What do you think?
Rate this book
Friendly Fire: A Fractured Memoir
One month before his college graduation, Paul Rousseau is accidentally shot in the head by his roommate and best friend.
At some point in the course of Paul and Mark’s friendship, Mark acquired—legally and with required permits—five firearms. Those weapons lived with them in their college apartment. It was a non-issue for the two best friends. They were inseparable. They were twenty-two-year-old boys at the height of their college experience, unaware that everything was about to change forever.
The bullet ripped through two walls before it struck Paul’s skull. Mark had accidentally pulled the trigger while in the other room and—frightened for his own future—delayed getting treatment for Paul, who miraculously remained conscious the entire time. In vivid detail, Friendly Fire brings us into the world of both the shooting itself and its surgical counterpoint—the dark spaces of survival in the face of a traumatic brain injury and into the paranoid, isolating, dehumanizing maw of personal injury cases.
Friendly Fire is the story of a friendship—both its formation and its destruction. Through phenomenal writing and gripping detail, Paul reveals a compelling and inspirational story that speaks to much of contemporary American life.
7 hrs. 17 min.
At some point in the course of Paul and Mark’s friendship, Mark acquired—legally and with required permits—five firearms. Those weapons lived with them in their college apartment. It was a non-issue for the two best friends. They were inseparable. They were twenty-two-year-old boys at the height of their college experience, unaware that everything was about to change forever.
The bullet ripped through two walls before it struck Paul’s skull. Mark had accidentally pulled the trigger while in the other room and—frightened for his own future—delayed getting treatment for Paul, who miraculously remained conscious the entire time. In vivid detail, Friendly Fire brings us into the world of both the shooting itself and its surgical counterpoint—the dark spaces of survival in the face of a traumatic brain injury and into the paranoid, isolating, dehumanizing maw of personal injury cases.
Friendly Fire is the story of a friendship—both its formation and its destruction. Through phenomenal writing and gripping detail, Paul reveals a compelling and inspirational story that speaks to much of contemporary American life.
7 hrs. 17 min.
8 pages, Audible Audio
Published September 10, 2024
17 people are currently reading
470 people want to read
About the author
Paul Rousseau
1 book18 followersPaul Rousseau is a Disabled writer. His debut, FRIENDLY FIRE: A FRACTURED MEMOIR is forthcoming from HarperCollins September 10, 2024. Paul's work can also be found in Roxane Gay's The Audacity, Catapult, and the San Francisco Chronicle, among others. You can read his words online at Paul-Rousseau.com and find him on X @Paulwrites7.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
August 25, 2024
Harrowing and hopeful. Terrifying yet hilarious. Friendly Fire is a book I will return to again and again, not because Rousseau is my former student, but because he's written a book that says something essential about gun violence and trauma. I can't wait to read what he does next.
September 10, 2024
“How many inches of misery exist? That the able-bodied never see, until age or accident forced the eyes wide.” It’s a brutal question, delivered with the poetry of an author who
might rather be writing flash fiction—if not for the shooting accident that changed his life, and his art, forever.
The subjects of Paul Rousseau’s debut could not be heavier: gun violence, trauma, the realities of living with a disability. He asks us to enter the mind of a person recovering from a traumatic brain injury, and this is a mind that is often in pain. But Paul’s spring-loaded, imaginative rendering of the world around him—headaches become “meaty spirals,” popcorn ceilings shapeshift into funny faces—make us want to stay here as long as we can. It’s a privilege to be invited into a nightmare when it’s this full of empathy, warmth, and character.
This is nowhere more evident than when Paul reflects on his former best friend, Mark, the man responsible for his injury. If this story ever needed a villain, Mark was him. But Paul does not draw simple lines here or anywhere. Like the book’s subtitle, a “Fractured Memoir,” the author reminds us that some traumas will never cohere as a satisfying truth, as an unbiased testimony, or as a cautionary tale.
Instead, the author presents us a panoramic and inspiring view of life after a life-changing injury: the medical expenses, the legal battles, the therapy, the relationships that ebb and flow and the loved ones who ultimately make surviving worthwhile. This last bit brings me to tears. It’s a story unlike anything I’ve ever read, with a voice that is entirely Paul’s own. I feel so grateful that he has shared it with us.
might rather be writing flash fiction—if not for the shooting accident that changed his life, and his art, forever.
