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A Soldier's Son: An American Boyhood During World War II
John Hodgkins was eight years old when his father was drafted into the army and left for Europe for fight in WWII. After his return, his father never spoke much of the war. After his father's death, John opened his father's diary and two boxes of memorabilia.
- GenresHistory
328 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 10, 2024
And a half. I loved reading his Maine childhood recollections from wartime. Much stronger than his retelling of his father’s time overseas which had little more to offer than what happened when.
August 2, 2018
A beautiful chronicle of a childhood in rural Maine during WWII, with much of the war experience of the author's father woven through. I liked it especially, I think, because I recognized some of the places mentioned since my own family is from Maine.
The end is sort of tragical, although often life is. The book gave me a better understanding of my own family and their likely history.
The end is sort of tragical, although often life is. The book gave me a better understanding of my own family and their likely history.
August 30, 2012
I first started reading this when I was given the first few chapters and found them captivating. When I got the next set of chapters I vowed that I wouldn't read any more until I had the complete manuscript.
With a printed out version of the manuscript in a binder I took it with me for my summer time at the lake to read front to back. I was so spelled bound that near the end I was a blurry eyed mess.
Just before it was published I mentioned to some acquaintances. A woman asked me if I knew the ending. I relied with I did indeed, having lived during part of the aftermath. How the story got there was something I didn't know.
I again reread the book in published form at summer after it was published again at the lake and again I was a blurry eyed mess for the last few chapters.
Hodgkins tells a tale of how WWII creates hard shifts on a young family in deep rural Maine. It's told alternately between the family left behind in Temple and the fathers time in Europe just behind the front lines. He tells and honest tale of grim and hard life.
One of the few books I give 5 solid stars (though I am a bit biased, I'll admit to that!)
With a printed out version of the manuscript in a binder I took it with me for my summer time at the lake to read front to back. I was so spelled bound that near the end I was a blurry eyed mess.
Just before it was published I mentioned to some acquaintances. A woman asked me if I knew the ending. I relied with I did indeed, having lived during part of the aftermath. How the story got there was something I didn't know.
I again reread the book in published form at summer after it was published again at the lake and again I was a blurry eyed mess for the last few chapters.
Hodgkins tells a tale of how WWII creates hard shifts on a young family in deep rural Maine. It's told alternately between the family left behind in Temple and the fathers time in Europe just behind the front lines. He tells and honest tale of grim and hard life.
One of the few books I give 5 solid stars (though I am a bit biased, I'll admit to that!)
January 27, 2008
Tough rural Maine life. Some father's have a hard time showing love.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews