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A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor
In 2005, Dana Canedy's fiancé, First Sergeant Charles Monroe King, began to write what would become a two-hundred-page journal for his son in case he did not make it home from the war in Iraq. He was killed by a roadside bomb on October 14, 2006. His son, Jordan, was seven months old.
Inspired by his example, Dana was determined to preserve his memory for their son. A Journal for Jordan is a mother's fiercely honest letter to her child about the parent he lost before he could even speak. It is also a father's advice and prayers for the son he will never know.
A father figure to the soldiers under his command, Charles moved naturally into writing to his son. In neat block letters, he counseled him on everything from how to withstand disappointment and deal with adversaries to how to behave on a date. And he also wrote, from his tent, of recovering a young soldier's body, piece by piece, from a tank--and the importance of honoring that young man's life. He finished the journal two months before his death while home on a two-week leave, so intoxicated with love for his infant son that he barely slept.
This is also the story of Dana and Charles together--two seemingly mismatched souls who loved each other deeply and lost each other too soon. A Journal for Jordan is a tender introduction, a loving good-bye, a reporter's inquiry into her soldier's life, and a heartrending reminder of the human cost of war.
Inspired by his example, Dana was determined to preserve his memory for their son. A Journal for Jordan is a mother's fiercely honest letter to her child about the parent he lost before he could even speak. It is also a father's advice and prayers for the son he will never know.
A father figure to the soldiers under his command, Charles moved naturally into writing to his son. In neat block letters, he counseled him on everything from how to withstand disappointment and deal with adversaries to how to behave on a date. And he also wrote, from his tent, of recovering a young soldier's body, piece by piece, from a tank--and the importance of honoring that young man's life. He finished the journal two months before his death while home on a two-week leave, so intoxicated with love for his infant son that he barely slept.
This is also the story of Dana and Charles together--two seemingly mismatched souls who loved each other deeply and lost each other too soon. A Journal for Jordan is a tender introduction, a loving good-bye, a reporter's inquiry into her soldier's life, and a heartrending reminder of the human cost of war.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 243 reviews
August 14, 2022
This book is very emotional and raw. I think I was expecting a little more than snippets of the journal that Charles King wrote for his son Jordan. I can understand why Dana may not have wanted those parts to all be public, but I think that would have been more powerful as well. I didn’t agree with every opinion or thought Dana and Charles had, but I can respect their thoughts and feelings and do this was a genuine capture of the love and grief that Dana felt. I’m glad I read it, I don’t think I will watch the movie once was enough. I think it was particularly hard fo me as I have some complicated feelings about the war Charles died in.
January 27, 2010
I hate reviewing memoirs. I always feel like such a bitch when I'm critical of them because it seems like I'm criticizing a real person instead of a character and, in this case, because it is about a soldier and his family, it may even seem like I'm not being sufficiently supportive of the troops.
Oh well. I did not like this book. At all.
I read this book because it has been chosen as next year's OneBook selection for my university. That means that all incoming freshmen will read this book and all Freshman English classes will have to feature it. I teach Freshman English, so I wanted to see what we were getting into.
Ultimately, not only did I intensely dislike this book, but I don't think it's a particularly appropriate choice for this kind of program.
The premise is something that deserves attention--the losses attendant upon war, memory, grief--and it truly is tragic that Dana Canedy's fiancé Charles was killed in Iraq and that her son will not know his father. However, just because a situation is tragic does not mean it deserves a book. At no point was I drawn into these people's lives in a meaningful way. Each chapter (except the epilogue) is framed as a letter from Dana Canedy to her son Jordan, telling him about his father, his parents' lives and relationship, and his father's death. This is the kind of thing that a child would cherish. But I don't know these people and their lives, though valuable in their own right, do not interest me. It is Canedy's responsibility in writing a memoir to make her life interesting and relevant to the reader, and with that she failed.
Furthermore, I was extremely put off by the glorification of the military (even though for a time Canedy is angry after Charles's death, the majority of the book consists of her being bravely supportive no matter how she really feels or what she really thinks about the war); the constant references to God, prayer, religion, and angels (really, it's okay with me if people believe in God, but I have to teach this book?); and the excuses Canedy makes for Charles' behaviors, which include skipping the birth of their child, not calling her when he was choosing to attend another man's child's birth instead of meeting her for a date, and his sometimes overbearing need to be chivalrous of "his woman."
This is not a book that inspires critical thought. It is presented as a love story, but their relationship has serious problems (including major incompatibilities and an almost complete lack of communication at times) that are glossed over or romanticized. It raises important issues like the dangers and costs of military service, domestic abuse, gender roles, and marriage, among other things, but more often than not, these issues are also glossed over in favor of spending more time describing how good-looking Charles was or what a good baby Jordan is.
This is a book that wants to be deeper or more meaningful than it is. Canedy describes and emotes a lot, but she doesn't really do more than that and for a memoir to be truly powerful, to be more than a gimmick, it must go beyond background information, facts, and personal feelings.
If you're interested in a memoir about war, look for Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried. O'Brien takes his memories of Vietnam, the very personal memories, and makes of them something much greater than his own experience, something that speaks not only to veterans but to everyone who has lost someone or done something that they may regret.
Oh well. I did not like this book. At all.
I read this book because it has been chosen as next year's OneBook selection for my university. That means that all incoming freshmen will read this book and all Freshman English classes will have to feature it. I teach Freshman English, so I wanted to see what we were getting into.
Ultimately, not only did I intensely dislike this book, but I don't think it's a particularly appropriate choice for this kind of program.
The premise is something that deserves attention--the losses attendant upon war, memory, grief--and it truly is tragic that Dana Canedy's fiancé Charles was killed in Iraq and that her son will not know his father. However, just because a situation is tragic does not mean it deserves a book. At no point was I drawn into these people's lives in a meaningful way. Each chapter (except the epilogue) is framed as a letter from Dana Canedy to her son Jordan, telling him about his father, his parents' lives and relationship, and his father's death. This is the kind of thing that a child would cherish. But I don't know these people and their lives, though valuable in their own right, do not interest me. It is Canedy's responsibility in writing a memoir to make her life interesting and relevant to the reader, and with that she failed.