The subjects of Paul Rousseau’s debut could not be heavier: gun violence, trauma, the realities of living with a disability. He asks us to enter the mind of a person recovering from a traumatic brain injury, and this is a mind that is often in pain. But Paul’s spring-loaded, imaginative rendering of the world around him—headaches become “meaty spirals,” popcorn ceilings shapeshift into funny faces—make us want to stay here as long as we can. It’s a privilege to be invited into a nightmare when it’s this full of empathy, warmth, and character.
This is nowhere more evident than when Paul reflects on his former best friend, Mark, the man responsible for his injury. If this story ever needed a villain, Mark was him. But Paul does not draw simple lines here or anywhere. Like the book’s subtitle, a “Fractured Memoir,” the author reminds us that some traumas will never cohere as a satisfying truth, as an unbiased testimony, or as a cautionary tale.
Instead, the author presents us a panoramic and inspiring view of life after a life-changing injury: the medical expenses, the legal battles, the therapy, the relationships that ebb and flow and the loved ones who ultimately make surviving worthwhile. This last bit brings me to tears. It’s a story unlike anything I’ve ever read, with a voice that is entirely Paul’s own. I feel so grateful that he has shared it with us.
November 5, 2024
I don’t typically write up recommendations on this app, but this book was written so well and needs to have words said about it.
Wow…
Paul was in his dorm room when his best friend and roommate accidentally fired a gun. The bullet shot through 2 walls and into the top of Paul’s head as he leaned over to pick something up off the floor. As awful as this is, his roommate Mark delays calling for help for approximately 2 hours.
This is a story of Paul’s survival with a Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, almost 4 years of litigation from an insurance company that is trying to cut costs. The disregard of the university to support the victim, and Paul, learning to carve a new life with a traumatic brain injury.
written with amazing details and recollection, I highly recommend this book.
Wow…
Paul was in his dorm room when his best friend and roommate accidentally fired a gun. The bullet shot through 2 walls and into the top of Paul’s head as he leaned over to pick something up off the floor. As awful as this is, his roommate Mark delays calling for help for approximately 2 hours.
This is a story of Paul’s survival with a Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, almost 4 years of litigation from an insurance company that is trying to cut costs. The disregard of the university to support the victim, and Paul, learning to carve a new life with a traumatic brain injury.
written with amazing details and recollection, I highly recommend this book.
September 16, 2024
This memoir has got to be one of the best I’ve read! Written by a disabled author due to a TBI as well as severe PTSD from being shot in the head by his best friend at their college campus; his “fractured memoir” is written in such creative, candid prose with beautifully considered metaphors.
Rousseau truly has a gift with words. As someone who has also had brain surgery (albeit not from being shot) and suffers from PTSD due the health issues that caused it; the voice of this author was refreshing to hear and so heartfelt. His description was so profoundly raw! I can’t imagine what Rousseau endured. I was completely sucked in to his story and his succinct descriptions really made me feel like I was there.
The unvarnished truth that is told about our “justice system” and how it incessantly Re-victimizes trauma victims is horrifying. I learned a great deal about personal injury lawsuits that I never knew. The greed, even at the private university level where this young man was shot is truly disturbing.
I feel this book will give those who find themselves victims of trauma, TBI’s, PTSD, and facing the injustices of our system will be glad they read this powerful journey this young author was forced upon. He is a true survivor, mentally and physically, and this piece of art of truly depicts that.
I’m looking forward to more works by this author!
Rousseau truly has a gift with words. As someone who has also had brain surgery (albeit not from being shot) and suffers from PTSD due the health issues that caused it; the voice of this author was refreshing to hear and so heartfelt. His description was so profoundly raw! I can’t imagine what Rousseau endured. I was completely sucked in to his story and his succinct descriptions really made me feel like I was there.
The unvarnished truth that is told about our “justice system” and how it incessantly Re-victimizes trauma victims is horrifying. I learned a great deal about personal injury lawsuits that I never knew. The greed, even at the private university level where this young man was shot is truly disturbing.
I feel this book will give those who find themselves victims of trauma, TBI’s, PTSD, and facing the injustices of our system will be glad they read this powerful journey this young author was forced upon. He is a true survivor, mentally and physically, and this piece of art of truly depicts that.
I’m looking forward to more works by this author!
October 5, 2024
Friendly Fire: A Fractured Memoir, Paul Rousseau, author.
