Neglect: A Novel

by Kim Wozencraft

From the bestselling author of Rush comes a redemptive story of a young mother at war on two fronts. From bestselling author Kim Wozencraft comes the story of a young mother at war on two first as a soldier in Afghanistan and then upon her return to rural Granite County, New York, where one terrible mistake threatens her family and her sanity.   Erin Hill enlists in the Army Reserve in an act of desperation. She and her husband have both lost their jobs and their marriage is disintegrating. Assured that the odds of deployment are extremely low, Erin now finds herself on an Army base in the middle of a combat zone, where it’s sometimes hard to tell who the enemy is—especially when a respected sergeant turns predator.   When Erin returns stateside and reunites with her family, her battle for survival truly begins. Flooded with traumatic memories, with no prospects for jobs or treatment for PTSD, her husband involved with a new woman, Erin falls into the bottle head-first. After a nearly fatal night of despair, she is swept up into a vast and indifferent bureaucracy that threatens to take her children from her—forever. Neglect is a profound story of mother love.

Genres: Fiction

346 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 19, 2021

About the author

KIM WOZENCRAFT’S latest novel is NEGLECT, from Arcade/Simon and Schuster. Wozencraft is the author of the internationally best-selling novel Rush, which was adapted into a major motion picture starring Jennifer Jason Leigh. Neglect is her sixth novel.

Her work has appeared in The Best American Essays, Texas Monthly, the Los Angeles Times, and numerous literary magazines and anthologies. She was executive editor at Prison Life magazine and has written for HBO Films. Kim holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia University and lives in the Hudson Valley region of New York, where she raised three children. She currently teaches English literature and writing courses at SUNY New Paltz and SUNY Ulster.

Reviews

[thewildreaderwithacat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neglect is my first book by Kim Wozencraft. I haven't read anything like this before, it's one of the reasons I got interested in reading it.

The story is of veteran's life after returning home, the challenges faced and the process of overcoming them. I found it to be an intense read, with my blood boiling at so many instances.

The book taks about family, love, war, mental health. It describes how it feels to be stuck in a system that makes it difficult to live a normal life, when it should have been supporting and understanding.

It is a good read, although I did get detached a bit here and there, felt a bit dragged at few points.

I would recommend readers who like books about war, parenting and motherhood to give it a try.

Thank you Netgalley, Author - Kim Wozencraft and publishers for the ARC.

[Ronda Canary · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.7

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will break your heart. Erin has always tried to do the right thing but Aghanistan broke her in a way that can't be categorized. Once a college professor, she joined the reserves for the money. Now she's back, using alcohol to cope, and struggling to keep things afloat for her twins after her husband Eddy takes off. One night, though, she goes too far and her suicide attempt not only lands her in the hospital, it means she loses her kids. Wozencraft uses a variety of characters- not just Erin but also the social worker, her sister Tanya (she's great), and others to tell the story of Erin's nightmare in the court system. Nothing is easy, everything is linked and Erin is slapped in the face in some way at every turn. This can be hard to read not only because there are several especially harrowing situations in Afghanistan but also because Erin's situation feels so hopeless. It is, however, an important novel for the clear eyed look at a situation I suspect is more common than we know. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Great read.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

[Hayley Roe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The harsh realities of American systems. Will break your heart

[LInda L · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was heartbreaking. An amazing amount of research went into it, especially the parts about Erin trying to get her children back from her separated husband. Unfortunately, every word was true, at least in the cases I am familiar with. Everywhere she turned, there were more requirements and it was never-ending. I didn't get the part near the end where she said something about the pot in Eddy's car being a 'plant". Did I race through something?? If it was, he deserved it. As well as the awful stuff about CPS, etc, the issues in Afghanistan were awful as well. Erin was lucky to get out alive and physically unharmed. As it was, PTSD almost did her in. I feel as if much crime can be traced back to PTSD and its aftereffects. Wonderful book, if not uplifting.
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[Kimberly Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Neglect, by Kim Wozencraft is a story about a veteran mother trying to overcome the challenges after returning home from war. Erin, the main character in the story, is trying to help her family by enlisting in the army. She is sent to the warfront and experiences a lot of difficulty upon return to her family. Her marriage is over, she is using alcohol to cope, and her family is suffering. Based upon decisions that she has made, she loses her children. She cannot escape the bureaucracy of the system that threatens to ruin her life and her children. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Jayme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erin’s treatment by DCS seems unrealistic to me, but I am from Canada. I imagine that the system in the USA must be a lot different and I’m sure even more bureaucratic than ours. So I read this under the assumption that Erin’s DCS case could have been handled that ridiculously.

There are a lot of themes here like treatment of veterans; inability to access basic, healthcare; trauma; the court system being horrible; systemic poverty; and so on.

Eddy was a flat character, but I wanted to punch him all the same; everyone in DCS + court was also flat but also totally realistic (and they deserved to be punched too); glad the insurance guy at the end didn’t try too hard!

[Kerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neglect offered a very interesting perspective on the challenges and frustrations of dealing through the family courts and the struggles many veterans are facing. It shines light on several big issues that our society needs to deal with, in an interesting way. There were some parts that dragged on and a some things got a little redundant, but all in all, it was a great read that left me thinking.

[joe cutignola · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tragic trip through US social agencies

While reading this well written book I learned a lot about how our justice system short circuits fragile poor people into depressions and substance abuse. It also has some interesting insight into how our military works in war torn foreign countries. It is truly an eye opener and a must read for everyone who values playing fairly.

[Nailah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about neglect on a bunch of different levels and for that I loved it(parenting, marriage, military, friendship, mental and physical health), but it is slow in spots and I almost gave up on it in places. That’s why it’s a 4 for me.

[Kathy Esdale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devastating story about a Mom who gets lost in her messed up world. Wrong choices and her life will never be the same. Such a compelling story about the resolve of a Mother who made a horrible decision and her fight back to her kids.

[Cindy]

SCRIBD AUDIO DNF

[sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

i have no idea what happened in this book

[Laurent Rejto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Neglect confronts important social issues in an organic manner that feels genuine end real.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shows how messed up the courts can be with the removal and placement of children. Everyone is different, and you better pray you get an understanding judge, and CPS WORKER.