Home and Away by David and Nancy French

This is the real life story of David French's journey from lawyer to Army officer on the front lines in Iraq, as well as his wife, Nancy, and her experiences while being left behind to manage a household with two children and a dog, by herself.


What makes this story an interesting read is that we get the human side of a military deployment from both the husband, serving in a war zone for a year, and the wife, who is serving in her community, managing her household alone.


I was drawn to how both David and Nancy relate their experiences in a way that is down to earth, and shared so that you and I would see a very clear picture of the raw emotion and excitement of a new journey in their lives that leaves both of them having to conquer new challenges that are both scary and nerve-wracking at the same time.


David brings a very human side to the Iraq war, by telling the story of his relationship with his comrades in arms.  And we read about the tragic deaths of those he came to call "brothers".  However, even in reading about the human side of the war, David has carefully crafted his story in a way that brings honor and dignity to the cause in which America is fighting for in the Middle East.  The most amusing tale that most of us would never think about is how you go to the bathroom in Iraq.  And for that you'll have to pick up a copy of this book to learn the details.  I will say that it definitely is interesting.


Nancy does a great job of telling a story of a wife who is forced to deal with the household by herself, and tells the details of things that she had never done before, because David had always been there to handle them.  She also relates the emotional side of the interpersonal relationships of her friends, church, and community that stood by her side and supported her with more than just comforting words and thoughts, but through their actions and deeds.  How does a "war widow" manage when her husband is deployed for a year?  You'll have to read the book to truly find out.


Both down to earth and real, "Home and Away" tells a great story of a family who sacrificed for America, well beyond what any of us should be expected to sacrifice.  A true American treasure.


I was provided with a copy of this book by the DeMoss Group, in exchange for this review.