Most of us will laugh when, in conversation, someone says “just shoot me”; we will look with interest at bullet points on a paper we are reading; we will feel pain if we have a trigger finger. We will, however, not panic if we hear words that are related to guns. On the other hand, most of us have never been shot. Paul Rousseau is different. He panics because on April 7th, 2017, his college dorm roommate, Mark, went into his own bedroom and took out a gun he was not allowed to have. Without realizing it was loaded, he said, he pointed it at the wall that separated him from Paul, and he pulled the trigger. Paul collapsed. That bullet had passed through the wall and hit him in the head setting off a fire alarm.
Mark was aghast, terrified, and did not know what to do. However, not knowing what to do and doing the wrong thing are two decidedly different behaviors. He told Paul to shower. He tried to clean up. He hid the weapon. He called two friends. They begged him to call for help. Instead, for two hours, he tried to cover up his “crime”, which was never treated as a crime, even when law enforcement came to investigate the fire alarm. They took his word for how blood got on the floor. They accepted his excuses and explanations and told him he would probably not get into trouble for having a firearm, although it was not permitted. If it was the first time, he would probably just get a warning. So, what repercussions did Mark suffer as a consequence of his unspeakable behavior? Should he have paid a higher price?
Meanwhile, Paul had remarkably survived and was in and out of consciousness. He wanted to protect his friend, when he was questioned, though the reader may wonder why. Finally, he was taken by ambulance to a hospital. A friend called his girlfriend and she called his mother. The school, perhaps determined to protect itself, neglected to follow protocol and never did call.
The fact that Paul was alive astounded everyone. He had a bullet in his brain, and the fact that he could speak with them was highly unusual. However, he now had a long road ahead of him with surgeries, medication, counseling and therapy to face. He had been studying to be a writer, and happily, this book proves he actually accomplished that goal in a superb way!
Using his own incomparable, conversational style, in fits and spurts, in very short chapters making it really easy to read, he describes the tragic day that changed his life completely. It feels almost like a diary, as he writes about the before and the after, because he knows that there is no going back to before, after the kind of injury he has suffered.
His future is destined to be filled with confronting the political system, pleas to insurance companies, conversations with medical personnel, examinations by doctors, confrontations with lawyers, accumulating necessary records, mood swings, family issues, and myriad other appointments in order to bring about closure. Working the system is an uphill battle and the roadblocks are ludicrous. The system is set to make him look bad, and explain away the event that took away a piece of his brain. Because Paul refuses to press charges against Mark, not wanting to ruin his friend’s life, the reader is forced to deal with the frustration of not seeing some kind of justice done. Mark is not as interested in protecting his friend Paul, and his insurance company and lawyers are engaged in fighting Paul’s claims of disability. The lack of accountability and conscience of the shooter will be unfathomable to the reader.
The book, although very rarely, does come down in a political way. It is obvious where Paul stands. He does not like Trump, but he is polite and funny in his condemnation. He wants gun control, and who can blame him? Still, I would have liked him to address mental and emotional illness, more fully, because a gun never fires itself. He suffered from both mental and emotional issues as a consequence of his injuries, so I thought he should truly have had a better understanding of what society is dealing with, instead of blaming gun control laws and the presence of guns. Often, in the places with the strictest rules, themost gun crimes occur.
I think it would be great if this book provides the impetus to begin a real conversation about guns. Who is using the guns and how are they getting them? Are they fit to have the weapon? Are the weapons even legal? Without a gun would the person choose a different weapon? Is someone bent on murder or injuring someone undaunted by the choice of a weapon? Might they use a knife or an axe or poison or fists instead? What is the root cause of the problem? Is it environment, is it education, is it home life? Why is there so much desperation? Why is there so much anger? Why are so many young people depressed? Why is there so much mental disturbance? Why are the victims so often improperly compensated and antagonized while the villain calmy walks away, unscathed?
This book can only do so much, I know. Truthfully, it is mostly about Rousseau’s difficult road to recovery, about the system he fights, about the injustices he faced. He will never be fully recovered, and he knows it, but he writes this book with such a light hand, that the reader is actually entertained by his narrative, although the subject matter is a difficult one.
I recommend this book to everyone as he blends comedy and his tragedy with perfection.
Most of us will laugh when, in conversation, someone says “just shoot me”; we will look with interest at bullet points on a paper we are reading; we will feel pain if we have a trigger finger. We will, however, not panic if we hear words that are related to guns. On the other hand, most of us have never been shot. Paul Rousseau is different. He panics because on April 7th, 2017, his college dorm roommate, Mark, went into his own bedroom and took out a gun he was not allowed to have. Without realizing it was loaded, he said, he pointed it at the wall that separated him from Paul, and he pulled the trigger. Paul collapsed. That bullet had passed through the wall and hit him in the head setting off a fire alarm.
Mark was aghast, terrified, and did not know what to do. However, not knowing what to do and doing the wrong thing are two decidedly different behaviors. He told Paul to shower. He tried to clean up. He hid the weapon. He called two friends. They begged him to call for help. Instead, for two hours, he tried to cover up his “crime”, which was never treated as a crime, even when law enforcement came to investigate the fire alarm. They took his word for how blood got on the floor. They accepted his excuses and explanations and told him he would probably not get into trouble for having a firearm, although it was not permitted. If it was the first time, he would probably just get a warning. So, what repercussions did Mark suffer as a consequence of his unspeakable behavior? Should he have paid a higher price?
Meanwhile, Paul had remarkably survived and was in and out of consciousness. He wanted to protect his friend, when he was questioned, though the reader may wonder why. Finally, he was taken by ambulance to a hospital. A friend called his girlfriend and she called his mother. The school, perhaps determined to protect itself, neglected to follow protocol and never did call.
The fact that Paul was alive astounded everyone. He had a bullet in his brain, and the fact that he could speak with them was highly unusual. However, he now had a long road ahead of him with surgeries, medication, counseling and therapy to face. He had been studying to be a writer, and happily, this book proves he actually accomplished that goal in a superb way!
Using his own incomparable, conversational style, in fits and spurts, in very short chapters making it really easy to read, he describes the tragic day that changed his life completely. It feels almost like a diary, as he writes about the before and the after, because he knows that there is no going back to before, after the kind of injury he has suffered.
His future is destined to be filled with confronting the political system, pleas to insurance companies, conversations with medical personnel, examinations by doctors, confrontations with lawyers, accumulating necessary records, mood swings, family issues, and myriad other appointments in order to bring about closure. Working the system is an uphill battle and the roadblocks are ludicrous. The system is set to make him look bad, and explain away the event that took away a piece of his brain. Because Paul refuses to press charges against Mark, not wanting to ruin his friend’s life, the reader is forced to deal with the frustration of not seeing some kind of justice done. Mark is not as interested in protecting his friend Paul, and his insurance company and lawyers are engaged in fighting Paul’s claims of disability. The lack of accountability and conscience of the shooter will be unfathomable to the reader.
The book, although very rarely, does come down in a political way. It is obvious where Paul stands. He does not like Trump, but he is polite and funny in his condemnation. He wants gun control, and who can blame him? Still, I would have liked him to address mental and emotional illness, more fully, because a gun never fires itself. He suffered from both mental and emotional issues as a consequence of his injuries, so I thought he should truly have had a better understanding of what society is dealing with, instead of blaming gun control laws and the presence of guns. Often, in the places with the strictest rules, themost gun crimes occur.
I think it would be great if this book provides the impetus to begin a real conversation about guns. Who is using the guns and how are they getting them? Are they fit to have the weapon? Are the weapons even legal? Without a gun would the person choose a different weapon? Is someone bent on murder or injuring someone undaunted by the choice of a weapon? Might they use a knife or an axe or poison or fists instead? What is the root cause of the problem? Is it environment, is it education, is it home life? Why is there so much desperation? Why is there so much anger? Why are so many young people depressed? Why is there so much mental disturbance? Why are the victims so often improperly compensated and antagonized while the villain calmy walks away, unscathed?
This book can only do so much, I know. Truthfully, it is mostly about Rousseau’s difficult road to recovery, about the system he fights, about the injustices he faced. He will never be fully recovered, and he knows it, but he writes this book with such a light hand, that the reader is actually entertained by his narrative, although the subject matter is a difficult one.
I recommend this book to everyone as he blends comedy and his tragedy with perfection.