Furthermore, I was extremely put off by the glorification of the military (even though for a time Canedy is angry after Charles's death, the majority of the book consists of her being bravely supportive no matter how she really feels or what she really thinks about the war); the constant references to God, prayer, religion, and angels (really, it's okay with me if people believe in God, but I have to teach this book?); and the excuses Canedy makes for Charles' behaviors, which include skipping the birth of their child, not calling her when he was choosing to attend another man's child's birth instead of meeting her for a date, and his sometimes overbearing need to be chivalrous of "his woman."
This is not a book that inspires critical thought. It is presented as a love story, but their relationship has serious problems (including major incompatibilities and an almost complete lack of communication at times) that are glossed over or romanticized. It raises important issues like the dangers and costs of military service, domestic abuse, gender roles, and marriage, among other things, but more often than not, these issues are also glossed over in favor of spending more time describing how good-looking Charles was or what a good baby Jordan is.
This is a book that wants to be deeper or more meaningful than it is. Canedy describes and emotes a lot, but she doesn't really do more than that and for a memoir to be truly powerful, to be more than a gimmick, it must go beyond background information, facts, and personal feelings.
If you're interested in a memoir about war, look for Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried. O'Brien takes his memories of Vietnam, the very personal memories, and makes of them something much greater than his own experience, something that speaks not only to veterans but to everyone who has lost someone or done something that they may regret.
November 10, 2009
I feel so honored to have caught a glimpse of Dana Canedy and her husband's love story and experience with the war in Iraq. As I tearfully finished this treasure, I wished there was a book like this for the 1000+ soldiers who have died since her husband, Charles, in that war. I know they each have a story and we would benefit from knowing it.
I am so indebted to books like this that teach me the value of a person and help me get back to the reality of life. We affect those around us with everything we think, feel, and do. I will feel differently as I stand with my hand over my heart and pay tribute to the flag in the next 4th of July parade, that's for sure. I'll be thinking of Dana Canedy, of her sweet soldier in heaven, and of their son Jordan.
She is a very good writer. She has a knack with writing so honestly that I really feel I got a true picture. She put in the good, the bad, the very personal, yet in a way where I didn't feel, as a reader, that she was being indulgent. I felt she was giving me something beautiful.
I like how she presents a true story and I'm left with questions about her husband just as she is. I question the value of our involvement in Iraq when it leads to such torn families and devastating results in individual cases. I don't think I understand war and why men feel they need to leave their families to go fight. I don't understand war on a big scale, but I'm very appreciative of the sacrifices made on an individual, personal level.
I am so indebted to books like this that teach me the value of a person and help me get back to the reality of life. We affect those around us with everything we think, feel, and do. I will feel differently as I stand with my hand over my heart and pay tribute to the flag in the next 4th of July parade, that's for sure. I'll be thinking of Dana Canedy, of her sweet soldier in heaven, and of their son Jordan.
She is a very good writer. She has a knack with writing so honestly that I really feel I got a true picture. She put in the good, the bad, the very personal, yet in a way where I didn't feel, as a reader, that she was being indulgent. I felt she was giving me something beautiful.
I like how she presents a true story and I'm left with questions about her husband just as she is. I question the value of our involvement in Iraq when it leads to such torn families and devastating results in individual cases. I don't think I understand war and why men feel they need to leave their families to go fight. I don't understand war on a big scale, but I'm very appreciative of the sacrifices made on an individual, personal level.
July 12, 2012
Beautifully written and very inspirational. My fiance was in the same company and thought of First Srg. King as a father and a guardian angel. He shared some of his funny memories he had with him and he was an amazing man. My fiance wouldnt read the book. He said he was there he didnt need to read it. I read it behind his back to see kind of what he went through and to try to understand. She makes you love this man. Hes truly amazing and the definition of a hero. You feel like his family too. By the end of the book i couldnt function. I cried.... a lot ..and I gave my fiance a long hug. She is an amazingly strong women. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
September 9, 2009
This is an amazing love story. You know the tragic ending from the outset, which makes reading about the incredible love that the author shared with Master Sargeant Charles King before he was killed in Iraq all the more heart-wrenching. Ultimately, though, I was buoyed by Dana Canedy's amazing courage and by the knowledge that she has a beautiful baby boy to remind her of the love that she and Charles experienced for 10 unforgettable years. As an editor for the NY Times, Canedy definitely knows how to write. Despite the heaviness of the story, I found the book hard to put down and I read right through every page of notes and acknowledgements because I didn't want the book to end.
February 28, 2022
“The more I heal, the better you can rest.”
Wow wow wow. This had me in feels! A must read!
Wow wow wow. This had me in feels! A must read!
September 12, 2009
Wow! What a fantastically moving tribute to an incredible person, relationship and legacy. Dana Canedy, a talented journalist, shares so honestly in this memoir that it makes an indelible impression, which is the best possible tribute to her fallen hero fiance, Charles King, and their son, Jordan (for whom, ostensibly, this book is written). This is truly a gift to us all, written so compellingly.
In recounting the story of her life, of that of her now-deceased fiance, of the love that they developed and of the son whose life is a testament to a life well-lived, the author is unflinchingly honest. Frankly, some of the least enjoyable parts of the book are honest revelations about the limitations of her own character, at least until she accepted her fiance's love fully and was transformed, especially by the birth of their son. As impressive as her own journey has been, her unflinching portrayal of herself is at times quite unflattering, but adds a depth to the story that makes her transformation all the more impressive and amazing.
Simply put, this is a love story - first between two adults who don't seem perfectly matched (largely because one of them refuses to drop this defense/pretense) and then between two parents and a special little boy who becomes the living embodiment of their love. If you are by nature skeptical or have even given up on love, this book will rattle you and, perhaps, give you the courage to hope, as its core love story is as inspiring as it is transcendent.
