Nettie and Andy have been soul mates since the sandbox days. While planning their wedding, Andy receives orders from the Army to deploy to South Vietnam for a year. Worrying about his safety, Nettie dives into her work as an ER nursing intern.
She inadvertently walks in on a nursing supervisor and surgeon during a late-night tryst in the shadowy recesses of the hospital. The vengeful lovers initiate a campaign to discredit Nettie and terminate her internship.
In Southeast Asia, Andy is leading a reconnaissance squad when he receives orders to escort a high-ranking female freedom fighter, Bien, to a clandestine meeting with an enemy officer who wants to defect. Raped, beaten, and left for dead by North Vietnamese soldiers, Bien is suspicious of the enemy officer’s motives. But something tells her he may be the long-lost brother her attackers conscripted into their army as a child. Andy believes his unit is walking into a trap that could cost him everything.
Struggling to survive in different worlds, Nettie and Andy navigate the best and worst of human nature as they try to find their way back to each other.
Pam Webber is the bestselling author of four historical novels—The Wiregrass, Moon Water, Life Dust., and Massawa. The Historical Novel Society, Southern Literary Review, and Readersfavorite.com among others highly recommend her work because of the memorable characters, engaging stories, and immersive settings. Pam is also an internal medicine nurse practitioner and former nursing educator. She and her husband, Jeff, are avid travelers and especially love visiting the national parks and world heritage sites. They live in the beautiful Northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. For updates on Pam’s next novel, visit her at www.pamwebber.com
Pam Webber’s Life Dust revolves around two young people separated by the Vietnam War. Andy is a lieutenant in the military and has been sent overseas to lead a platoon of long range reconnaissance operators. His dangerous assignment worries his fiancé, Nettie, who is a nurse-in-training. She’s going through her own struggles concerning hospital politics. That alone can’t keep her mind from worry so she volunteers at an organization dedicated to finding missing and captured soldiers. She also befriends an old man, Mr. Pepper, at the hospital, who has his own painful struggles from the past that he hopes to resolve. Each character learns about what we leave behind in this world and how that life dust changes others.
The dual perspective storytelling is pretty good. We hear from Andy and Nettie in turn, each going through difficult times. They learn to make strong connections to others by being true to themselves. They are both kind, supportive, strong and moral people, making them ideally suitable for their current positions. They are also prefect matches for each other.
Andy’s conflicts are a bit more straightforward than Nettie’s. He deals with the ravages of war, incompetent leadership, scared young men in his platoon and the need to protect those who suffer under oppression. Nettie deals with a horrible supervisor who has it out for her, which creates more drama than necessary. She also has a full life dealing with her volunteer job and visiting Mr. Pepper. Some of those problems overlap in a very coincidental way and caused even more drama for Nettie.
Overall, I liked the book but I wish the issues Nettie faced had been different. I felt like they were coincidental and melodramatic. I did read some of Andy’s sections to family members who had been in Vietnam. They disagreed with some aspects and the historical accuracy. Outside of those elements, most of the book did feel historically accurate, so I appreciate the author’s research. The book tends to be focused on telling instead of showing, which makes it a bit preachy. The book ends with some heavy handed lessons. It looks like a lot of others responded well to the book so take my opinion with a grain of salt. I did receive an epub/netgalley for an honest review.
Never underestimate the impact of what we leave behind, the power of life’s dust.
Life Dust is the third novel by Pam Webber featuring the character Nettie, who was first introduced in The Wiregrass. It takes place in 1971 and tells the alternating stories of Nettie and her childhood friend and now fiancé, Andy.
It is 1971 and the Vietnam war is still being fought. Nettie is in nursing school and interning at a hospital in Virginia. Andy is preparing to ship out to Vietnam where he will be doing reconnaissance work. While Nettie deals with a hostile supervisor and makes friends with a dying patient, Andy is on the ground in Vietnam to try to gain intelligence on enemy operations. Nettie’s story is interesting and filled with well-developed characters, but it is Andy’s story that really grips the reader. The description of being a foot soldier in the jungles of Vietnam is so realistic that one can almost feel the heat, bugs, and tension. It also makes very clear in a subtle way just how difficult it must be to adjust to life, on the base or at home, when one is used to expecting the enemy around every corner.