September 26, 2024
I want to start this off by saying that I’m a little bit of a memoir nut and this one has quickly made it to the top of my list for the memoirs I’ve read this year. It was such an honest and vulnerable read and not only when relaying details surrounding the shooting and events of April 7th, but throughout. While parts of the book were gut-wrenching to read and made me feel physical discomfort from frustration and disbelief, I also couldn't stop reading because I needed to know what happened next. It was a great mixture of highlighting the reality of the struggles that Rousseau has faced while remaining hopeful and acknowledging the role that an individual has to play in their own recovery. I honestly could have read it over the course of a day or two if I didn’t have work but the way that the book is broken up into short sections and jumps back and forth in time made it easy to pick back up and get back into it if you have to do that.
Some of the broad topics Rousseau reflects on include gun culture in America, the dehumanizing processes of the insurance world, and the double edged sword of living with a hidden disability. He covers the impacts that tragic events can have on your relationships with family and friends. All of this while including his own personal narrative in a way that is inspiring while remaining realistic and honest.
One of the highlights for me personally was how vivid the descriptions were surrounding his experiences with PTSD, paranoia, and his residual physical symptoms. It gave me a clearer picture of not only the physical but the emotional and psychological impacts that victims of gun violence experience. With the way it's written I felt like I could actually feel his level of pain and confusion. The vulnerability it takes to be open about the way that your personality can change after something this traumatic and the process of getting to know yourself again is beyond what many people can imagine and Rousseau does it with grace and humility.
Surprisingly (to me at least because I didn’t think it would be a large topic in the book) some of my favorite sections of the book were ones where the author would reflect on his relationships with friends prior to and after the incident. I find very rarely that people are able to open up about relationships that they used to think benefited them and to, respectfully, look back and acknowledge that the relationship actually fell short, and that their needs weren’t being met. I can’t speak from experience on this topic, but it was reminiscent of what I’ve heard from other men surrounding their male friendships, with jokes taking the place of emotional intimacy and feeling the need to appear overly masculine but only ever barely scratching the surface of getting to know their “best friends” on a deeper level. I honestly feel like this and the general topic of the after effects of toxic friendships and how they can impact people is something that needs to be talked about more so it was really refreshing to have someone come out and acknowledge that.
Overall a great read, I would recommend this for book clubs considering the number of great talking points it brings up and the deeper level of conversation it could inspire.
Thank you to LibraryThing and Paul Rousseau for the advanced reader copy! It was such a pleasure to read.
Some of the broad topics Rousseau reflects on include gun culture in America, the dehumanizing processes of the insurance world, and the double edged sword of living with a hidden disability. He covers the impacts that tragic events can have on your relationships with family and friends. All of this while including his own personal narrative in a way that is inspiring while remaining realistic and honest.
One of the highlights for me personally was how vivid the descriptions were surrounding his experiences with PTSD, paranoia, and his residual physical symptoms. It gave me a clearer picture of not only the physical but the emotional and psychological impacts that victims of gun violence experience. With the way it's written I felt like I could actually feel his level of pain and confusion. The vulnerability it takes to be open about the way that your personality can change after something this traumatic and the process of getting to know yourself again is beyond what many people can imagine and Rousseau does it with grace and humility.
Surprisingly (to me at least because I didn’t think it would be a large topic in the book) some of my favorite sections of the book were ones where the author would reflect on his relationships with friends prior to and after the incident. I find very rarely that people are able to open up about relationships that they used to think benefited them and to, respectfully, look back and acknowledge that the relationship actually fell short, and that their needs weren’t being met. I can’t speak from experience on this topic, but it was reminiscent of what I’ve heard from other men surrounding their male friendships, with jokes taking the place of emotional intimacy and feeling the need to appear overly masculine but only ever barely scratching the surface of getting to know their “best friends” on a deeper level. I honestly feel like this and the general topic of the after effects of toxic friendships and how they can impact people is something that needs to be talked about more so it was really refreshing to have someone come out and acknowledge that.
Overall a great read, I would recommend this for book clubs considering the number of great talking points it brings up and the deeper level of conversation it could inspire.
Thank you to LibraryThing and Paul Rousseau for the advanced reader copy! It was such a pleasure to read.
October 8, 2024
In this compelling memoir, a shocking on-campus shooting—an accidental bullet to the author’s head—completely alters his life but has no consequences for the shooter, his narcissistic best friend. Despite the gunman’s two-hour delay in seeking medical help for Mr. Rousseau, neither the university, campus police, nor the shooter or his parents admit any accountability. Mr. Rousseau is further victimized by a shameful four-year battle with the shooter’s insurance company for payment of medical expenses.
