgt Fritz Lehmann.
It was, at times a little graphic but certainly not enough to put a reader off, the human story overrides the war throughout and I found that refreshing.
There was a little profanity but these are soldiers and the book is written by a Veteran, the experience and knowledge David showed was apparent from his Army career.
A really great story that introduces the concept of the ability of using all of our available brain power (something nobody does) and the skills that presents.
Refreshing and entertaining I recommend it wholeheartedly even though it is 4 stars.
August 4, 2012
Once again David McDonald has produced a great book.
This is a short story, but a good one. The main character is very well written, he is easy to understand, believable and his story really gets to you. That’s how I know it`s a good book, when you feel you know the characters.
I have always loved reading war stories, listening to people’s histories and memories about being in action. I highly recommend this book!
This is a short story, but a good one. The main character is very well written, he is easy to understand, believable and his story really gets to you. That’s how I know it`s a good book, when you feel you know the characters.
I have always loved reading war stories, listening to people’s histories and memories about being in action. I highly recommend this book!
August 2, 2012
A short read (it took me a few hours), but a good war story, with a great lead character and an interesting plot. If you liked David Mcdonald's poetry you'll like this, as his attention to detail (having been a soldier himself) makes things that bit more authentic.
August 13, 2012
This is a first class story anyone with an interest in the war genre needs to read, as it is a very unique book. The events take place in Afghanistan, but it is written differently than most war books, as the story is mostly about events that take place with the war in the background.
In order to write a story like this, you need to have knowledge about how the war in Afghanistan was thought, how else could a writer describe the surroundings and the events as detailed as David McDonald? Therefore, although this is a fictional book, the events can be connected to how life really is for everyday soldiers who are fighting the war.
Enlightenment helps create a better view on the lives of soldiers, as well as civilians in war time. This book deserves a lot of respect, and I am very pleased that the author has taken the effort to put his stories on paper. That must not have been an easy task, especially since so much emotion is involved in reliving the events that are written about.
In only 12 chapters, a life story of a solder deployed in Afghanistan is told. As the reader, you get to experience some of the hardships, emotions, losses, fears, and frustrations people go through every day. It is a fantastic opportunity to learn about what it feels like to be deployed as a professional soldier of war and piece. Not just adults could learn, but also students in high school could read this book in order to have a better perspective on war fare and how working within the army looks like. First hand views from a veteran is I think the best information that can help an adolescent make a better informed choice for going into the army. I am not sure if the author thought of this angle, but I feel that this book could be of service in that area too.
Concluding, this is a great book for people interested in this particular genre, as well as for people who want to learn more about the events during the Afghan war from a real veteran.
In order to write a story like this, you need to have knowledge about how the war in Afghanistan was thought, how else could a writer describe the surroundings and the events as detailed as David McDonald? Therefore, although this is a fictional book, the events can be connected to how life really is for everyday soldiers who are fighting the war.
Enlightenment helps create a better view on the lives of soldiers, as well as civilians in war time. This book deserves a lot of respect, and I am very pleased that the author has taken the effort to put his stories on paper. That must not have been an easy task, especially since so much emotion is involved in reliving the events that are written about.
In only 12 chapters, a life story of a solder deployed in Afghanistan is told. As the reader, you get to experience some of the hardships, emotions, losses, fears, and frustrations people go through every day. It is a fantastic opportunity to learn about what it feels like to be deployed as a professional soldier of war and piece. Not just adults could learn, but also students in high school could read this book in order to have a better perspective on war fare and how working within the army looks like. First hand views from a veteran is I think the best information that can help an adolescent make a better informed choice for going into the army. I am not sure if the author thought of this angle, but I feel that this book could be of service in that area too.
Concluding, this is a great book for people interested in this particular genre, as well as for people who want to learn more about the events during the Afghan war from a real veteran.