Yet, as well as this memoir is done, one can't help but be saddened by the reality that created it. It paints a vivid, all-too-human picture of the true cost of America's foreign policy, especially its choice to go war in recent years. No matter how you feel politically about the Iraq War, you will be indelibly apprised of its cost. At perhaps too high a cost, A Journal for Jordan reminds us that freedom isn't free (and reminds us to be more demanding of our leaders to insure that we achieve it at an effective cost).
Read this book and you will have your belief in the ultimate triumph of the human spirit as well as your appreciation for the pathos that accompanies it enhanced. It is a compelling read, a touching memoir and a most memorable, inspiring human story.
In recounting the story of her life, of that of her now-deceased fiance, of the love that they developed and of the son whose life is a testament to a life well-lived, the author is unflinchingly honest. Frankly, some of the least enjoyable parts of the book are honest revelations about the limitations of her own character, at least until she accepted her fiance's love fully and was transformed, especially by the birth of their son. As impressive as her own journey has been, her unflinching portrayal of herself is at times quite unflattering, but adds a depth to the story that makes her transformation all the more impressive and amazing.
Simply put, this is a love story - first between two adults who don't seem perfectly matched (largely because one of them refuses to drop this defense/pretense) and then between two parents and a special little boy who becomes the living embodiment of their love. If you are by nature skeptical or have even given up on love, this book will rattle you and, perhaps, give you the courage to hope, as its core love story is as inspiring as it is transcendent.
Yet, as well as this memoir is done, one can't help but be saddened by the reality that created it. It paints a vivid, all-too-human picture of the true cost of America's foreign policy, especially its choice to go war in recent years. No matter how you feel politically about the Iraq War, you will be indelibly apprised of its cost. At perhaps too high a cost, A Journal for Jordan reminds us that freedom isn't free (and reminds us to be more demanding of our leaders to insure that we achieve it at an effective cost).
Read this book and you will have your belief in the ultimate triumph of the human spirit as well as your appreciation for the pathos that accompanies it enhanced. It is a compelling read, a touching memoir and a most memorable, inspiring human story.
July 5, 2009
3.5 stars. Having heard about this book in a few magazines, I expected it to be a collection of the writings of Charles King, who wrote a journal for his infant son while in Iraq, then was killed, having spent only two weeks with his son. Well, there are snippets from this "journal for Jordan" in here, but this isn't the main focus of it. I suppose I started reading with different expectations of what the pages would entail.
Instead of just highlighting the journal he wrote for the son, the mom (the book's author, Dana Canedy, who writes for the NYT) put together this. Each chapter is written as a letter from her to their son, telling him about her background, the father's background, how they met, their relationship, and about the father in general so the son can get to know him through these stories and writings. Short selections from the father's journal are included to highlight his personality and thoughts. The son, Jordan, I'm sure, will treasure this book someday; in that way, it reminded me a lot of The Last Lecture.
I thought the book was pretty interesting overall, but it felt more like a book with an audience of one (ie, Jordan) in mind. Conversations from the past that were written as dialogue by the author felt a little stiff or wooden, which kinda tripped me up every time, and some of the parts left me frustrated with the people and their decisions. I suppose that's what you expect when you read something about real people - the author doesn't have the luxury to make certain events more interesting. Anyway, it was good overall but not something I'd reread or necessarily recommend to others. But, like I said above, I am sure the son, Jordan, will be grateful for this book someday.
Instead of just highlighting the journal he wrote for the son, the mom (the book's author, Dana Canedy, who writes for the NYT) put together this. Each chapter is written as a letter from her to their son, telling him about her background, the father's background, how they met, their relationship, and about the father in general so the son can get to know him through these stories and writings. Short selections from the father's journal are included to highlight his personality and thoughts. The son, Jordan, I'm sure, will treasure this book someday; in that way, it reminded me a lot of The Last Lecture.
I thought the book was pretty interesting overall, but it felt more like a book with an audience of one (ie, Jordan) in mind. Conversations from the past that were written as dialogue by the author felt a little stiff or wooden, which kinda tripped me up every time, and some of the parts left me frustrated with the people and their decisions. I suppose that's what you expect when you read something about real people - the author doesn't have the luxury to make certain events more interesting. Anyway, it was good overall but not something I'd reread or necessarily recommend to others. But, like I said above, I am sure the son, Jordan, will be grateful for this book someday.
November 10, 2019
I borrowed this book from my older brother who received it from one of my Dad's coworkers at the New York Times. Being a passionate about the military, I wanted to get the perspective of a deceased soldier’s family. A perspective I have neglected in my studies.
The Journal for Jordan delivers this. First Sergeant King fits the description of a stereotypical exemplary soldier. His extreme discipline, strong sense of duty, loyalty, and honor are inspiring. He is no doubt an American Hero. But with this status comes hardship and sacrifice that define being a part of the military.
While reading the book I imagined what if I had to write a journal for my future child. What would I write? It raised the question of what kind of person do you want to be, and are you willing to do what it takes to be that person.
If you are interested in a sad love story this is a book for you.
The Journal for Jordan delivers this. First Sergeant King fits the description of a stereotypical exemplary soldier. His extreme discipline, strong sense of duty, loyalty, and honor are inspiring. He is no doubt an American Hero. But with this status comes hardship and sacrifice that define being a part of the military.
While reading the book I imagined what if I had to write a journal for my future child. What would I write? It raised the question of what kind of person do you want to be, and are you willing to do what it takes to be that person.
If you are interested in a sad love story this is a book for you.
April 5, 2022
I mentioned in a previous update with this book that it was freakishly similar to the love story I share with my husband who is retired Navy. The only difference is that I did not lose the love of my life, BUT this true story made me realize how blessed I was and I still am that he was not taken from me sooner. My sailor and I married in '98 when she and her soldier were just meeting for the first time. She wasn't looking for a relationship when she met him and neither was I. My husband and I talked on the phone for over a month before we met in person which is how their relationship survived in the early stages with the same late-night phone calls. I had the biggest scare of my life when the USS Cole got bombed in 2000 because the naval base where he worked could have been targeted as well. But the biggest similarity among us is that I, too, had to cope with him having to leave suddenly when 9/11 happened while I lived on base in Norfolk, VA while clinging to our two-year-old son all night.
Her intense love exchange, her hesitation to be with a military man, her fears of him getting hurt in combat...just so much of the same feelings I endured caused me to cry and sometimes sob along with her throughout this book. My tear ducts are still in recovery, but it was worth it as I completely connected with Dana. I've seen reviews of people upset that she didn't publish the entire journal that Charles wrote to Jordan. That was only part of this beautiful story, but not just that, it was personal thoughts that were for their eyes only. And I'm confused a little too about those types of reviews because Dana shares A LOT of snippets from the journal. She wrote this book for her son so he could know the type of man his father was from the moment she met him and with a thorough account of how they developed an abiding love that even death has not separated.
This story was absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time. I don't have anything bad to say about it. The way I devoured it in 6 days says so much about how this book touched me to my core with a renewed sense of appreciation for military spouses, fiances, girlfriends/boyfriends, and all the ways they support their men and women in uniform. As my 24 year wedding anniversary comes up in less than a week, I plan to be a little more thoughtful in how I express my love to my veteran Navy Chief. Dana reminded me that time is fleeting and tomorrow is not promised and I thank her for that.
Her intense love exchange, her hesitation to be with a military man, her fears of him getting hurt in combat...just so much of the same feelings I endured caused me to cry and sometimes sob along with her throughout this book. My tear ducts are still in recovery, but it was worth it as I completely connected with Dana. I've seen reviews of people upset that she didn't publish the entire journal that Charles wrote to Jordan. That was only part of this beautiful story, but not just that, it was personal thoughts that were for their eyes only. And I'm confused a little too about those types of reviews because Dana shares A LOT of snippets from the journal. She wrote this book for her son so he could know the type of man his father was from the moment she met him and with a thorough account of how they developed an abiding love that even death has not separated.
This story was absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking all at the same time. I don't have anything bad to say about it. The way I devoured it in 6 days says so much about how this book touched me to my core with a renewed sense of appreciation for military spouses, fiances, girlfriends/boyfriends, and all the ways they support their men and women in uniform. As my 24 year wedding anniversary comes up in less than a week, I plan to be a little more thoughtful in how I express my love to my veteran Navy Chief. Dana reminded me that time is fleeting and tomorrow is not promised and I thank her for that.
May 13, 2009
Adult nonfiction. Someone else might really love this book, but I didn't. Journalists always think we want to read whatever story they have to tell, and they take their sweet time telling it, too. Sometimes we do want to read it, but I just couldn't bring myself to care about this one (though the mother's letters to her son in regards to his deceased dad probably do make a good story). I had wanted to read more of what the dad had to say (for he also wrote letters to the son--in fact, a whole book full of them, and unlike the journalist ma, he had experienced the war in person, and had taken the time to record what he would have wanted to say to his son had he survived), and I didn't want to have to wade through the long-winded slush to find it. I don't know if it would have been appropriate to publish his writings, anyway, as it was intended for his son, but it would have been a lot more interesting.
December 6, 2021
This book tells the story of how Dana's fiancée, Charles, managed to write down more than 200 life lessons he wanted to teach their son in a blank journal before he was killed by an IED while deployed in Iraq. There are lessons about resilience. There are lessons about patriotism. There are lessons about standing for something more than yourself.
The way the author wrote about her husband Charles, I feel like I knew him. Her description of his hot body (the first thing she noticed) was the best description of a man I've ever read. She also captured how he was a quiet and thoughtful man and artist. When Charles died, it was heartbreaking to read the author's experience. I just wanted to leap in the book and catch her on the floor. But aside from grief and loss, there are funny moments in the book as well. It's not all sad. The biggest lesson I learned is that we don't have to feel strong to be strong. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is stand still and let the wave of panic or pain or grief wash over us. We need to live with it, go through it, and get up the next day.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/dan...
The way the author wrote about her husband Charles, I feel like I knew him. Her description of his hot body (the first thing she noticed) was the best description of a man I've ever read. She also captured how he was a quiet and thoughtful man and artist. When Charles died, it was heartbreaking to read the author's experience. I just wanted to leap in the book and catch her on the floor. But aside from grief and loss, there are funny moments in the book as well. It's not all sad. The biggest lesson I learned is that we don't have to feel strong to be strong. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is stand still and let the wave of panic or pain or grief wash over us. We need to live with it, go through it, and get up the next day.
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/dan...
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February 16, 2009I saw this book come thru & found myself reading it for a long time... A big NO-NO, but I was caught up. I read the whole book in one day & cried my eyes out. The story is very heart-warming, but also very sad... As a girl from a family where every man was in the military, married to a man whose family is the same way I read a lot into the story that may not be there for people without the experience of dealing w/ the military or the fear you feel when one of your relatives is off serving their country during a war. Dana Canedy's writing touched me deep inside with the description of how frustrating the military can be, the crippling loss of a soul-mate, and the joys of a mother even during the most difficult time in your life. I recommend this book to anyone that wants to read about how love & loss can sometimes be intertwined.
December 26, 2021
The author Dana Canedy is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who spent more than 20 years with the New York Times. She currently is a senior vice president with Simon & Schuster.
This remarkable book chronicles her long relationship with Charles King, her fiancé and father of her son Jordan. He died during his final deployment in Iraq when his son was six months old. Canedy’s book was written as a companion to a 200-page journal that King had written for his son.
The book is a tribute to an incredible writer and mother, and to a focused and genuine father. It is heartbreaking, but still a great love story.
This remarkable book chronicles her long relationship with Charles King, her fiancé and father of her son Jordan. He died during his final deployment in Iraq when his son was six months old. Canedy’s book was written as a companion to a 200-page journal that King had written for his son.
The book is a tribute to an incredible writer and mother, and to a focused and genuine father. It is heartbreaking, but still a great love story.
January 17, 2022
"They" always say, "the book is better than the movie." Regarding A Journal for Jordan, they didn't lie! Having seen the movie twice before reading the book, and therefore knowing what was going to happen, the book still moved me to tears. The best thing about the written account is that Dana Canedy is astoundingly more relatable through the details on the pages of the book. I recommend this book because it highlights true love and the still-present importance of the perfectly imperfect Black American family.
March 30, 2022
This book definitely has become one of my favorites. It was so beautifully written. I was very moved. I thought that Dana being a reporter by trade worked really well for her deciding to write this book because she has a unique perspective as a journalist and as someone experiencing the loss of her soldier. I loved how the book was written mainly for an audience of one: her and Charles’ son; however, as a reader, I felt fortunate to eavesdrop on these letters by parents to their son.
August 9, 2009
A really tough book to read. The author is pretty open about the man she was married to who died in Iraq. Being a New York Times reporter, she also needed to know exactly how he died for herself and for their son who had only been months old when his father was killed and that was different than waht the Army had originally told her. Heartbreaking in places because her grief is very open.
December 24, 2021
A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor
by Dana Canedy
First Published January 1, 2008
<3 This is one movie I don't think I can bring myself to see. SMH This was such an emotional book to hear as it was narrated by one of my favorite voice artist--Bahni Turpin. It was so well written. <3
SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE • “Full of wonderful treasures offered by a unique and spirited father . . . written with serene grace: part memoir, part love story, all heart.”—James McBride, author of The Color of Water
In 2005, Dana Canedy’s fiancé, First Sergeant Charles Monroe King, began to write what would become a two-hundred-page journal for his son in case he did not make it home from the war in Iraq. He was killed by a roadside bomb on October 14, 2006. His son, Jordan, was seven months old.
Inspired by his example, Dana was determined to preserve his memory for their son. A Journal for Jordan is a mother’s fiercely honest letter to her child about the parent he lost before he could even speak. It is also a father’s advice and prayers for the son he will never know.
A father figure to the soldiers under his command, Charles moved naturally into writing to his son. In neat block letters, he counseled him on everything from how to withstand disappointment and deal with adversaries to how to behave on a date. And he also wrote, from his tent, of recovering a young soldier’s body, piece by piece, from a tank—and the importance of honoring that young man’s life. He finished the journal two months before his death while home on a two-week leave, so intoxicated with love for his infant son that he barely slept.
This is also the story of Dana and Charles together—two seemingly mismatched souls who loved each other deeply and lost each other too soon. A Journal for Jordan is a tender introduction, a loving good-bye, a reporter’s inquiry into her soldier’s life, and a heartrending reminder of the human cost of war.
by Dana Canedy
First Published January 1, 2008
<3 This is one movie I don't think I can bring myself to see. SMH This was such an emotional book to hear as it was narrated by one of my favorite voice artist--Bahni Turpin. It was so well written. <3
SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE • “Full of wonderful treasures offered by a unique and spirited father . . . written with serene grace: part memoir, part love story, all heart.”—James McBride, author of The Color of Water
In 2005, Dana Canedy’s fiancé, First Sergeant Charles Monroe King, began to write what would become a two-hundred-page journal for his son in case he did not make it home from the war in Iraq. He was killed by a roadside bomb on October 14, 2006. His son, Jordan, was seven months old.
Inspired by his example, Dana was determined to preserve his memory for their son. A Journal for Jordan is a mother’s fiercely honest letter to her child about the parent he lost before he could even speak. It is also a father’s advice and prayers for the son he will never know.
A father figure to the soldiers under his command, Charles moved naturally into writing to his son. In neat block letters, he counseled him on everything from how to withstand disappointment and deal with adversaries to how to behave on a date. And he also wrote, from his tent, of recovering a young soldier’s body, piece by piece, from a tank—and the importance of honoring that young man’s life. He finished the journal two months before his death while home on a two-week leave, so intoxicated with love for his infant son that he barely slept.
This is also the story of Dana and Charles together—two seemingly mismatched souls who loved each other deeply and lost each other too soon. A Journal for Jordan is a tender introduction, a loving good-bye, a reporter’s inquiry into her soldier’s life, and a heartrending reminder of the human cost of war.
January 20, 2022
I almost stopped reading this book after the 1st chapter because it wasn't exactly written as I assumed. I am so glad I kept going, even thought I was almost brought to tears several times. I thought the book was going to be Charles' journal for Jordan, but it is Dana's story with excerpts of Charles' journal entries. It did make my heart happy to know Dana kept some entries and letters personal for her and Jordan.
July 9, 2022
I LOVED this book.
Charles made me want to slap him at times because he constantly put the military before his family. He missed his son’s birth!!!!
The journals from both Charles and Dana were so heartwarming. What an amazing keepsake for Jordan!
I didn’t know that this was nonfiction until I read the author’s note.
Now I’m ready to watch the movie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2019
“Đau buồn là một quá trình mà con phải sống qua từng nhịp đập của trái tim, nhưng tìm được nghị lực để gánh chịu là một trong những điều kỳ diệu thực sự của đời người”
#Nhật_ký_cho_Jordan #DanaCanedy
- Thể loại: Tiểu thuyết, nhật ký
- Chấm điểm: 9/10
Thực lòng mình rất muốn đọc được truyện này ngay sau khi đọc Nữ phi công của Kristin Hannah. Bởi như thế, mình sẽ có cái nhìn thật trọn vẹn, đầy đặn về một cuộc chiến, về tình yêu của những người lính và những người vợ/người chồng của những người lính đã dùng niềm tin vào quân đội và sứ mệnh của mình để đi đến vùng đất khốc liệt Iraq sau ngày 11/9 ám ảnh đó.
Cuốn sách được viết dưới dạng nhật ký của Dana dành cho Jordan, con trai của cô và người chồng - mãi - không - thể - cưới, Charles, cũng là thượng sĩ tham gia trực tiếp tại mảnh đất Baghdad. Dana là một phụ nữ da màu làm việc ở một vị trí đáng mơ ước, tại tờ tạp chí đình đám New York Times, cô chưa bao giờ tin vào sự vĩnh cửu của tình yêu từ những gì cô chứng kiến từ gia đình mình. Rồi cô gặp Charles, người đàn ông yêu hội họa, một người lính nghiêm khắc, một chỉ huy được cấp dưới kính nể, và là người đàn ông đã thất bại trong hôn nhân 1 lần. Bằng sự kiên trì, bằng những dẫn dắt bởi niềm tin vào Chúa, Dana thuộc về Charles và là cô là nữ hoàng của anh. Nhưng sau sự kiện 11/9, một cái kết trọn vẹn hoàn hảo về một gia đình có Charles có Dana và Jordan đã chỉ còn hai tiếng “tiếc nuối”. Trong nỗi đau buồn, Dana lựa chọn làm việc cô giỏi nhất – viết – để ghi lại, để lưu giữ câu chuyện tình yêu ngọt ngào giữa cô và Thượng sĩ Charles, cũng để gửi gắm những điều tuyệt vời trong tình yêu đến con trai Jordan của họ. Cùng những trích đoạn trong nhật ký của Charles viết cho Jordan, tất cả tạo nên cuốn sách Nhật ký cho Jordan, mà đúng như lời tựa của sách đã viết: Một câu chuyện về tình yêu và danh dự.
Mình nhớ khi đọc Nữ phi công, mình cũng đã chảy nước mắt khi đọc những đoạn Jolene khi quay về và không thể hòa nhập, gia đình không đủ bao dung và đủ để hiểu những gì Jolene đã chứng kiến và phải trải qua ở Iraq. Với Nhật ký cho Jordan, nó giống như cuốn sách dành cho những người có người thân đi lính, nhất là trong mặt trận Iraq. Họ, những người ở nhà, không thể hình dung và đủ để hiểu sự khốc liệt của cuộc chiến. Nhưng họ cũng có những cuộc chiến khác, cuộc chiến của lo sợ mất mát, của cơm áo gạo tiền hàng ngày, của đứa con nhỏ mới ra đời, của việc một thân một mình khệ nệ bụng bầu, của việc không thể liên lạc được giữa thời hiện đại như này. Họ cũng phải mạnh mẽ, và đủ tình yêu khi đón những binh lính trở về, dìu dắt những người lính ấy qua khủng hoảng trầm trọng cuộc chiến để lại hoặc đơn giản chấp nhận một ngày bất kỳ nào đó sẽ nhận được tin về sự ra đi của vợ/chồng/người yêu.
Dana viết cuốn sách thành công bởi cô là 1 phóng viên thực sự có tài, ngay trong nỗi đau lớn đến nhường thế, cuốn sách cô viết ra không một chút nào thể hiện thái độ không ủng hộ hay ủng hộ, lên án hay không lên án, đổ lỗi hay không với cuộc chiến ấy. Giữ cái nhìn trung lập để viết lên câu chuyện tình yêu giữa cô và Charles, câu chuyện về tình yêu của Charles với gia đình nhỏ bé có Jordan, cũng như tình yêu của anh với những người lính trong Tiểu đoạn 1 thuộc Trung đoàn thiết giáp 67.
Thực sự, mình không quá yêu thích câu chuyện tình yêu của Dana – Charles, nó, theo mình thì, vẫn hơi hoàn thảo. Dana là 1 phụ nữ tuyệt vời, Charles cũng là một người đàn ông đáng mơ ước. Và họ trân trọng nhau, thực sự rất trân trọng nhau, ở bên nhau họ được là chính họ, họ yêu cả những khuyết điểm của đối phương. Có tranh cãi, nhưng không hề buông tay. Nhưng cũng đúng thôi, muốn gặp hoàng tử mình phải biết phấn đấu thành công chúa mà.
Bìa sách cũng là 1 thứ khiến mình…không thể khen. Ngoại trừ cách vẽ hình tượng con lạc đà bông và balo cũng như quyển nhật ký, thì phông chữ quả thật, dù biết dụng ý là nhìn cho giống chữ viết của Iraq nhưng màu bìa và thiết kế thật sự…không đẹp mắt tẹo nào. Ước gì bìa sách chỉ cần đơn giản như bìa nước ngoài thui!
Còn lại, đây là cuốn sách không quá nặng nề, nhưng cũng là cuốn sách đủ khiến mình rớt nước mắt ở những chương cuối. Và những đoạn trích trong nhật ký Charles viết cho Jordan thực sự khiến mình tâm đắc bởi cách dạy con, hay đúng hơn, dạy con trai thành một quý ông chính xác – thứ mà nếu bạn là đàn ông và hành xử như thế, sẽ luôn khiến một cô gái có cảm tình.
Và tin mình đi, trong những ngày thu Hà Nội như này, chẳng tội gì không dành cho mình chút cảm xúc của tình yêu, của danh dự để cảm giác được sống, được yêu, và được tin ở một góc nào đó, nếu bạn luôn cố gắng, bạn sẽ luôn có một người xứng đáng cho những điều bạn đã làm.
Cuối cùng, như thường lệ, vẫn là đoạn trích mình tâm đắc cho những gì đã đọc để thay lời kết: “Con trai, dù cả đời cha cũng chẳng thể hiểu được tại sao, nhưng cuộc sống có những con người luôn tận dụng cơ hội để khiến con cảm thấy mình thật bất tài vô tướng. Đôi khi con phải là một chiến binh can trường, máu lửa; nhưng sự gắn bó với một điều bất kỳ sẽ giúp con có được sự tôn trọng của người khác. Và những điều không may sẽ khiến con mạnh mẽ hơn nếu con để nó làm như thế. Đừng nổ giận với những điều bất hạnh xảy đến với mình; hãy chứng minh chúng đã sai và thế là chúng ta hòa. Những người đa cảm ủy mị và lớn tiếng la lối tốn rất nhiều năng lượng”
#Nhật_ký_cho_Jordan #DanaCanedy
- Thể loại: Tiểu thuyết, nhật ký
- Chấm điểm: 9/10
Thực lòng mình rất muốn đọc được truyện này ngay sau khi đọc Nữ phi công của Kristin Hannah. Bởi như thế, mình sẽ có cái nhìn thật trọn vẹn, đầy đặn về một cuộc chiến, về tình yêu của những người lính và những người vợ/người chồng của những người lính đã dùng niềm tin vào quân đội và sứ mệnh của mình để đi đến vùng đất khốc liệt Iraq sau ngày 11/9 ám ảnh đó.