The novel deftly touches on the issues of the times including women’s rights and Vietnam war protests. The descriptions of landscape and flowers of Hawaii are very well done, as is the description of the greenhouse and nursery.
This is a very well-crafted novel that will pull you in and keep you engaged till the end. Prepare to laugh and cry as well as be impressed with the wisdom that is shared. - Jennifer C.
“Quy is what Asians call ‘life dust’ or one who is left behind.”
Amazing tale of second chances. The protagonist, Nettie (and her now-fiancé Andy) from The Wiregrass and Moon Water, matures and faces new challenges personally and professionally in the early 1970s. Dual-track plot with several cross connections. Dickens would have been proud.
“Sometimes the most valuable lessons are not the ones we learn in a classroom, they’re the ones we learn when people abuse power.”
The best kind of historical fiction, inserting the reader in history. Since Webber is a nurse, we assume she got the nuances of nursing student life right. Vietnam veterans will recognize she got enough of the situation on the ground in Vietnam’s I Corps in 1971-72 and events related to the National League of POW/MIA Families right that she must have consulted those who had been there.
“Never underestimate the power of human contact and what it means to someone who feels isolated and alone.”
Overtly Christian. Optimistic. Not overtly political, though hospital and military life is awash with internal politics. Her characterization of military and medical types rings true. All of which will offend some readers. Those who stick with the story will be rewarded.
“People rarely forgive you for what they do to you.”
As true for her previous books, Webber does not dwell on race though several characters are people of color. Personalities are fully drawn and engaging.
“No one is beyond forgiveness.”
(Full disclosure: I was a beta reader of this novel in 2021. This review reflects my impression then and now. The finished product is even better.) ((Goodreads.com page count is incorrect. It's 290 pages long.))
Nettie and Andy have known each other all of their lives, and newly engaged, when Andy gets orders to Vietnam. Nettie is an intern in nurses training at a local hospital, and drives hundreds of miles to be with Andy before he leaves. It's a poignant farewell, with promises to write, and, more importantly, Andy's promise to return home to Nettie.
One night while on duty, Nettie stumbles upon her nursing supervisor and a doctor in a compromising situation. Unsure whether she'd been noticed by them, Nettie soon discovers that the nurse is out to make Nettie's life difficult. The nurse, Mrs. Woods, goes out of her way to criticize and ridicule Nettie, looking for reasons to remove her from her training program. So when Nettie befriends a disgruntled, angry heart patient she helped treat in the emergency room, Mrs. Woods doubles down on her harassment. Nettie has not told anyone what she saw that night, so many of the staff wonder why Mrs. Woods is targeting Nettie with her anger.
Andy's duties in Vietnam become clear when he is put in command of a small reconnaissance troop that will conduct patrols along the border of the demilitarized zone (DMZ). His immediate supervisor, Major Smith, has shown his lack of understanding of the dangers involved, but Andy has several members of his patrol with experience, and he relies on them to train the rest of the men. They must learn to survive in a jungle where the enemy is only part of the danger. There are plants, animals, and weather to be aware of, and learning to live off the land becomes paramount. Towards the end of his tour, Andy's group is assigned to accompany a Vietnamese woman in a dangerous attempt to meet with a North Vietnamese officer who may, or may not, be the woman's brother. Andy is not so sure that this isn't a trap.
Nettie's friendship with the heart patient, Mr. Pepper, keeps her mind off of worrying about Andy. Mr. Pepper is immensely wealthy, but has no one left in his family, and very few friends. He relies on Nettie's visits to cheer him up, but she is threatened by Mrs. Woods if she continues to see the man. What could possibly be wrong with visiting a gravely ill patient?
LIFE DUST is Pam Webber's latest novel, and it is, at times, heart wrenching, but also uplifting. Nettie's integrity stands out as she avoids revealing what she knows about Mrs. Woods, but how long can she hold out? As for Andy, can he keep his troop safe, and, at the same time, complete his mission? Will Nettie and Andy be together again?
An amazingly well researched, historically accurate novel, LIFE DUST is a page turner. For those who lived through this era, it will bring back a lot of memories.
This historical fiction novel looks at a more recent turbulent time in American history - the 1970s and the Vietnam War. It's the parallel story of a young engaged couple - Andy is a lieutenant in the military and has deployed to Vietnam and assigned a platoon to do long range reconnaissance in the Vietnamese jungles and Nettie is training to be a nurse at a busy hospital. They both face daily trials in their jobs as they worry about each other and whether they will ever be reunited. The chapters alternate between the two main characters and highlight Andy's day to day life of trying to stay alive and keep his platoon safe while Nettie works through hospital politics at home.
Nettie loves her training at the hospital and enjoys helping other people. When she inadvertently walks in on the director of nursing and a hospital employee having a tryst in an unused area of the hospital, the nursing director begins to go out of her way to discredit Nettie and remove her from her training. At she fights against this injustice, she makes friends with an older man who is dying but still has lessons that he wants to teach her about life.
Andy's days are much more precarious. Facing the heat and the bugs and leeches, he spends his time trying to keep his platoon out of danger while they are gathering information for the officers. Even as Andy and Nettie are apart they think of each other often and pray that they will soon be together to start their life as a married couple. Both characters believe in the power of God to get them through their situations and live their lives as good and decent people who care about others.
Because of my age, it is difficult for me to view the Vietnam era as historical fiction even though it does fit the 50 year criteria. This book brought back a lot of memories about what life was like back then and even went into issues such as the protestors and the mistakes that were being made by the military in their quest to win the war. Overall, this was a beautifully written book about two people in love who are facing the daily trails of life with love and faith that they'll soon be together again.
Life Dust is Pam Webber’s third and newest historical novel featuring the very memorable Nettie. While each of the three novels could be read as stand-alones, readers who are familiar with Webber’s two previous novels - The Wiregrass and Moon Water - will welcome Nettie, her fiancé Andy and her childhood friend Win back into their lives.
Life Dust is set in the early 1970’s in both Virginia and South Vietnam. Nettie is now enrolled in a nursing internship program and sharing an apartment with life-long friend Win. Andy is in the ARMY and has been sent to South Vietnam where he leads a long-range reconnaissance squad.
Nettie is a plucky young woman who is sensitive, compassionate, dedicated and who has unwavering integrity. In the face of adversity with a nursing supervisor, she is discreet yet unflappable. And, even though her experience in nursing is relatively young, she displays a remarkable dedication to honoring a dying patient’s final wishes. As a now-retired hospice nurse with over forty years’ experience, this reviewer found Nettie’s interactions with difficult nursing superiors and challenging patient, Mr. Pepper, to be especially relatable.
Andy has newly received his orders to be stationed in Vietnam. He is dedicated, ready to serve his country, and proves himself to be a fair and honorable squad leader. For this reviewer, the descriptions of the treachery of the jungle, the possibility of an enemy at every turn, and the seemingly impossible conditions brought new insight. From the moment Andy’s story was seated in the war zone, it became obvious that Ms.Webber had researched her subject matter extensively. Despite having friends who served in Vietnam as well as having cared for hospice patients who were veterans of that war, I was not prepared for the degree to which Webber’s writing would both enlighten and disturb me.
Nettie’s and Andy’s stories are told in parallel to one another. As their stories unfold continents apart, they are also woven together with the common threads that have become hallmarks of Ms. Webber’s writings: faith, the struggle between good and evil, second chances, love, inclusion, loyalty and integrity.
When I receive a copy of a Pam Webber novel, my first inclination is to put the rest of my world on hold and immerse myself in her book. From prior experience, I know that the pages of her novel will draw me in from the very beginning and maintain their hold on me until the last word has been read. Also from prior reading experience, I know that when the final words are read, I will be both grateful and saddened… grateful that I had the opportunity to experience Ms. Webber’s gift but saddened that the experience has concluded.