Through it all, we see Mr. Rousseau’s bravery and resilience in the face of unimaginable trauma, tragedy, and loss. His writing is intense and visceral while brightened with a touch of dark humor. Wise beyond his years, his cultural references and expressions remind that he’s still a young man forced to deal with a very grown-up issue.
Through it all, we see Mr. Rousseau’s bravery and resilience in the face of unimaginable trauma, tragedy, and loss. His writing is intense and visceral while brightened with a touch of dark humor. Wise beyond his years, his cultural references and expressions remind that he’s still a young man forced to deal with a very grown-up issue.
November 26, 2024
Visceral, heavy, but also hopeful. I was familiar with Paul’s story coming in—maybe an essay of his I’d read previously or a news article—but this memoir will stick with me. Told in very short chapters that don’t necessarily follow a linear timeline, it’s a quick but emotionally intense walk through Paul’s injury and his recovery and life with a TBI.
The chapter(s) with his “friends” sitting around debating when to call 911 was particularly difficult for me to read because I just wanted to shake them and yell at them to get some sense and get help.
The audio narrator did a very good job.
The chapter(s) with his “friends” sitting around debating when to call 911 was particularly difficult for me to read because I just wanted to shake them and yell at them to get some sense and get help.
The audio narrator did a very good job.
October 5, 2024
This is an extraordinary memoir, one that almost didn't happen. It is also a tough read if you or a loved one has suffered gun violence or a traumatic brain injury, or has had to tangle with the corrupt and broken insurance industry.
Make no mistake: this book is absolutely where we are right now as Americans. We may never be able to move on from this point.
Make no mistake: this book is absolutely where we are right now as Americans. We may never be able to move on from this point.
October 18, 2024
Impossible to put down. What an extraordinary story told by an extraordinary human. My wish is for everyone to read this book if only to experience Paul’s need to thrive and his friends and families unwavering support. Paul, your story will stay with me forever. Thank you.
February 22, 2025
Absolutely fucking phenomenal.
May 4, 2025
It’s hard to rate someone’s memoir. This one was especially painful. Paul is a survivor. I am disgusted by the amount of time it took to settle and how the other side tried to blame him. Thank you for sharing your story - the good, the bad and the ugly.
September 9, 2025
The author:
Has a cat
Is an avid Timberwolves fan
Is from the suburbs of the twin cities
Is very anti guns
We’re basically twins
Has a cat
Is an avid Timberwolves fan
Is from the suburbs of the twin cities
Is very anti guns
We’re basically twins
May 10, 2025
This book hit close to home. My husband has a TBI. We are two years in and I can definitely relate to many of the things Paul writes about. It’s so sad that the victim can never escape the “accident”.
May 12, 2025
It was a fascinating read. Good writing & great narration.
February 11, 2025
Good read. Still wondering why he was shot? Was Mark playing around and it went off? I don’t think it was intentional so what is Paul’s opinion about why he was shot?
December 3, 2024
A very moving account of the author’s life after accidentally being shot by his friend. Wish him all the best in overcoming the struggles and trauma. I hope he has a lot of support and encouragement.
December 1, 2024
“A Fracture Memoir”
This memoir is thoughtful, hopeful, unvarnished and is one of the best written. It tells the story of a man who was accidently shot by his long-time college roommate and best friend. We are allowed to process his experiences along with him. His scattered thoughts are full of emotions.
“Friendly Fire” is one of those stories that will grab your interest from the get-go and will not let go till the very end. Mark has accidently shot Paul in the head days before their last semester of undergrad studies. Paul brain injury is classified as TBI (traumatic brain injury) and from this PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), the book touches on this through Pauls’ eyes.
Most of the story is said in short chapters and done through flashbacks and present day. The author writes in a sparse tone in order for us to process his experiences along with him. Surgery and recovery are crucial but the define moment is when he realized that he qualified as Disabled…..We have a lot of emotional moments throughout this narration but the most of the heart moment is Paul’s letter to his once- friend Mark. It has brought tears to my eyes.
This book is written with amazing details it also touches gun violence, personal injury lawsuits and the injustices in our system towards victims.
It may be a difficult subject matter but Paul’s journey and how he faced it is none other than inspiring.
I received a copy of this book from the first reviewer program for my thoughts.
This memoir is thoughtful, hopeful, unvarnished and is one of the best written. It tells the story of a man who was accidently shot by his long-time college roommate and best friend. We are allowed to process his experiences along with him. His scattered thoughts are full of emotions.
“Friendly Fire” is one of those stories that will grab your interest from the get-go and will not let go till the very end. Mark has accidently shot Paul in the head days before their last semester of undergrad studies. Paul brain injury is classified as TBI (traumatic brain injury) and from this PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), the book touches on this through Pauls’ eyes.
Most of the story is said in short chapters and done through flashbacks and present day. The author writes in a sparse tone in order for us to process his experiences along with him. Surgery and recovery are crucial but the define moment is when he realized that he qualified as Disabled…..We have a lot of emotional moments throughout this narration but the most of the heart moment is Paul’s letter to his once- friend Mark. It has brought tears to my eyes.
This book is written with amazing details it also touches gun violence, personal injury lawsuits and the injustices in our system towards victims.
It may be a difficult subject matter but Paul’s journey and how he faced it is none other than inspiring.
I received a copy of this book from the first reviewer program for my thoughts.
January 7, 2025
My second book of 2025. I read this book as a potential for my criminology class. While I don't think it will fit well in a traditional crim class, it does seem like a good fit for the crime in life and lit class I co-teach. I thought this book was excellent. Rousseau really made me think about the experience of a TBI, as well as the ripple effect such an injury has on everyone surrounding the person injured--those responsible, family, friends, significant others. I tend to love memoirs anyway, but I really liked this one. I remember reading about the original case as it happened in MN and to read about Rousseau's experience in his own words was incredibly powerful. I think this is a great book for anyone seeking to understand the impact of becoming disabled, of our lax gun laws, and the difficulty in navigating the insurance system which so often seems more punitive than helpful.
August 9, 2025
Wow! This memoir was incredible. It was a moving, emotional read that pulled me in from the very first page and kept me rooted in the story. I deeply appreciated the author’s willingness to share his unvarnished truth and lived experiences. This was a candid, raw, and powerful glimpse into the events that forever changed his life.
Through his writing, Rousseau allowed me to feel every emotion he felt. I was heartbroken by all he endured yet inspired by the resilience and strength woven into his words. I also listened to the audiobook, and narrator Michael Crouch delivered a phenomenal performance, bringing even more depth to the story.
It was an honor to be given this window into such an extraordinary life; one well lived and bravely told. This memoir has inspired me to keep pushing, keep moving, and keep going; no matter what challenges life puts in my path.
Through his writing, Rousseau allowed me to feel every emotion he felt. I was heartbroken by all he endured yet inspired by the resilience and strength woven into his words. I also listened to the audiobook, and narrator Michael Crouch delivered a phenomenal performance, bringing even more depth to the story.
It was an honor to be given this window into such an extraordinary life; one well lived and bravely told. This memoir has inspired me to keep pushing, keep moving, and keep going; no matter what challenges life puts in my path.
February 8, 2025
One of the top 5 memoirs I’ve read. Haunting and humorous, Paul defies and is defeated by an accidents that takes him on a journey that is incredibly to be apart of. Parts of this book will remain in my psyche forever. I can’t remember who recommended this, but I owe them a hug. Will be following this author and his writing-his future is bright.
September 7, 2025
4.5 I finished this book in a day and couldn’t stop thinking about it! Randomly picked it up in a bookstore and am so glad I did. Heart wrenching, intriguing, vulnerable, and thought provoking account of TBI, college friendships, PTSD, healthcare and insurance systems, and recovery!
October 9, 2025
I really enjoyed how the fractured nature of the story is equivalent to the way the authors brain now works after his TBI. It was easy to follow, and I was always curious what was going to be shared next.
February 23, 2025
Wow excellent book and writing love the writing style. Very moving and riveting.
April 25, 2025
Compelling!
June 8, 2025
Wow! This is an incredible and shocking story of a life-changing event and how a man and his family bond together and delt with the aftermath for years, thank you for sharing!
April 22, 2025
I both hung onto every word and still feel like I need to reread to capture all the importance of this book. Paul's story and his writing are an inspiration.
January 25, 2025
An engaging memoir about a horrific accidental shooting and its aftermath, its effects on the shooting victim and those who love him, and the unbelievable lengths insurance companies will go to deny coverage and institutions will go to gloss off reality. A memoir that also celebrates Paul Rosseau's journey of determination and perseverance as he rebuilt his life.
January 24, 2025
Definitely worth the read. Rousseau gives his shooting a personal perspective you will never forget.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews