What do you think?
Rate this book
Blue Stars: A Novel
Emily Gray Tedrowe has written an extraordinary novel about ordinary people, a graceful and gritty portrayal of what it's like for the women whose husbands and sons are deployed in Iraq. BLUE STARS brings to life the realities of the modern day home front: how to get through the daily challenges of motherhood and holding down a job while bearing the stress and uncertainty of war, when everything can change in an instant. It tells the story of Ellen, a Midwestern literature professor, who is drawn into the war when her legal ward Michael enlists as a Marine; and of Lacey, a proud Army wife who struggles to pay the bills and keep things going for her son while her husband is deployed. Ellen and Lacey cope with the fear and stress of a loved one at war while trying to get by in a society that often ignores or misunderstands what war means to women today. When Michael and Eddie are injured in Iraq, Ellen and Lacey's lives become intertwined in Walter Reed Army Hospital, where each woman must live while caring for her wounded soldier. They form an alliance, and an unlikely friendship, while helping each other survive the dislocated world of the army hospital. Whether that means fighting for proper care for their men, sharing a six-pack, or coping with irrevocable loss, Ellen and Lacey pool their strengths to make it through. In the end, both women are changed, not only by the war and its fallout, but by each other.
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2015
13 people are currently reading
1678 people want to read
About the author
Emily Gray Tedrowe
3 books231 followersEmily Gray Tedrowe is the Chicago-based author of the novels The Talented Miss Farwell, Blue Stars, and Commuters. She earned a PhD in English literature from New York University, and a BA from Princeton University. She has received an Illinois Arts Council award as well as fellowships from the Ragdale Foundation, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and the Sewanee Writers Conference. A frequent book reviewer for USA Today and other publications, Tedrowe also writes essays, interviews, and short stories.
Preorder The Talented Miss Farwell now
Find me on Instagram at egtedrowe, where I post pics of what I'm reading
Preorder The Talented Miss Farwell now
Find me on Instagram at egtedrowe, where I post pics of what I'm reading
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
February 23, 2015
Lately, there has been quite a few books published by those or about those who have served in the armed forces. This book is about those left behind, those who are often the ones to pick up the pieces or have to adjust to the reality of having to worry constantly, or having the one who comes out not the same one that left.
Ellen and Lacey were the unlikeliest two women to ever become friends. Ellen, a professor whose area of expertise is Edith Wharton, lives in the Midwest with her daughter, her sons, and a young man to which she is his guardian. Lacey, spent much of her life from high school on with a creep, the only good thing she had was her son Otto. Wanting a stable life for her and her son, she married Eddie, a career military man. But unusual situations makes strange bedfellows and the military will have big changes in line for these women, shared experiences that will create an strong bond.
Walter Reed, where our wounded soldiers are sent after combat injuries, proves to be a less than ideal place. Families are put up in places that are quite horrible, there are papers to fill out and papers to chase, requisitions and the constant fight and worry to get the money owed to them. Their lives are put on hold, their jobs at risk, their families apart and suffering.
Very eye opening, I really became immersed in these two woman's lives, there friendship, their hardships, the way they are treated and the circumstances in which they find themselves. How their lives are altered, living the hospital life for months a time and wondering what happens when they return to their former lives. This of course was modeled after the Walter Reed scandal in 2007, in which all these abuses and the horrible living conditions the outpatient soldiers and their families had to endure. Congressional testimony and some things changed but due to last years VA scandal much more needs to change.
Yes, I am sure the author put many of her own views into the writing of this but I think these things need to be told and recognized. Felt very emotional about this book by the end and I loved the characters and applaud the message.
ARC from NetGALLEY.
Ellen and Lacey were the unlikeliest two women to ever become friends. Ellen, a professor whose area of expertise is Edith Wharton, lives in the Midwest with her daughter, her sons, and a young man to which she is his guardian. Lacey, spent much of her life from high school on with a creep, the only good thing she had was her son Otto. Wanting a stable life for her and her son, she married Eddie, a career military man. But unusual situations makes strange bedfellows and the military will have big changes in line for these women, shared experiences that will create an strong bond.
Walter Reed, where our wounded soldiers are sent after combat injuries, proves to be a less than ideal place. Families are put up in places that are quite horrible, there are papers to fill out and papers to chase, requisitions and the constant fight and worry to get the money owed to them. Their lives are put on hold, their jobs at risk, their families apart and suffering.
Very eye opening, I really became immersed in these two woman's lives, there friendship, their hardships, the way they are treated and the circumstances in which they find themselves. How their lives are altered, living the hospital life for months a time and wondering what happens when they return to their former lives. This of course was modeled after the Walter Reed scandal in 2007, in which all these abuses and the horrible living conditions the outpatient soldiers and their families had to endure. Congressional testimony and some things changed but due to last years VA scandal much more needs to change.
Yes, I am sure the author put many of her own views into the writing of this but I think these things need to be told and recognized. Felt very emotional about this book by the end and I loved the characters and applaud the message.
ARC from NetGALLEY.
September 22, 2021
Read this one for our local library book club. It’s not one I would have picked up on my own, but it turned out to be quite an interesting book.
It’s the story of two families, each with a loved one deployed in Iraq, told through alternating chapters. In one case, it’s a very seasoned soldier, back for yet another tour of duty, and his gritty wife, trying to deal with her sense of longing and loneliness in her husband’s absence, close to other military wives and support groups. The other family is quite different, where a young man enlists right after graduation, and is immediately deployed after boot camp. His situation is unique, having left his deadbeat Mom and now living with his best friend’s family, to the point that his friend’s Mom assumes guardianship. She is frantic when she learns of his decision, and aside from support from a close friend, she’s left to deal with her emotions and anxiety on her own, hoping and praying that his tour will end quickly and he’ll be returned to them safe and sound. To make matters worse, her headstrong teenage daughter announces that she’s pregnant shortly after he’s gone.
At about halfway through the book, the stories converge when both soldiers are wounded in action. Both woman meet up at Walter Reed, and as unlikely as it would seem based on their personalities, they become friends in the face of their mutual adversity, and end up being a life saver for each other in ways they never would have imagined.
This really isn’t a story about the soldiers, although that’s certainly part of it, but more about the struggles and challenges of the women and families back home. It also gave insight into the poor living conditions for these families at Walter Reed, based on the real life situation there, which was quite a surprise to me.
One of the reasons I liked the book was that it made me pause and reflect on a number of things along the way. I realized that the last men I knew who were actively deployed were my Dad and uncles in WWII, who of course never talked about the war, and interestingly, neither did my Mom or aunts talk about what it was like back at home, hoping and praying for their husband’s safe returns. Luckily, they all made it back home, unhurt but surely changed. Not knowing anyone in my own generation or even the next in active duty, I never stopped to think too much about what modern warfare might be like, the emotions felt by the women back home, and how the government supports wounded soldiers and their families, especially when the soldier is the primary bread winner, but now is no longer able to function in that capacity. Who pays for their stay to be close to their husbands as they go through a prolonged and difficult recovery? What are the accommodations like? How does the rent get paid back home, or where does money come from for food? Really a lot to think about…
It’s the story of two families, each with a loved one deployed in Iraq, told through alternating chapters. In one case, it’s a very seasoned soldier, back for yet another tour of duty, and his gritty wife, trying to deal with her sense of longing and loneliness in her husband’s absence, close to other military wives and support groups. The other family is quite different, where a young man enlists right after graduation, and is immediately deployed after boot camp. His situation is unique, having left his deadbeat Mom and now living with his best friend’s family, to the point that his friend’s Mom assumes guardianship. She is frantic when she learns of his decision, and aside from support from a close friend, she’s left to deal with her emotions and anxiety on her own, hoping and praying that his tour will end quickly and he’ll be returned to them safe and sound. To make matters worse, her headstrong teenage daughter announces that she’s pregnant shortly after he’s gone.
At about halfway through the book, the stories converge when both soldiers are wounded in action. Both woman meet up at Walter Reed, and as unlikely as it would seem based on their personalities, they become friends in the face of their mutual adversity, and end up being a life saver for each other in ways they never would have imagined.
This really isn’t a story about the soldiers, although that’s certainly part of it, but more about the struggles and challenges of the women and families back home. It also gave insight into the poor living conditions for these families at Walter Reed, based on the real life situation there, which was quite a surprise to me.
One of the reasons I liked the book was that it made me pause and reflect on a number of things along the way. I realized that the last men I knew who were actively deployed were my Dad and uncles in WWII, who of course never talked about the war, and interestingly, neither did my Mom or aunts talk about what it was like back at home, hoping and praying for their husband’s safe returns. Luckily, they all made it back home, unhurt but surely changed. Not knowing anyone in my own generation or even the next in active duty, I never stopped to think too much about what modern warfare might be like, the emotions felt by the women back home, and how the government supports wounded soldiers and their families, especially when the soldier is the primary bread winner, but now is no longer able to function in that capacity. Who pays for their stay to be close to their husbands as they go through a prolonged and difficult recovery? What are the accommodations like? How does the rent get paid back home, or where does money come from for food? Really a lot to think about…
March 1, 2015
Inspired in part by the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center scandal that exposed a shocking litany of bureaucratic neglect in the care and housing of injured returned soldiers and their families in 2007, Blue Stars, by Emily Gray Tedrowe, is a story about the realities of the modern day home front for two women.
Ellen is a Midwestern literature professor, who is drawn into the war when her legal ward, Michael, enlists as a Marine. She struggles to reconcile her objections, and her fears for Michael's safety, with her desire to support him.
Lacey is a loyal 'Army Wife', enormously proud that her husband, Eddie, serves his country, but she struggles with the realities of marriage to a career Army man, money is tight and she is often lonely.
Though a little slow to start, as Tedrowe establishes the personal histories and circumstances of her lead characters, I quickly found myself absorbed in the lives of Ellen and Lacey. The two women are very different, representing almost opposite lifestyles and viewpoints, who cope with their loved one's deployment in contrasting ways.
The two women don't meet until Michael and Eddie, in separate incidents, are badly injured in Iraq and housed at the Walter Reed. As their loved ones battle to recover from their injuries, Ellen and Lacey forge a friendship as they struggle to cope with the responsibilities, stresses, uncertainties and unending bureaucracy of their situation.
A frank and affecting portrayal of the challenges faced by the families of serving soldiers, and the shame of the Walter Reed Hospital scandal, Blue Stars is a moving and thought-provoking novel.
April 16, 2014
A strikingly nuanced portrait of military family life, Blue Stars examines the battles women face when reunited with their soldiers. Emily Tedrowe opens up a world of spouse support groups and 'mandatory fun,' acronyms and hierarchies, maxed-out credit cards and hospital waiting rooms, relationships that last the long separations and those that don’t. Her characters are gutsy, flawed, and incredibly real. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when wounded service members return, you must read this book.
February 5, 2015
Key characters...
I believe that the key characters are Ellen and Lacey...each are surrounded by a unique tangle of family and friends that are also an integral part of this book.
Settings...
The settings vary and only make this book more interesting. We are in various homes and places of work as well as bars and hotels and veterans hospitals. The war in Iraq and its desert conditions are always present in this book.
Simply put...what's going down...
This book is a story of the families of the men who go to war and what happens to the families that are left behind. Ellen is a professor and Mike is her "ward"...finances are not as much of a concern for her as they are for Lacey...wife of Eddie. Lacey struggles with finances on a daily basis. This book is also about what happens to everyone when these men are injured. Battles with hospital staff, conditions, resources, emotions...everything is a battle...or so it seems.
What I thought about this book...
I found myself caught up in Ellen and Lacey's lives...they were so different. Ellen used friends and books and letters to help with her struggle. Lacey used bars, drinks and sex. They seemed so different but really were alike in many ways and were there for each other during a stress filled time.
Why you might want to read it, too...
I am not sure that I loved this book but it was a book that I was glad I read. Readers who have a yen for learning about life out of their comfort zone...might enjoy the experiences of these characters. Parts of this book are loosely based on a housing scandal at Walter Reed Hospital in 2007.
May 5, 2015
When I first picked up Blue Stars, I didn’t really know what to expect. I’ve read a lot of novels set during historical wars, but I don’t recall reading one set during modern warfare, so I have nothing to make a direct comparison to, but the themes are so similar no matter what the time period that I was instantly drawn into the story.
Told in alternating perspectives of the two main characters, Ellen and Lacey, I found myself equally invested in both of their stories, even though as characters they have nothing in common with each other, and I have nothing in common with either of them. Ellen is a successful professor, widowed and mother to two children and guardian to a third, whereas Lacey is one of life’s battlers – a former single mother who married Eddie not so much for love as for security and a sense of belonging. One is very social, the other very introverted, one cool and collected, and the other brash and outspoken, and it was this juxtaposition of two very different characters that I enjoyed the most.
Blue Stars is not particularly plot driven – although there is some discussion about the war in Iraq and of course the journeys that Lacey’s husband and Ellen’s son go through after their injuries, it’s very much a character driven novel. It’s obvious right from the beginning of the novel, where Tedrowe spends a lot of time looking into the intimate family details of Ellen’s family, and then switching to Lacey as she struggles to find her fit in her own life.
There is a lot of time spent on family relationships, but the biggest focus of the book, and the part that I enjoyed the most, was the development of the friendship between Ellen and Lacey. Although they have nothing in common up until the point where they first meet at Walter Reed Army Hospital, their situations draw them together – and their friendship forms as more from necessity and mutual respect for the way each other lives their lives, rather than a personality click. It’s an interesting perspective in a novel, and felt incredibly realistic – they need each other to survive a difficult period, but without the pull of a personality match, the friendship develops differently.
As well as focusing on the characters, Tedrowe also creates some pretty damning, albeit fictional, evidence of how injured armed forces servicemen, and even more so, their families, when they are sent back from the war. From the confusing jargon and multiple social agencies, to the standard of housing and the separation from the rest of their families, although I don’t have enough knowledge to say whether it is realistic or not, I could feel Tedrowe’s passion on the subject throughout her novel.
With multiple themes and layers, very carefully and realistically drawn characters, non-traditional relationships and some very difficult decisions, Blue Stars is an excellent contemporary novel that is both character driven and eye-opening, and if it sounds interesting to you, definitely check it out.
Told in alternating perspectives of the two main characters, Ellen and Lacey, I found myself equally invested in both of their stories, even though as characters they have nothing in common with each other, and I have nothing in common with either of them. Ellen is a successful professor, widowed and mother to two children and guardian to a third, whereas Lacey is one of life’s battlers – a former single mother who married Eddie not so much for love as for security and a sense of belonging. One is very social, the other very introverted, one cool and collected, and the other brash and outspoken, and it was this juxtaposition of two very different characters that I enjoyed the most.
Blue Stars is not particularly plot driven – although there is some discussion about the war in Iraq and of course the journeys that Lacey’s husband and Ellen’s son go through after their injuries, it’s very much a character driven novel. It’s obvious right from the beginning of the novel, where Tedrowe spends a lot of time looking into the intimate family details of Ellen’s family, and then switching to Lacey as she struggles to find her fit in her own life.
There is a lot of time spent on family relationships, but the biggest focus of the book, and the part that I enjoyed the most, was the development of the friendship between Ellen and Lacey. Although they have nothing in common up until the point where they first meet at Walter Reed Army Hospital, their situations draw them together – and their friendship forms as more from necessity and mutual respect for the way each other lives their lives, rather than a personality click. It’s an interesting perspective in a novel, and felt incredibly realistic – they need each other to survive a difficult period, but without the pull of a personality match, the friendship develops differently.
As well as focusing on the characters, Tedrowe also creates some pretty damning, albeit fictional, evidence of how injured armed forces servicemen, and even more so, their families, when they are sent back from the war. From the confusing jargon and multiple social agencies, to the standard of housing and the separation from the rest of their families, although I don’t have enough knowledge to say whether it is realistic or not, I could feel Tedrowe’s passion on the subject throughout her novel.
With multiple themes and layers, very carefully and realistically drawn characters, non-traditional relationships and some very difficult decisions, Blue Stars is an excellent contemporary novel that is both character driven and eye-opening, and if it sounds interesting to you, definitely check it out.
December 17, 2014
I was lucky enough to get a copy of this lovely novel from BookBrowse as a part of their First Impressions program. It was a wonderful read. For the past six years I worked as a therapist with National Guard military members and their families and watched as the soldiers were deployed, some for the second, third or fourth times. I waited with the families, providing support to them as they lived each day hoping their loved one would return safely. During that time I also supervised newly graduated therapists as they began their careers and kept a list of books about working with military families that I suggested they read. This book will be at the top of that list.
Tedrowe has written a book that touches on the greatest fears of anyone who loves a military member and she did it with compassion and skill. The characters ring true, the situations they find themselves in are (sadly) very real and the emotional roller coaster the women find themselves on exists for all those who have a loved one in the military. I have sat with mothers and fathers of military members who feel forgotten as the spotlight most often falls on spouses. I have seen FRG members be as judgmental as some of the wives in the book; I have heard soldiers and families both talk about the bureaucratic mess of the VA. This is a book that needs to be read by anyone who wants to understand what our military families go through every day, even now. Thank you, Emily Gray Tedrowe, for writing this touching, realistic and much needed novel.
Tedrowe has written a book that touches on the greatest fears of anyone who loves a military member and she did it with compassion and skill. The characters ring true, the situations they find themselves in are (sadly) very real and the emotional roller coaster the women find themselves on exists for all those who have a loved one in the military. I have sat with mothers and fathers of military members who feel forgotten as the spotlight most often falls on spouses. I have seen FRG members be as judgmental as some of the wives in the book; I have heard soldiers and families both talk about the bureaucratic mess of the VA. This is a book that needs to be read by anyone who wants to understand what our military families go through every day, even now. Thank you, Emily Gray Tedrowe, for writing this touching, realistic and much needed novel.
February 17, 2015
I put this book down when I was about a quarter through it. I was just having a hard time getting into. I picked it back up a few days later and I'm glad I did. The story gives you a very incite full look into what was going on with our Wounded Warriors and the bureaucratic red tape that becomes their life, if they make it.
The story also tells of a mother whose guardian (she adopted him at the age of 17) signs up for awe much to her chagrin as one subplot. The other being a woman who has recently married an Army lifer who was on yet another deployment. The women coming from two different walks of life and different parts of the country who meet and become friends in the SICU of Walter Reed Hospital. It came together as a very good story and was enlightening, sad, and entertaining.
The fact that these women are there hoping their respective family member makes it through their traumas and then the deplorable conditions that they had to put up with. It was disgusting. I hadn't heard of this scandal and while I know this is fiction, I don't think the author made up the living conditions.
I would highly recommend this book for entertainment as well as education into the way this country takes care if the people who chose to fight for it.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
The story also tells of a mother whose guardian (she adopted him at the age of 17) signs up for awe much to her chagrin as one subplot. The other being a woman who has recently married an Army lifer who was on yet another deployment. The women coming from two different walks of life and different parts of the country who meet and become friends in the SICU of Walter Reed Hospital. It came together as a very good story and was enlightening, sad, and entertaining.
The fact that these women are there hoping their respective family member makes it through their traumas and then the deplorable conditions that they had to put up with. It was disgusting. I hadn't heard of this scandal and while I know this is fiction, I don't think the author made up the living conditions.
I would highly recommend this book for entertainment as well as education into the way this country takes care if the people who chose to fight for it.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2015
There have been several fine books written about the current wars, each with its own focus. Inspired by a Washington Post Pulitzer winning articles by Dana Priest and Anne Hull, Emily Tedrowe has crafted a beautifully realized novel concerning the Walter Reed scandal of 2007. The central two characters are two women experiencing the trauma of having the men in their lives facing trauma followed by outpatient treatment at Walter Reed. Jumping off the page with authenticity, these two characters represent thousands of women finding themselves out of their depth. This is war collateral at its most basic. The outpatient system at the Hospital at that time consisted of more than four times the inpatient population, and their families were housed in deplorable conditions, and the care they received could at best be called inconsistent. Tedrowe puts a very tight focus on this story, bringing to the forefront a story familiar from the headlines, rendering it accessible and humane.
February 12, 2015
As a regular reader of war/military fiction, I was curious to see how Tedrowe would tackle the subject. Her focus on the families left behind was something I hadn't seen much before, and she handled it beautifully. I especially related to Ellen, whose not-quite son joins the Marines and later gets wounded; her inability to understand her own feelings and to allow herself to even have feelings about his enlistment and then injury was fascinating and familiar. I was impressed by the amount of research that went into this book, and how honest and real the stories felt. I thought the ending was tied up too nicely and felt a little unrealistic, but it wasn't enough to affect the overall impact the book had. I would definitely recommend this book.
January 2, 2015
I absolutely adored this book. I love military stories that deal with the home front. The family is often overlooked when they talk of stress of war. Dealing with family, bills, jobs and school are difficult for any married couple but when one is in combat and the other is left to deal with their life at home, anything can happen. This book has a woman for every age group. Lacey with a young son is the middle generation, Ellen whose son(legal ward)Mike, joins the marines and Jane who is having Mike's baby. Much of the story takes place in Walter Reed hospital and follows the history of the bad conditions and the eventual closure of that facility. It's not always smooth sailing but these women navigate the unknown with the help of friends and family and each other.
January 13, 2016
I gave this book 3 stars because in my opinion, this book didn't get interesting until part 2,(page 155-thats a lot of reading to get to the good parts) when the men came back from Iraq with their injuries. it really is just ordinary lives of the people in military life. I also felt the two women were so night and day, not sure what to think but so stereotypical in their descriptions and life! The bureaucratic stuff at the military hospital seemed very real and unjust!
February 1, 2016
2.5 stars, really wanted to like this book but had a hard time getting into it.
January 3, 2018
I have no idea how this ended up on my to-read, but I live in Madison WI and I think someone must have recommended it as a "local" read. I wish they had not.
I had to literally force myself to sit down and read this book. It held absolutely no interest for me; the characters were so stereotyped and not a single interaction rang true for me. The epilogue was the best part; Tedrowe explains a bit about the Walter Reed scandal from 2007. Certainly, war is awful (and I am firmly on the side of my city political leanings when it comes to Iraq) and yet I do understand the difficulty with balancing the idea of supporting the TROOPS without supporting the WAR. And yes, it is even worse to think of the destruction of these families and the horrible conditions in which they live while in limbo over their soldier's recovery. This would be a good topic and had potential to be a decent book if only Tedrowe had the ability to write deep and thoughtful characters.
To add insult to injury, I was annoyed by the Madison place references as several of them were wrong (or clearly taken from google map street views and not by anyone who actually inhabits this city). Overall it was boring, fraught, and just hard to struggle through. Not worth the time.
I had to literally force myself to sit down and read this book. It held absolutely no interest for me; the characters were so stereotyped and not a single interaction rang true for me. The epilogue was the best part; Tedrowe explains a bit about the Walter Reed scandal from 2007. Certainly, war is awful (and I am firmly on the side of my city political leanings when it comes to Iraq) and yet I do understand the difficulty with balancing the idea of supporting the TROOPS without supporting the WAR. And yes, it is even worse to think of the destruction of these families and the horrible conditions in which they live while in limbo over their soldier's recovery. This would be a good topic and had potential to be a decent book if only Tedrowe had the ability to write deep and thoughtful characters.
To add insult to injury, I was annoyed by the Madison place references as several of them were wrong (or clearly taken from google map street views and not by anyone who actually inhabits this city). Overall it was boring, fraught, and just hard to struggle through. Not worth the time.
May 2, 2015
I almost put down this book after fifty pages. It was difficult for me to get into, I didn’t understand where it was going, and I wasn’t connecting with the characters. Had I done so, I would have made a huge mistake because Blue Stars is a truly great book and, although it didn’t have that punch at the beginning, the rest of the novel more than made up for the rocky start.
This is a difficult one for me to review because I found the reading experience very difficult emotionally. What Ellen and Lacey experience in Blue Stars is something that sadly many American families go through on a daily basis – the care and rehabilitation of a family member injured at war. There were many times throughout this novel that I had to pause, calm myself down, and steel myself to finish the chapter – not because I wasn’t enjoying it, but because my emotions were just so affected by the story Tedrowe wrote (a story that is fiction but could absolutely be true, and I am sure many families would say IS very close to the truth of their daily lives).
That being said, I think Tedrowe was extremely successful in what I assume she was trying to do – showcase the plight of the families in this situation. Lacey lost her job, her sanity, and contact with most of her family and friends during the time she spent at the military hospital with her husband. And the conditions of this hospital (which have been documented in many news stories, you can Google Walter Reed to find out more) were beyond deplorable. She went from a very comfortable and mostly peaceful life to living in squalor, married to a man she could no longer recognize, with no idea how to pay for her next meal, much less the bills that were piling up back at home. Oh, and she quickly spiraled into alcoholism while all of this was going on. To put it mildly, she broke my heart. I cannot imagine how unbearable this life is for those who experience it in the real world. So, so hard.
I connected with Ellen much less than I did with Lacey, but that’s not to say her story is any less important or impactful than Lacey’s – it’s just different. What I loved about the two of them is how they were able to rely on one another in this incredibly stressful and overwhelming situation – when all else failed, they had each other. Their friendship was a beautiful story in itself and a joy to read about.
I wish I could tell you a lot more about this book but honestly, just read it. It really did have a huge impact on me emotionally and I had to take some time after finishing it before picking up my next read. Highly recommended.
This is a difficult one for me to review because I found the reading experience very difficult emotionally. What Ellen and Lacey experience in Blue Stars is something that sadly many American families go through on a daily basis – the care and rehabilitation of a family member injured at war. There were many times throughout this novel that I had to pause, calm myself down, and steel myself to finish the chapter – not because I wasn’t enjoying it, but because my emotions were just so affected by the story Tedrowe wrote (a story that is fiction but could absolutely be true, and I am sure many families would say IS very close to the truth of their daily lives).
That being said, I think Tedrowe was extremely successful in what I assume she was trying to do – showcase the plight of the families in this situation. Lacey lost her job, her sanity, and contact with most of her family and friends during the time she spent at the military hospital with her husband. And the conditions of this hospital (which have been documented in many news stories, you can Google Walter Reed to find out more) were beyond deplorable. She went from a very comfortable and mostly peaceful life to living in squalor, married to a man she could no longer recognize, with no idea how to pay for her next meal, much less the bills that were piling up back at home. Oh, and she quickly spiraled into alcoholism while all of this was going on. To put it mildly, she broke my heart. I cannot imagine how unbearable this life is for those who experience it in the real world. So, so hard.
I connected with Ellen much less than I did with Lacey, but that’s not to say her story is any less important or impactful than Lacey’s – it’s just different. What I loved about the two of them is how they were able to rely on one another in this incredibly stressful and overwhelming situation – when all else failed, they had each other. Their friendship was a beautiful story in itself and a joy to read about.
I wish I could tell you a lot more about this book but honestly, just read it. It really did have a huge impact on me emotionally and I had to take some time after finishing it before picking up my next read. Highly recommended.
April 10, 2015
Book group fiction at its best, BLUE STARS explores the bonds of family and the limits of fidelity, to tell the story of life on the home front in the twenty-first century.
Emily Gray Tedrowe has written an extraordinary novel about ordinary people, a graceful and gritty portrayal of what it’s like for the women whose husbands and sons are deployed in Iraq.
BLUE STARS brings to life the realities of the modern day home front: how to get through the daily challenges of motherhood and holding down a job while bearing the stress and uncertainty of war, when everything can change in an instant. It tells the story of Ellen, a Midwestern literature professor, who is drawn into the war when her legal ward Michael enlists as a Marine; and of Lacey, a proud Army wife who struggles to pay the bills and keep things going for her son while her husband is deployed. Ellen and Lacey cope with the fear and stress of a loved one at war while trying to get by in a society that often ignores or misunderstands what war means to women today. When Michael and Eddie are injured in Iraq, Ellen and Lacey’s lives become intertwined in Walter Reed Army Hospital, where each woman must live while caring for her wounded soldier. They form an alliance, and an unlikely friendship, while helping each other survive the dislocated world of the army hospital. Whether that means fighting for proper care for their men, sharing a six-pack, or coping with irrevocable loss, Ellen and Lacey pool their strengths to make it through. In the end, both women are changed, not only by the war and its fallout, but by each other.
--My thoughts. Beautifully written. Made me cry a bit, since I have a daughter in the NAVY I can relate a bit. I can only imagine the way our service members are treated. And I don't think they can ever come back the same way they were when they left. So what is ever going to change? Tedrowe did a fabulous job with this book. I recommend this book, but it might be hard for some to read. Each person in this book struggling in their own way, each reader will struggle, but Tedrowe helps you along.
I loved this book, I look forward to more like this. This is not a beach read, it will push you as a reader and make you think, and will stay with you long after it is over.
Emily Gray Tedrowe has written an extraordinary novel about ordinary people, a graceful and gritty portrayal of what it’s like for the women whose husbands and sons are deployed in Iraq.
BLUE STARS brings to life the realities of the modern day home front: how to get through the daily challenges of motherhood and holding down a job while bearing the stress and uncertainty of war, when everything can change in an instant. It tells the story of Ellen, a Midwestern literature professor, who is drawn into the war when her legal ward Michael enlists as a Marine; and of Lacey, a proud Army wife who struggles to pay the bills and keep things going for her son while her husband is deployed. Ellen and Lacey cope with the fear and stress of a loved one at war while trying to get by in a society that often ignores or misunderstands what war means to women today. When Michael and Eddie are injured in Iraq, Ellen and Lacey’s lives become intertwined in Walter Reed Army Hospital, where each woman must live while caring for her wounded soldier. They form an alliance, and an unlikely friendship, while helping each other survive the dislocated world of the army hospital. Whether that means fighting for proper care for their men, sharing a six-pack, or coping with irrevocable loss, Ellen and Lacey pool their strengths to make it through. In the end, both women are changed, not only by the war and its fallout, but by each other.
--My thoughts. Beautifully written. Made me cry a bit, since I have a daughter in the NAVY I can relate a bit. I can only imagine the way our service members are treated. And I don't think they can ever come back the same way they were when they left. So what is ever going to change? Tedrowe did a fabulous job with this book. I recommend this book, but it might be hard for some to read. Each person in this book struggling in their own way, each reader will struggle, but Tedrowe helps you along.
I loved this book, I look forward to more like this. This is not a beach read, it will push you as a reader and make you think, and will stay with you long after it is over.
March 11, 2015
I liked the concept of this book. As a military wife, I understand what it's like to say goodbye to a husband when they deploy.
However. You could tell the author wasn't a fan of President Bush. It's set in 2005, so it's during the Iraq war, and quips are made about the oil and other nonsense. Maybe it wasn't the author. Maybe it was just how she wanted Ellen, one of the characters, to be like. Ellen, after all, doesn't understand the military. She's shocked when the boy she has taken into her family, Mike, enlists. I liked Ellen. I understand why she was afraid. But she's anti-war, so she is not pleased to hear Mike's news. Personally, I'd be afraid but PROUD of my kid for wanting to protect his country. But yes, mainly afraid.
Then there's Lacey, a military wife. But Lacey is horrible. She cheats on her husband Eddie and seems to think it's okay. She claims it's because Eddie is this horrible person. I could not warm up to Lacey at all. She also whines about being poor all the time, and this is confusing, because when husbands deploy they get MORE money. So I didn't comprehend why she had no money.
Eddie and Mike both have accidents while in Iraq. They are flown to the Walter Reed hospital to recover. This is where Ellen and Lacey meet. They bond. But Lacey is still this miserable person. She even calls Jim, the man she's cheating on Eddie with, while WITH her husband. I was like "WTF?"
So no, I did not like Lacey. I wasn't a fan on how the book ended either.
This book was well written, which is why I gave it 4 stars even if I wasn't a fan of Lacey. As I said before, the concept was interesting, and I think military wives would enjoy it. Yes, you might eye roll a few times at some of the lines, but it's okay. The book also made me worry a bit for my own husband, who is currently deployed. No one EVER wants to get that awful phone call that something happened to your spouse or loved one. I would recommend it, and hey, maybe you'll like Lacey. Maybe I'm just picky.
However. You could tell the author wasn't a fan of President Bush. It's set in 2005, so it's during the Iraq war, and quips are made about the oil and other nonsense. Maybe it wasn't the author. Maybe it was just how she wanted Ellen, one of the characters, to be like. Ellen, after all, doesn't understand the military. She's shocked when the boy she has taken into her family, Mike, enlists. I liked Ellen. I understand why she was afraid. But she's anti-war, so she is not pleased to hear Mike's news. Personally, I'd be afraid but PROUD of my kid for wanting to protect his country. But yes, mainly afraid.
Then there's Lacey, a military wife. But Lacey is horrible. She cheats on her husband Eddie and seems to think it's okay. She claims it's because Eddie is this horrible person. I could not warm up to Lacey at all. She also whines about being poor all the time, and this is confusing, because when husbands deploy they get MORE money. So I didn't comprehend why she had no money.
Eddie and Mike both have accidents while in Iraq. They are flown to the Walter Reed hospital to recover. This is where Ellen and Lacey meet. They bond. But Lacey is still this miserable person. She even calls Jim, the man she's cheating on Eddie with, while WITH her husband. I was like "WTF?"
So no, I did not like Lacey. I wasn't a fan on how the book ended either.
This book was well written, which is why I gave it 4 stars even if I wasn't a fan of Lacey. As I said before, the concept was interesting, and I think military wives would enjoy it. Yes, you might eye roll a few times at some of the lines, but it's okay. The book also made me worry a bit for my own husband, who is currently deployed. No one EVER wants to get that awful phone call that something happened to your spouse or loved one. I would recommend it, and hey, maybe you'll like Lacey. Maybe I'm just picky.
March 19, 2015
In “Blue Stars,” two families are brought together at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as a direct result of the catastrophic injuries suffered by their loved ones in the Iraq war. The narrative is personal, gritty, haunting; the price of conflict is much too high. Theirs is a powerful story that focuses on the interactions between the soldiers and their families, on the realities of life when soldiers are deployed, on the struggle through unimagined bureaucratic nightmares to obtain the necessary medical care.
The two women at the center of the story, college professor Ellen Silverman and gym trainer Lacey Diaz, seem rather self-absorbed and not particularly likeable although the tenacity they exhibit when advocating for their injured loved ones is admirable. On one level, they represent the mothers and wives of the deployed; on another, they seem more like caricatures, drawn to represent differences in education and political viewpoints. The inclusion of a storyline about the unacceptable conditions that existed at Walter Reed seems to serve no purpose other than to provide a platform for unnecessary political comment and detracts from a strong and focused narrative.
The story loses its power and muddles it voice when the political agendas intrude. It is at its best when it remains focused on the commitment and courage of those represented by the profusion of blue stars still hanging in front windows all across our country.
The two women at the center of the story, college professor Ellen Silverman and gym trainer Lacey Diaz, seem rather self-absorbed and not particularly likeable although the tenacity they exhibit when advocating for their injured loved ones is admirable. On one level, they represent the mothers and wives of the deployed; on another, they seem more like caricatures, drawn to represent differences in education and political viewpoints. The inclusion of a storyline about the unacceptable conditions that existed at Walter Reed seems to serve no purpose other than to provide a platform for unnecessary political comment and detracts from a strong and focused narrative.
The story loses its power and muddles it voice when the political agendas intrude. It is at its best when it remains focused on the commitment and courage of those represented by the profusion of blue stars still hanging in front windows all across our country.
August 24, 2015
A moving story about war, initially told from both sides of the political spectrum, about how people react when our men are deployed in war zones. But when 2 men are injured, Lacey and Ellen, two women with virtually nothing in common bond over the red tape, never ending dilemmas, and terrible conditions that the United States puts our wounded veterans in after coming home from war. Loosely based on a Pulitzer Prize winning investigative story by the New York Times on the terrible housing conditions at Walter Reed Hospital. Definitely a 5 star read for me because I personally have seen young vets come home from war with so many psychological issues that they turn to violence, alcohol, or drugs because our government isn't taking care of these young men's needs reintegrating into a non- military society. Great read for a look into how things work at Walter Reed. It makes me pray I never have a loved one in need of their care. 5 stars!
November 5, 2014
I couldn't put it down! This is a beautifully written novel about two women coping with having a relative serving in the Iraq war when most of the country has no interest in the war overseas. One woman is a college professor whose ward has joined the Marines and the other is an Army reservist's wife. Their backgrounds are very different but their lives converge when both their soldiers are wounded and share a room at Walter Reed hospital. Tedrowe's characters are so well drawn that you can't stop thinking about them when the book ends. This novel has many layers and nuances. Some of my favorite scenes involve the college professor's relationship with her daughter and the politics of the university where she teaches. Blue Stars will be published in February. I recommend it highly! Have a box of tissues on hand when you read it. It made me laugh and cry.
February 18, 2015
Received this copy from Goodreads First Reads
This book was really, really sweet.
Something that hooked me immediately was the believability of the characters. Some of them were so freakin' annoying, I wanted to reach into the pages and strangle them, which told me that I was into it ^^
I like it whenever a character in a book makes me angry, because that means the author is doing their job.
There were a lot of depressing moments in this book, and the subject matter is very mature and shouldn't be taken lightly. I was somewhat surprised by how in-depth this book went into the lives of these families, and it was enlightening.
I've never read a military-esque book before, so this was new for me. I enjoyed it very much.
This book was really, really sweet.
Something that hooked me immediately was the believability of the characters. Some of them were so freakin' annoying, I wanted to reach into the pages and strangle them, which told me that I was into it ^^
I like it whenever a character in a book makes me angry, because that means the author is doing their job.
There were a lot of depressing moments in this book, and the subject matter is very mature and shouldn't be taken lightly. I was somewhat surprised by how in-depth this book went into the lives of these families, and it was enlightening.
I've never read a military-esque book before, so this was new for me. I enjoyed it very much.
June 25, 2015
Overall I liked the book, which tells the story of two families whose paths cross while their soldiers are recovering at Walter Reed. There were some details that could've been fact-checked, though (it would've been easy for the author to determine that Yo Gabba Gabba didn't come on the air until 2 years AFTER this book was set!), as well as some details related to the ages and experiences of Ellen's kids that I didn't think lined up. At points I let those things bother me more than I should have since I realize this is fiction. I did like it, though, and I thought she wrote Lacey's character especially well. It was easy to relate to her and her struggles while her husband was serving overseas, injured, and going through his recovery process.
January 1, 2015
A very well-written book about life for the women of soldiers who are injured in the war in Iraq. Set in 2006-7, and mainly at Walter Reed Hospital during the time the appalling conditions there were just beginning to reach the rest of us, it is the story of Eileen - 50ish, a college professor, and Lacey, a 30ish personal trainer and the friendship that is forged as they both struggle with the injuries their soldiers have sustained. More than that, it is the story of the stresses that families of injured soldiers go through; and how literature matters - you'll have to read it to see why I say that! This would be a great book club selection.
January 21, 2015
I received this book as a Goodreads first read. This is a well written story of the stress military life puts on the families of our service members. It follows two women, and their unlikely friendship, as they struggle to cope with conditions at Walter Reed where their injured loved ones are recovering. The book details the bureaucratic nightmares, the mental anguish, the physical conditions families deal with. This book makes an important statement and is definitely worth the read.
February 25, 2015
This is a great engaging book. You are split between two stories - Ellen and Lacey - as they both deal with having loved ones on active duty in Irag. The idea of love and friendship - both lost and found - is strongly explored and the two main characters are well written.
February 11, 2015
I received a free copy of this book from the GoodReads First Reads giveaways in exchange for an honest review. Very insightful book about military family life, a great read.
March 13, 2015
This gives a good perspective of the terrible injuries soldiers have suffered in recent years. I did really not enjoy reading the exploits of the wives!
July 7, 2015
This is an excellent read about the war in Iraq, the people left behind and the aftermath following.
November 28, 2016
good writing.
July 31, 2016
A compelling, clear-eyed depiction of the ambiguities of modern warfare, both for soldiers and their families. This book was filled with sharply-drawn characters, portrayed in all their glorious and shameful complexities. The two main characters, women from seemingly opposite ends of every spectrum imaginable, learn that no amount of culture and psychological self-fabrications can shield them and their loved ones from the random brutalities of war.
Ellen Silverman cocoons herself in a world of organic food, beautiful clothes, elite education, NPR, and literature. She prides herself on being logical, organized, and always making the "best" choices for herself and her family, a family that she thinks includes her ward, Michael. So when he forgoes the "right" future and enlists in the Marines to fight in a war Ellen deeply opposes (although it is only her daughter Jane who is brave enough to speak out publicly against it), the unraveling process begins. Ellen lulls herself into thinking that if she writes letters to Michael, drawing on the salvation of literature, she can protect him and bring him home safely. Meanwhile, her daughter makes further forays into radical idealism, declaring herself opposed to just about everything her mother believes in.
On the other side of the country, Lacy has worked her way out of the bad choices she made as a young woman, only to realize that she's made more of them now. Without anything to fall back on except her street smarts and her looks, she tries to do the best she can supporting her husband Eddie while keeping her son from a first marriage on the right track and out of the predicaments she herself fell into at his age.
When Eddie and Michael are both severely wounded and end up at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC, it is only natural that Ellen and Lacy come to support them. But neither of these women is prepared for the changes in their military men, nor are they aware of how much the experience of the aftereffects of war will shape the direction of their future.
Ellen tries to control, manage, and keep track of everything, even as it dawns on her that she knows almost nothing about the situation she's gotten into. So the tables are turned now, with Lacy acting as the informed guide through the labyrinth of military medical care.
The author perfectly captures the insane limbo of caring for a critically ill family member, the feelings of powerlessness coupled with the almost unbearable desire to do something, anything, all the time, the sense that, if one's vigilance and attention wavers even for a fraction of a second, the unthinkable will happen. The strange knowledge that someone could die at any moment is wed to the paralyzing fear of that and mixed in underneath is the wild hope that they won't. The inanity of paperwork and bureaucracy that modern medicine and insurance has wrapped around life and death ... Ellen and Lacy have plenty of time for self-examination in the wards where they spend so many hours keeping watch, and the author once again reveals herself to be a humane and totally honest observer of doubt, despair, guilt, rage, confusion, and, coursing under all of these like a thrumming universal pulse, love.
I have experienced those gut-wrenching cross-country flights to reach the bedside of someone who is dying, and I have also been in the room when families have dissolved into fighting so entrenched that none of the combatants are even aware they are simply going around and around predetermined cages, hurling whatever weapon is at hand, oblivious of everything except providing the maximum amount of pain to their enemy while preserving whatever shred of self-worth they've managed to cling to.
Even without the resonance of recognition to propel me through these pages, this book has important things to say to so many people in today's world where we think we can pass the job of defending a nation on to those who often see the military as their one last chance, then ignore or overlook these people when they come home from war with no usable skills to transition back into civilian life. The half-hearted public displays of support--bumper stickers, boxes of stuffed animals or candy--are poor substitutes for a concerted effort to understand and show compassion for the men and women who return to us utterly changed by their experiences. Veterans often say civilians can never know what their service experiences are like. This is true. They often don't want to discuss them with outsiders, also understandable
Ellen Silverman and Lacy Diaz show they can do what is right and honorable, even with their ambivalence, setting aside judgment in order to make connections, leaving their opinions unspoken long enough to stand up for the men who they love in situations when those men couldn't do it for themselves. The two women show how imperfect people continue to make choices based on the information they have at the time, even if in the next moment they realize these choices are entirely wrong.
Perhaps the best thing about this book is how unassuming it is. The author writes smoothly and gracefully, with perfect diction for every character in her wide-ranging cast. I only realized how skillfully she was doing this about halfway through, when it became increasingly difficult to put the book down and the characters and their inner lives had inserted themselves into my own thoughts. I found myself reflecting on how I might respond in the same situations, remembering how I had acted in the past when challenged by similar events. It was a deeply personal experience to read this book, not altogether pleasant as I realized some of my own past failings. It was a hopeful one, though, as I realized, as the characters do, that life is a series of continuous opportunities. Whether I plan for them or not, they will keep presenting themselves to me, and I will always have the chance to make a choice.
This book focuses on two women, but it has something crucial to say to men, to teens, to older adults. It's not often that I come across a book I feel I can recommend to just about anyone. This novel is one of those rare gems, and I can only thank the author for writing it. I salute her bravery for allowing the characters to be truly themselves. I didn't always like them, but I never once doubted their authenticity and the author's integrity in capturing it on the page. It was a performance that moved step by step, carefully laying foundations and gathering force until there was no escaping the end result: an exceptional book telling a vital story.
Ellen Silverman cocoons herself in a world of organic food, beautiful clothes, elite education, NPR, and literature. She prides herself on being logical, organized, and always making the "best" choices for herself and her family, a family that she thinks includes her ward, Michael. So when he forgoes the "right" future and enlists in the Marines to fight in a war Ellen deeply opposes (although it is only her daughter Jane who is brave enough to speak out publicly against it), the unraveling process begins. Ellen lulls herself into thinking that if she writes letters to Michael, drawing on the salvation of literature, she can protect him and bring him home safely. Meanwhile, her daughter makes further forays into radical idealism, declaring herself opposed to just about everything her mother believes in.
On the other side of the country, Lacy has worked her way out of the bad choices she made as a young woman, only to realize that she's made more of them now. Without anything to fall back on except her street smarts and her looks, she tries to do the best she can supporting her husband Eddie while keeping her son from a first marriage on the right track and out of the predicaments she herself fell into at his age.
When Eddie and Michael are both severely wounded and end up at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC, it is only natural that Ellen and Lacy come to support them. But neither of these women is prepared for the changes in their military men, nor are they aware of how much the experience of the aftereffects of war will shape the direction of their future.
Ellen tries to control, manage, and keep track of everything, even as it dawns on her that she knows almost nothing about the situation she's gotten into. So the tables are turned now, with Lacy acting as the informed guide through the labyrinth of military medical care.
The author perfectly captures the insane limbo of caring for a critically ill family member, the feelings of powerlessness coupled with the almost unbearable desire to do something, anything, all the time, the sense that, if one's vigilance and attention wavers even for a fraction of a second, the unthinkable will happen. The strange knowledge that someone could die at any moment is wed to the paralyzing fear of that and mixed in underneath is the wild hope that they won't. The inanity of paperwork and bureaucracy that modern medicine and insurance has wrapped around life and death ... Ellen and Lacy have plenty of time for self-examination in the wards where they spend so many hours keeping watch, and the author once again reveals herself to be a humane and totally honest observer of doubt, despair, guilt, rage, confusion, and, coursing under all of these like a thrumming universal pulse, love.
I have experienced those gut-wrenching cross-country flights to reach the bedside of someone who is dying, and I have also been in the room when families have dissolved into fighting so entrenched that none of the combatants are even aware they are simply going around and around predetermined cages, hurling whatever weapon is at hand, oblivious of everything except providing the maximum amount of pain to their enemy while preserving whatever shred of self-worth they've managed to cling to.
Even without the resonance of recognition to propel me through these pages, this book has important things to say to so many people in today's world where we think we can pass the job of defending a nation on to those who often see the military as their one last chance, then ignore or overlook these people when they come home from war with no usable skills to transition back into civilian life. The half-hearted public displays of support--bumper stickers, boxes of stuffed animals or candy--are poor substitutes for a concerted effort to understand and show compassion for the men and women who return to us utterly changed by their experiences. Veterans often say civilians can never know what their service experiences are like. This is true. They often don't want to discuss them with outsiders, also understandable
Ellen Silverman and Lacy Diaz show they can do what is right and honorable, even with their ambivalence, setting aside judgment in order to make connections, leaving their opinions unspoken long enough to stand up for the men who they love in situations when those men couldn't do it for themselves. The two women show how imperfect people continue to make choices based on the information they have at the time, even if in the next moment they realize these choices are entirely wrong.
Perhaps the best thing about this book is how unassuming it is. The author writes smoothly and gracefully, with perfect diction for every character in her wide-ranging cast. I only realized how skillfully she was doing this about halfway through, when it became increasingly difficult to put the book down and the characters and their inner lives had inserted themselves into my own thoughts. I found myself reflecting on how I might respond in the same situations, remembering how I had acted in the past when challenged by similar events. It was a deeply personal experience to read this book, not altogether pleasant as I realized some of my own past failings. It was a hopeful one, though, as I realized, as the characters do, that life is a series of continuous opportunities. Whether I plan for them or not, they will keep presenting themselves to me, and I will always have the chance to make a choice.
This book focuses on two women, but it has something crucial to say to men, to teens, to older adults. It's not often that I come across a book I feel I can recommend to just about anyone. This novel is one of those rare gems, and I can only thank the author for writing it. I salute her bravery for allowing the characters to be truly themselves. I didn't always like them, but I never once doubted their authenticity and the author's integrity in capturing it on the page. It was a performance that moved step by step, carefully laying foundations and gathering force until there was no escaping the end result: an exceptional book telling a vital story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews