Home Front

Kristin Hannah and I have a love hate relationship.  I either really like her book or I'm like gaaaaah, stereotypical crap I can't get into.  Unfortunately, this was in the gaaaaaaaaaah pile.  In theory, it has a great plot.  In reality, the family dynamic made me yell at the book, PARENT YOUR PRE-TEEN CHILD WHO IS BEING UTTERLY RIDICULOUS and the typical it's all about me, we will never work this minor disagreement out / our marriage is soooooo over/ I can't see your point of view, between Jolene and Michael turned me off.

Synopsis: Like many couples, Michael and Jolene Zarkades have to face the pressures of everyday life---children, careers, bills, chores---even as their twelve-year marriage is falling apart. Then an unexpected deployment sends Jolene deep into harm’s way and leaves defense attorney Michael at home, unaccustomed to being a single parent to their two girls. As a mother, it agonizes Jolene to leave her family, but as a solider she has always understood the true meaning of duty. In her letters home, she paints a rose-colored version of her life on the front lines, shielding her family from the truth. But war will change Jolene in ways that none of them could have foreseen. When tragedy strikes, Michael must face his darkest fear and fight a battle of his own---for everything that matters to his family.

At once a profoundly honest look at modern marriage and a dramatic exploration of the toll war takes on an ordinary American family, Home Front is a story of love, loss, heroism, honor, and ultimately, hope.

Basically, the Zarkades family are all very self-absorbed and the only one it's cute on is the 4 year old LuLu.  Michael changes completely from beginning to end and is actually the one I liked more so than Jolene.  I think Dr. Cornflower (ha ha, yes, that is his name) is my favorite character. 

Yes, the part when Jolene is in Iraq and away from the family shows a lot of emotion and reality to what soldiers and their families go through and I think probably contains the best parts written in the whole book.  However, the way Jolene and Michael deal with their relationship is just really absurd.  The way they let their 12 year old talk to them is absurd and ya know, another problem/story waiting to happen.

I was sad that I didn't like it.

Have you read it? Others by Hannah? What was your favorite?