Cuốn sách được viết dưới dạng nhật ký của Dana dành cho Jordan, con trai của cô và người chồng - mãi - không - thể - cưới, Charles, cũng là thượng sĩ tham gia trực tiếp tại mảnh đất Baghdad. Dana là một phụ nữ da màu làm việc ở một vị trí đáng mơ ước, tại tờ tạp chí đình đám New York Times, cô chưa bao giờ tin vào sự vĩnh cửu của tình yêu từ những gì cô chứng kiến từ gia đình mình. Rồi cô gặp Charles, người đàn ông yêu hội họa, một người lính nghiêm khắc, một chỉ huy được cấp dưới kính nể, và là người đàn ông đã thất bại trong hôn nhân 1 lần. Bằng sự kiên trì, bằng những dẫn dắt bởi niềm tin vào Chúa, Dana thuộc về Charles và là cô là nữ hoàng của anh. Nhưng sau sự kiện 11/9, một cái kết trọn vẹn hoàn hảo về một gia đình có Charles có Dana và Jordan đã chỉ còn hai tiếng “tiếc nuối”. Trong nỗi đau buồn, Dana lựa chọn làm việc cô giỏi nhất – viết – để ghi lại, để lưu giữ câu chuyện tình yêu ngọt ngào giữa cô và Thượng sĩ Charles, cũng để gửi gắm những điều tuyệt vời trong tình yêu đến con trai Jordan của họ. Cùng những trích đoạn trong nhật ký của Charles viết cho Jordan, tất cả tạo nên cuốn sách Nhật ký cho Jordan, mà đúng như lời tựa của sách đã viết: Một câu chuyện về tình yêu và danh dự.
Mình nhớ khi đọc Nữ phi công, mình cũng đã chảy nước mắt khi đọc những đoạn Jolene khi quay về và không thể hòa nhập, gia đình không đủ bao dung và đủ để hiểu những gì Jolene đã chứng kiến và phải trải qua ở Iraq. Với Nhật ký cho Jordan, nó giống như cuốn sách dành cho những người có người thân đi lính, nhất là trong mặt trận Iraq. Họ, những người ở nhà, không thể hình dung và đủ để hiểu sự khốc liệt của cuộc chiến. Nhưng họ cũng có những cuộc chiến khác, cuộc chiến của lo sợ mất mát, của cơm áo gạo tiền hàng ngày, của đứa con nhỏ mới ra đời, của việc một thân một mình khệ nệ bụng bầu, của việc không thể liên lạc được giữa thời hiện đại như này. Họ cũng phải mạnh mẽ, và đủ tình yêu khi đón những binh lính trở về, dìu dắt những người lính ấy qua khủng hoảng trầm trọng cuộc chiến để lại hoặc đơn giản chấp nhận một ngày bất kỳ nào đó sẽ nhận được tin về sự ra đi của vợ/chồng/người yêu.
Dana viết cuốn sách thành công bởi cô là 1 phóng viên thực sự có tài, ngay trong nỗi đau lớn đến nhường thế, cuốn sách cô viết ra không một chút nào thể hiện thái độ không ủng hộ hay ủng hộ, lên án hay không lên án, đổ lỗi hay không với cuộc chiến ấy. Giữ cái nhìn trung lập để viết lên câu chuyện tình yêu giữa cô và Charles, câu chuyện về tình yêu của Charles với gia đình nhỏ bé có Jordan, cũng như tình yêu của anh với những người lính trong Tiểu đoạn 1 thuộc Trung đoàn thiết giáp 67.
Thực sự, mình không quá yêu thích câu chuyện tình yêu của Dana – Charles, nó, theo mình thì, vẫn hơi hoàn thảo. Dana là 1 phụ nữ tuyệt vời, Charles cũng là một người đàn ông đáng mơ ước. Và họ trân trọng nhau, thực sự rất trân trọng nhau, ở bên nhau họ được là chính họ, họ yêu cả những khuyết điểm của đối phương. Có tranh cãi, nhưng không hề buông tay. Nhưng cũng đúng thôi, muốn gặp hoàng tử mình phải biết phấn đấu thành công chúa mà.
Bìa sách cũng là 1 thứ khiến mình…không thể khen. Ngoại trừ cách vẽ hình tượng con lạc đà bông và balo cũng như quyển nhật ký, thì phông chữ quả thật, dù biết dụng ý là nhìn cho giống chữ viết của Iraq nhưng màu bìa và thiết kế thật sự…không đẹp mắt tẹo nào. Ước gì bìa sách chỉ cần đơn giản như bìa nước ngoài thui!
Còn lại, đây là cuốn sách không quá nặng nề, nhưng cũng là cuốn sách đủ khiến mình rớt nước mắt ở những chương cuối. Và những đoạn trích trong nhật ký Charles viết cho Jordan thực sự khiến mình tâm đắc bởi cách dạy con, hay đúng hơn, dạy con trai thành một quý ông chính xác – thứ mà nếu bạn là đàn ông và hành xử như thế, sẽ luôn khiến một cô gái có cảm tình.
Và tin mình đi, trong những ngày thu Hà Nội như này, chẳng tội gì không dành cho mình chút cảm xúc của tình yêu, của danh dự để cảm giác được sống, được yêu, và được tin ở một góc nào đó, nếu bạn luôn cố gắng, bạn sẽ luôn có một người xứng đáng cho những điều bạn đã làm.
Cuối cùng, như thường lệ, vẫn là đoạn trích mình tâm đắc cho những gì đã đọc để thay lời kết: “Con trai, dù cả đời cha cũng chẳng thể hiểu được tại sao, nhưng cuộc sống có những con người luôn tận dụng cơ hội để khiến con cảm thấy mình thật bất tài vô tướng. Đôi khi con phải là một chiến binh can trường, máu lửa; nhưng sự gắn bó với một điều bất kỳ sẽ giúp con có được sự tôn trọng của người khác. Và những điều không may sẽ khiến con mạnh mẽ hơn nếu con để nó làm như thế. Đừng nổ giận với những điều bất hạnh xảy đến với mình; hãy chứng minh chúng đã sai và thế là chúng ta hòa. Những người đa cảm ủy mị và lớn tiếng la lối tốn rất nhiều năng lượng”
January 29, 2022
This book was so touching. I cried on multiple occasions when she talked about her love for Charles or her grief. I also loved her style of writing; the book really felt personal.
March 2, 2024
What a story! I absolutely loved it. Be prepared to cry.
May 30, 2022
I really loved this story. It was a tear jerker for real. It was a really good idea that they decided to write the journal so that Jordan had something to hold on too from his father in the case that he was killed while on duty.It also gave him something to use as a way to know what his father was thinking and doing while he was away and how he got through his time.
First sergeant Charles Monroe king was an amazing man. He cared for others way more than himself. I thought it was a very selfless decision made from time to time but especially when he when Dana was giving birth to Jordan. That would have been the one time that I would have had to make the decision to go be with my family if I was in his position. I feel like he should have went to be with them because although him staying was to help the other men, it could have been different for him and his family in that particular situation. For, example there could have been complications with Jordan being born, Dana could have had complications from the cesarean section, or , something could have happened to him and with any of the situations mentioned it could have been the last time he saw any of them. This shows a man’s love for his job and how he will do anything for his family.
I loved how Dana stepped into a position that her mother was although she had no intentions of ever doing that.
This story is definitely something that should be in a movie.
First sergeant Charles Monroe king was an amazing man. He cared for others way more than himself. I thought it was a very selfless decision made from time to time but especially when he when Dana was giving birth to Jordan. That would have been the one time that I would have had to make the decision to go be with my family if I was in his position. I feel like he should have went to be with them because although him staying was to help the other men, it could have been different for him and his family in that particular situation. For, example there could have been complications with Jordan being born, Dana could have had complications from the cesarean section, or , something could have happened to him and with any of the situations mentioned it could have been the last time he saw any of them. This shows a man’s love for his job and how he will do anything for his family.
I loved how Dana stepped into a position that her mother was although she had no intentions of ever doing that.
This story is definitely something that should be in a movie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2021
A JOURNAL FOR JORDAN is Dana Canedy's memoir about her life and love with First Sergeant Charles Monroe King. King kept a journal filled with life lessons for his newborn son while deployed overseas and was killed in Iraq when his son was only 7 months old. Shortly after his death, Canedy began writing this memoir to keep the memory of King alive. The book is filled with pieces of the journal which Canedy makes a point of telling the reader are word-for-word excerpts. The story, though, is as much about Canedy's strength, resilience, and her relationship with King as it is about the love between a father and a son. Canedy is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, and her story is inspiring in itself. Her account is accessible, her descriptions are candid and her words are warm. The movie is premiering on Christmas Day and I cannot wait to see this played out on the screen!
January 28, 2022
What a beautiful story from a mother to her son. This book really focuses on sharing Dana and Charles's relationship in a memoir to their son Jordan. I think it is as much of Dana talking to her son as it is journal entries from Charles and she does a great job.
I can't even imagine the heartache in losing a loved one to the war. This book does a great job at turning sadness and heartache into a beautiful remembrance. So many excerpts of Charles's words are really things that everyone should live by. You can feel the humility and kindness pour out from this family through this book.
The only thing I had wished for in this book was more journal entries. So heartbreaking, so raw, but so much family love.
Writing can really get us through tough times and grief, but helps keep memories alive forever. This book is a fantastic testament to that.
I can't even imagine the heartache in losing a loved one to the war. This book does a great job at turning sadness and heartache into a beautiful remembrance. So many excerpts of Charles's words are really things that everyone should live by. You can feel the humility and kindness pour out from this family through this book.
The only thing I had wished for in this book was more journal entries. So heartbreaking, so raw, but so much family love.
Writing can really get us through tough times and grief, but helps keep memories alive forever. This book is a fantastic testament to that.
January 16, 2022
Heartbreaking at times, but not what I expected. Dana writes to her baby son Jordan about her life before and after meeting Charles, Jordan's father. There are only a handful of excerpts from Charles' 200 page journal that he wrote to his son while deployed in Iraq. I thought it would be more. It is more of Dana's observations on life, love, marriage, etc. rather than Charles' advice to his son. I was disappointed to a great degree, however, Dana does redeem herself toward the end of the book by realizing her mistakes and immaturity when facing marriage and motherhood. I would recommend it to those who like memoirs, but don't expect a lot of Jordan's father in this book.
January 24, 2022
I was very disappointed in this book. I'm yet to see the 2021 movie. I was looking forward to read about the journal entries the father left for his son but was faced with the mother telling her story to her son. Yes that was lovely of her but I would have liked to see and envision the love he had for his son before he met him. She prevented it because she wanted to be the center of the story telling. She could have wrote the book based on his journal entries and from his words not hers. This book could have been better.
June 30, 2009
I picked this book up on the off-chance and found that I couldn't put it down. Dana wrote from the heart, and it's an appealing mix of her memories and the journal her fiance wrote for their infant son. Punches aren't pulled; she's as critical of herself as anyone else and what comes across is a loving family, a reminder of why we go to war and a beautiful memoir.
January 2, 2022
What an amazing story of love, honor, devotion and family. I cried the entire way through the last 5 chapters. My husband in 18 years in the Army and I felt every part of this story. He joined the Army right after 9/11 and has completed 3 tours. The author did not leave any detail out and she opened my eyes as well. What a touching story.
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