If you are new to Ms. Webber’s works, you may be asking “What exactly is her gift?” In this reviewer’s opinion, the gift is multi-faceted: her strong character development, her ability to draw her readers in from the very first pages and hold them there until the very end, and her skillful use of creative “word painting” to coax readers into the place, or places, from which the story evolves.
Pam Webber is a gifted writer whose storytelling is, in this reviewer’s opinion, reminiscent of such literary greats as Harper Lee, Pearl Buck, Sinclair Lewis, Mark Twain and John Steinbeck, to name a few.
The year is 1971 and the war in Vietnam has been fought by US forces for seven years. Nettie is a caring, no-nonsense nurse in a Virginia hospital. Her life revolves around her work and her boyfriend Andy. Andy is stationed in Fort Benning, but is soon to be deployed to Vietnam. Nettie and Andy share a deep love and affection that can withstand Andy’s distant service. As they bade each other goodbye, both are determined to see each other again and get married.
Andy is chosen to command a Long Range Reconaissance Patrol in Vietnam. He needs to get his men ready to fight the North Vietnamese and the Vietcong. Andy is frustrated by the meddlesome military bureaucracy and the rules of engagement that hamper his squad’s combat efforts. Andy has to contend with chaotic forces of mother nature, deadly animals of various types and the immaturity of soldiers. Any of those could get Andy and his men killed.
Nettie contends with her own issues back in the United States. A patient she saved from imminent death has taken a shine to her. Nettie looks in on the patient and has long, fruitful conversations about life. However, a fellow nurse has zeroed in on Nettie as a troublemaker and attempts to have her reprimanded or removed from the hospital entirely. Nettie’s resolve is tested as she has to navigate through the turbulence in career and personal life.
“Life Dust” is a strong fictional drama from author Pam Webber (“The Wiregrass”, “Moon Water). The book focuses on the experiences of Andy and Nettie, as they both cope with their separation due to the increasingly unpopular war in Southeast Asia. The frustration experienced by Nettie as she awaits word from Andy resonates profoundly as well as the possibility that he may never come home. Webber’s portrayal of Nettie is as a strong woman who while longing for her love’s return doesn’t while away her days. Nettie excels at her position, provides exemplary care and gets involved in the war effort on the homefront. The emotional wringer that the families of soldiers are put through during their loved one’s service is written with empathy and tactfully. Andy is a natural leader with a willingness to challenge authority, even to his own detriment. He wants to take the battle to the enemy, but doesn’t want to lose a man. Nettie is his world, and he is fighting his way back to her.
Webber highlights the human cost of war, both in Vietnam and stateside. The families of prisoners of war(POW) and missing in action(MIA) are not a silent minority, but powerful activists demanding answers from the military and political leaders who sent their men abroad. The emotional tone of the book is attuned to those who are left behind to wait their loved one’s return. “Life Dust” doesn’t limit itself to being a drama with romantic undertones, but a character-driven book where love, war and humanity attempt to co-exist. A brilliant piece of writing to be enjoyed by many.
Nettie and Andy have known each other all their lives. They have been featured in two previous novels, “The Wiregrass” (which I have not read) and “Moon Water” (which I loved). This third novel is not billed as a sequel, and it is a complete stand-alone.
In “Moon Water,” Nettie and Andy had broken up but now have reconciled and are engaged. Andy is in the Army and Nettie is a nursing intern at the local hospital. When Andy gets orders to go to Vietnam, it changes their trajectory. She drives hours to see him before he leaves.
They desperately want to get married but put the idea on hold. Their future is so scary. Will Andy come home? Will he come home whole? Will Nettie wait for him? What if he comes back in pieces? The novel alternates between Nettie and Andy.
Nettie is working in the ER when a cantankerous old man comes in with severe chest pains. He is a regular in the ER and the other nurses hate him. Nettie befriends him and He becomes like grandfather figure. Nettie s also grappling with the nurse’s supervisor’s bullying. Nettie walked in on Mrs. Woods and one of the surgeons in a comprising situation. Mrs. Woods goes out of her to remove Nettie from the program.
Andy’s sections take place in Vietnam. Andy has been assigned to lead a small reconnaissance up to the DMZ. They are gone for months at a time and must depend upon themselves to take care of their needs and to gather the needed information. Webber does a wonderful job capturing the horror of Vietnam. I swear I could feel the bugs crawling over me as I read. Andy’s experiences are well researched. Andy writes long letters to Nettie who cherishes each one of them.
I loved this novel. There was a sentence that threw me because it references back to “Moon Water,” and that’s when I learned this novel was a continuation of Nettie and Andy’s story. It was a complete stand-alone.
I hope that Webber writes another novel about these two characters as I grew to admire and love them as they each faced their separate travails.
“Life Dust” receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.
I'll start by saying that I loved this book! This story is told from two points of view - Andy and Nettie. They are an engaged couple in the early 1970s, and he is shipped out to Vietnam to fight in the war. Nettie is a nursing student doing an internship at a local hospital. Despite being separated, they are still connected through letters and a few phone calls that Andy is lucky enough to be able to make from the jungles of Vietnam.
While I have no idea how accurate the details are of the war in Vietnam, I found myself rethinking what I did know and what the people were fighting for over there. The book also brings to light MIA and POWs. I was impressed that the author included an organization that was formed during this time to help bring home these missing men and the lengths they went to in fighting politicians and the Pentagon to gather more information and bring closure for families.
I loved how the story was told from both Andy's and Nettie's points of view. They were both experiencing different things, and seeing it through their eyes gave me a better understanding of their lives. Andy led a squad of men that did recon work to determine where the North Vietnamese were located and determine if there was anything the military needed to know about their actions. There are many tense moments, as you can imagine, and I have more respect than ever for our military and what they do to protect us. Nettie has her own issues at the hospital where she is interning, from a head nurse that has taken an instant dislike to her and sets out to make her life miserable. The bright spot in all of this is Mr. Pepper, a dying patient, but he forges a bond of friendship with Nettie. Turns out, there is a lot more to his story that we learn as time passes.
Even with all of the turmoil in their lives, neither one loses faith in themselves and a higher power. This faith helps them endure strenuous situations and believe that all will be right in the world.
While this is a sequel to Moon Water, this book can be read independently. I now want to go back and read this book to watch Andy and Nettie's relationship blossom.
A remarkable tale of courage, honor, and love, “Life Dust” addresses the struggles of the Vietnam War period as well as the effects of our choices during life.
I received a free copy of this book to read and give an honest review.
Hospitals are known for saving lives but wars destroy them. Pam Webber masterfully portrays both the environment of a teaching hospital as well as the challenges of an army squad trying to survive in an atmosphere surrounded by death. The author's extensive research into the Viet Nam War is evident just as her background in the medical field gives authenticity to hospital protocols and the experiences of nurse interns. The horrors of war are counter-balanced by the skills and compassion of nurses.
Nettie and Andy are devastated when they are separated as they are planning their wedding. Andy is deployed to Viet Nam while Nettie is left behind to continue as a nursing intern in Northern Virginia. In their letters to one another they share their love but not the true details of their difficult lives including being bullied by superiors. They both deal with their bullies in their own kind and true to themselves manner.
All people must make difficult choices and then live with them no matter the consequences. Nettie and Andy are no exception.
What a wonderful story and a true depiction of what life was like for couples separated by the Vietnam conflict. Webber treats her characters with understanding and compassion as they experience conflicts at home and in Southeast Asian jungles. As Nettie and Andy experience life while apart, they make realistic choices with believable consequences. I’ve waited decades for a book that covers the historic elements of the period with such honesty and understanding of this complicated era. Now I can’t wait to talk about it!
3.5. Being left behind in the “dust” of life is the overarching thread.nnchapters alternate between two main characters who love each other and are now separated by the Vietnamese war. A bit melodramatic for my taste. For those unfamiliar with that war, it is an educational and tragic exposure
In this cynical media environment, it is pleasant to find a genuine story of hope and love. “Life Dust” is a book that restores faith. Those who lived through the Vietnam era will appreciate the historical context immediately before and after the release of the Pentagon Papers, especially as it affected the push to identify the status of missing soldiers. Andy’s attitude toward anti-war protests is a refreshing change from the cinematic angry “Rambo” characters: he is clear on why he is serving his country and is prepared to perform at the best of his ability. Nettie’s test of faith lies with empathetic care for patients. Her story is one of giving meaning to a life cut short, symbolized by a ring and a garden and a legacy from an earlier war. What is “life dust”? Faith, hope and love - not just in the present, but in our legacy to those who follow. These qualities endure.
Nettie's childhood sweetheart Andy is deployed to Vietnam with very short notice. To cope with her anxiety for his safety, she throws herself into work as a nursing intern.
Running Andy's story in parallel with Nettie's, we get an interesting insight into the real life struggles of a covert military reconnaissance squad in the Vietnamese jungles, the camaraderie of the men and the not so professional superior in charge.
Mr Pepper was a delightful character, so gentle, caring and thoughtful. The tranquility he created with his plants brought a calm to the story, in stark contrast to the events facing Andy and his men. I liked how Mr Pepper got a second chance of living and dying.
Nettie and Andy have known each other since kindergarten and are engaged to be married. Nettie is a nursing intern when Andy is deployed to Viet Nam. Nettie promises Andy that she'll stay busy while he's gone, so immerses herself into her work at the hospital, where she meets a man whose health is failing. Meanwhile, in Viet Nam, Andy experiences the horrors of war.
The story moves between the characters as they live their forced separate lives.
Webber's account of war is so well researched that it was extremely enlightening, reading like a non-fiction book at times, but in a very human way.
What a marvelous story in Life Dust by Pam Webber. Each book in this series, is a standalone, and I've read the two that came before this one. I do recommend reading them in order, though they are stand alone, you get a sense of the characters and their growth. As in The Wiregrass and Moon Water, Nettie is my favorite character, and she faces losing her fiancé to the army. To Vietnam. The stories revolve around both Nettie and Andy, and the obstacles they must face, and dealing with their own emotions, plus the loss of time and space between them. It's a very remarkable story, and the characters have grown and are bringing so much to the story. I see this as a character-driven story, and it has a lot of ups and downs, and turmoil that sweeps into their lives. It's a magnificently written tale, and it makes the reader feel like part of the story. It is always an honor to read this author's books. This author is a great storyteller. The author brings the reader on a superb journey. This journey was very unpredictable. This is a totally inspirational title. The title drew me in, but the story made me stay. I hope to read more books by this author. A wondrous trail of words. Life Dust is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
I was drawn in from page one. I could not put it down. Pam Webber writes in such a way that I felt like I was right in the story! I didn’t want the story to end, I wanted to follow Andy and Nettie as they build their life together. I really enjoyed the insight into the Vietnam War, and the integrity of the characters as they bravely faced everyday events. From Andy and Nettie’s forever love, to Mr. Pepper’s life well lived helping others in the name of his best friend Danny. Even through cranky Mrs. Woods, we learn a valuable lesson. Thank you Pam for your best read yet!!
I didn't realize this was part of a series until I was partway through the book and things sounded familiar. I have read one other in this series (I need to go find the other one now). However, this would also work quite well as a stand alone book. It has an engaging story (no pun intended) and well researched history.
I agree with all the other five star reviews that were given here. Most of them say it all. This is a wonderful story that is hard to put down once you begin. The reader will laugh and cry. There is heartbreak and hope. It shows us about the gift of receiving second chances and how we must not waste them.
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author. This was the first book of hers I’ve read and I have limited exposure to fiction from the Vietnam era. That said, I think this book was very well written. The characters are well developed and the book held my interest. Dueling chapters follow Nettie and her fiancé, Andy, each facing their own challenges. Definitely a great story.
Life Dust is an enthralling account of a young, engaged couple in 1971. Andy, an Army lieutenant, gets deployed to Vietnam for a year. Nettie is a nursing intern at an ER in Virginia. Seemingly completely different situations, Pam Webber does a superb job at artfully keeping their lives parallel. It is a refreshing Vietnam story.
Conducting reconnaissance, Andy and his men tread lightly in the jungle, to survive the enemy and the jungle itself. “[D]on’t fight the jungle. . . . It provides food, water, and cover against the enemy and the elements. Its noise, as well as its silence, warns you if someone or something is approaching. It even has medicines for some of our most common ailments. However, if you ignore or disrespect it, the jungle will kill you.” Despite also fighting human limitations, fatigue, and military bureaucracy, Andy and his men morph into a cohesive squad. After a daring reconnaissance mission, when they’re catching their breaths back at camp, they’re assigned to a secret operation. The mission’s intricate plan is dangerous but Andy’s men would follow him anywhere. Fait accompli (albeit, with repercussions), Andy goes home.
Meanwhile, Nettie finds a friend in an elderly, cranky patient with a bad heart. “He’s been angry since he woke up and realized he wasn’t dead.” She inspires him and he credits her with buying him more time. Their friendship and her dedication to him flourishes, despite the constant obstacles Nettie’s superior throws at her. Like Andy, Nettie stands up for herself and others in the face of intimidation, is a loyal friend, and feels the heartache of losing a friend.
Webber weaves flowers into both characters’ lives. In his youth, lotus blossoms were the saving grace of Nettie’s dying friend, and he introduces her to the healing powers of gardens. In Vietnam, in addition to offering a spiritual lift, the eloquent lotus blossoms and the ritual of steeping tea in the flower overnight play a logistical role in resistance operations, and in Andy’s secret mission.
We’re transported to Andy’s and Nettie’s simultaneous adventures, worlds apart. I highly recommend you stop and smell the lotus blossoms, and read Life Dust.
This is one book you will not want to miss, from page one I was pulled into the story until the last page.
This is not the usual type of book I read. I read the introduction and it seamed like an interesting story so thought I would give it a go. I am so glad I did. This is so much more then what I thought the story was going to be about.
Andy goes of to Vietnam and leaves behind a fiancé who is interning at a hospital to become a nurse. We learn of what happens in each of there lives in the year they were apart. Andy with what he goes through on his missions with the men who become family to him. About the surroundings they have to endure in the jungles. And how they survived on the jungle for there food. The horrible things that happened to the innocent people who lived there. And Nettie, his fiancé what it was like to be a nurse at the hospital she worked when one of her superiors where giving her a hard time. Her meeting a very ill patients she befriends and what his past life was like.
Beautifully written and highly engaging story. 4 1/2 starts
First, I want to thank Pam Webber for sending autographed copies for my book group. The title refers to “one who is left behind”. Chapters alternate between Nettie, a nurse doing an internship and Andy, her fiancé, who is deployed to South Vietnam. You quickly become involved with them. The Lotus flower plays an important part as does a patient in Nettie’s care, Mr Pepper. Many letters travel back and forth between Nettie and Andy and we follow what they are doing in the days and months that follow. Of course there are a few nasty miserable characters that cause problems. I was anxious to see what would happen to them. Does Nettie lose her internship? Does Andy survive? The only objection I have is that there are a lot of religious references. Life Dust published in November 2022.
Set during the Vietnam War (this is) the story of Nettie and Andy. Nettie is a Nurse, Andy is in the Army serving his country. Told in alternating voices with attention to detail and engaging dialog. A Heart-felt, emotionally charged story of love, friendship, life and death. A good read.
Disclaimer this is part of a series for which I did not know until I was done and realized that it would have been incredibly helpful to read the first book. The story line of nurse and fiance was well written however I would've made sure to read the others first! I plan to read thr other books first in this series.