August 4, 2012
Sergeant Fritz Lehmann has had a tough life, to say the least. With a childhood marred by detached, alcoholic parents and a hard-labour loading job at the tender age of fourteen, Fritz would find himself longing for the safety and security that an enlistment in the British Army would finally guarantee. Such begins an endurance of hardship lasting many years. From having to survive the desolation of a Taliban-wrought Afghanistan to his love-torn and guilt-ridden marriage to the beautiful, questioning Helen, Fritz has felt himself harden over the years... a natural human response to unnatural events. How could he not find himself struggling every moment? What person could possibly go through what Fritz had been through and not wake up trembling from nightmares or a sudden memory of a life riddled with chaos and a constant need for defense?
But among the local Afghan intelligence officers, Fritz begins to hear mysterious whispers of the so-called Magic Man. Said to be in hiding in Afghanistan after being driven from Somalia, the Magic Man would prove to hold a deeper relevance than Fritz could ever have imagined. With rich descriptions and an immensely-compelling plot, Enlightenment (The Magic Man) will take readers on an unforgettable journey where Fritz struggles to survive against a desolate landscape and, ultimately, rediscovers his own vulnerabilities amidst the hardened exterior he had come to believe in. Infused with numerous insights into the nature of the human condition, Enlightenment is a magical journey of struggle, survival, and the hope that remains beneath our deepest, darkest fears.
Highly recommended!
But among the local Afghan intelligence officers, Fritz begins to hear mysterious whispers of the so-called Magic Man. Said to be in hiding in Afghanistan after being driven from Somalia, the Magic Man would prove to hold a deeper relevance than Fritz could ever have imagined. With rich descriptions and an immensely-compelling plot, Enlightenment (The Magic Man) will take readers on an unforgettable journey where Fritz struggles to survive against a desolate landscape and, ultimately, rediscovers his own vulnerabilities amidst the hardened exterior he had come to believe in. Infused with numerous insights into the nature of the human condition, Enlightenment is a magical journey of struggle, survival, and the hope that remains beneath our deepest, darkest fears.
Highly recommended!
August 12, 2012
I just finished reading Enlightenment, by David F. McDonald, and I must say that I was “blown away” (pun intended). I do not usually read books of this genre, and I was not sure what to expect, but I was immediately drawn in and could not stop reading till the last page. There are so many things to like, I really don't know where to begin. The action is fast-paced, the writing crisp and clear, and the characters believable. The story takes place in battle-plagued Afghanistan, with colorful descriptions of the country, culture and people. As we travel along with the main character, Fritz Lehman, we can't help but feel that we are right there in the midst of the action with him. I found myself trying to read faster to find out what would happen next.
I was completely taken by surprise by the unusual juxtaposition of realistic battle scenes with fantasy, that was at once strange and captivating. The author seamlessly takes us from heart-pounding action to calming periods of quiet introspection, and back again, for a real emotional roller coaster ride.
The story line of Enlightenment was well developed and could only have been written by someone with first-hand knowledge of the country and military protocols. The combat scenes were written from the unusual perspective of all parties involved, allowing the reader to experience the simultaneous thoughts, words and actions of both sides. This book is different enough that it would make a great movie. I am looking forward to more books from Mr. McDonald, perhaps a sequel featuring Alan Ferguson as a student of Fritz Lehman.
I was completely taken by surprise by the unusual juxtaposition of realistic battle scenes with fantasy, that was at once strange and captivating. The author seamlessly takes us from heart-pounding action to calming periods of quiet introspection, and back again, for a real emotional roller coaster ride.
The story line of Enlightenment was well developed and could only have been written by someone with first-hand knowledge of the country and military protocols. The combat scenes were written from the unusual perspective of all parties involved, allowing the reader to experience the simultaneous thoughts, words and actions of both sides. This book is different enough that it would make a great movie. I am looking forward to more books from Mr. McDonald, perhaps a sequel featuring Alan Ferguson as a student of Fritz Lehman.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews