E-Mail To The Front: One Wife's Correspondence With Her Husband Overseas

by Alesia Holliday

"6/9 Evidently I wasn't supposed to put so much oil in the mower. The smoke went away fairly quickly, though. Connor even got to go for a ride in the fire truck."

Alesia Holliday has survived scenes like this and more while her husband, a naval flight officer, has been away on military duty. They have forged a different kind of marriage-one that the 1.5 million current active-duty service members and their families will identify with. E-mail to the Front has a large built-in audience that boasts a camaraderie strengthened by shared difficulties and discoveries.

E-mail to the Front consists of short commentaries by Alesia and an e-mail dialogue between her and her husband while he was on deployment. In text filled with empathy, gut-level honesty, humor, and unflinching support, chapters cover everything from "Departure: Only 183 Days to Go" to "Rebellion of the Appliances" to "It's Like Being a Single Mother, But I Can't Date."

As military maneuvers remain at the forefront of our national news, interest in all things military is running high. E-mail to the Front will appeal to everyone who appreciates the courage of those who choose to serve their country, the families who are meeting the challenge of military duty, and those who love and support them. Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry has written a cover quote for the book, and best-selling author Suzanne Brockmann said, "This book should be required reading for all Americans."

Genres: Nonfiction, Military Fiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published March 14, 2003

About the author

This is a pseudonym of Alyssa Day

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first non-fiction in years. :)

This book is comprised of the email that Alesia Holliday (Alyssa Day, author of the Warriors of Poseidon series) and her husband Navy Guy sent back and forth during his deployments. It hit me hard, bringing back memories of doing this with my husband. We were married young, and he was deployed 7 months later. These letters range from laugh out loud hilarious to bittersweet. I teared up a few times, and I bought this for my cousin who has her own Navy Guy.

It's hard to put down, and easy to pick back up.

[Els · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because this book is written by an army wives it gives a very good insight in how this live is when
your husband is on deployment. It is well written and at some points it makes you laugh espeacially
when the appliances don't work like there supposed to do and at times it is sad when a soldier is killed.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book the first time I read it in hardback and it is much better now that I am better acquainted with the author and know jwe story a little better. Spouses of our services men and women are heroes dat in day out as they keep life together while their partner is off serving their country. Thank you every one of you. And thank you, Alyssa Day, for writing this book. A little peak into the lives we don't often get to see.

[Nicholette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is must read for all.

I have had several family members serve in the military. My father served during Vietnam, and met and married my mother after his enlistment was up, my younger brother served, thankfully during the time we as a nation were NOT at war. I personally never went through the separation and anxiety of worrying about their deployment. But I have cousins and an in-law who were both serving during the gulf war doing multiple deployments in active war zones. They lost friends and comrades. This gave me more insight into just how difficult it was for their wives. Thank you so much to all those who served; are serving now. And bless all of their families left to hold the fort and keep the home fires burning for them. Thank Alesia for sharing this with us all. I hope more of us “civilians” read this.

[Fenley Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a child who grew up in the military, so much of her story rang true, even though my point of view was of the child, not the spouse. Life in the military is filled with unique experiences, both positive and negative. A wonderful, raw look into one family's deployments, both stateside views and abroad.

[Victoria Terrinoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

She’s is writing my life

This book is fantastic. It is honest, candid, and hilarious. As a military spouse for 31 years, she put to words a lot of the feelings I had over the years. I recommend this book for everyone who was ever curious about the military.

[Adriana Cain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down!

The book is a heartfelt genuine look at how it is to be on the home side of deployment. It made me want to find a single military deployment parent and ask if I could watch their kids for a few hours so they could catch a breath and a break.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A funny, and touching look at life as a military family

This book both made me cry and laugh out loud. Well edited, it is a fascinating glimpse of what life is like for the family left behind when a member is deployed. I really enjoyed reading it and would recommend it to anyone.

[Laurie Manuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

wonderful

The right amount of humor. As a military veteran and military wife it made me laugh out loud. I relate to your warm heart and generous spirit.

[Leah Braemel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Appliances conspiring to break down at the same time, illnesses and trips to the ER, birthdays and anniversaries missed challenge the families left behind when a spouse in the armed forces goes on deployment. Alyssa's emails to her husband (and his responses) give a wonderful insight to their life with a wonderful mixture of humor and poignancy. The image of a pilot standing in the middle of a group of fighting men trying to explain to his toddler son what certain manly body parts are had me laughing out loud. A few chapters later, I was moved to tears by her story of watching the funeral of another soldier on television, empathizing with his spouse/family. This is a book that is staying on my proverbial keeper shelf.

(I read Alessia's updated Kindle version)

[Leah Braemel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Appliances conspiring to break down at the same time, illnesses and trips to the ER, birthdays and anniversaries missed challenge the families left behind when a spouse in the armed forces goes on deployment. Alyssa's emails to her husband (and his responses) give a wonderful insight to their life with a wonderful mixture of humor and poignancy. The image of a pilot standing in the middle of a group of fighting men trying to explain to his toddler son what certain manly body parts are had me laughing out loud. A few chapters later, I was moved to tears by her story of watching the funeral of another soldier on television, empathizing with his spouse/family.

This is a book that is staying on my keeper shelf.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am currently rereading this book on deployment #2. The author is able to capture the emotions of deployment through email and commentary quite well! It's also amusing to hear echoed in her book, the conversations and emails that have passed between my husband and I!

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alesia wrote a very real account of the challenges facing the spouse left alone at home during Navy deployments. Humorous at times and gut-wrenching at others, it forces you to face the everyday realities of this long separation and to appreciate the huge sacrifice the ENTIRE family makes!

[Jenifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a touching book. Great insight into what it's like for military families. Very funny at times, and emotional throughout.