This riveting memoir is the first book written by a female Marine about the war in Iraq and one of the only books written by a woman who has experienced combat firsthand. Deploying to Iraq in 2003, Jane Blair's aerial reconnaissance unit was assigned to travel ahead of and alongside combat units throughout the initial phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Throughout her deployment, Jane kept a journal of her and her fellow lieutenants' combat experiences, which she draws on to convey the immediacy of life in the military, not just for a woman but for all Marines. Jane's stories highlight the drama and chaos of wartime Iraq along with the day-to-day challenges every soldier faced: from spicing up a "pasta with alfredo sauce" MRE to keeping the insidious sand at bay. She also copes with a bullying superior officer while trying to connect with local civilians who have long been viewed as "the enemy." She recounts the struggles specific to women, including being respected as a Marine rather than dismissed as "the weaker sex" and battling the prejudices of male soldiers who don't believe women belong in uniform. And always, she fights the personal loneliness of being separated from her husband, balanced with the challenge and joy of stealing a private moment with him when his unit is close by. Jane describes not only her experiences as a young lieutenant and as a woman but also those of her fellow Marines, whom she lauds as the true heroes of her story. Ultimately, she learns from her commanding officer, and her fellows in arms, what it truly means to be a leader, both in the military and in life. Weaving her story together with the experiences of the ordinary people of Iraq, this book offers compelling insights into the profound impact of the war on the lives of soldiers and civilians alike. Her unforgettable narrative bridges the gap between those who have experienced the Iraq War firsthand and those in America who could only follow its life-altering events from a distance.
This book was written so the author would also smile. Random Thoughts is a link to the daily life of a thinking brain. Every reader should recognize themselves somewhere in these pages.
In this captivating and page-turning literary novel, Zelda Blair is a young mother trapped in an abusive marriage, navigating a life in which appearances are everything. Zelda resides with her husband and four young children in San Francisco's tony Pacific Heights neighborhood. The daughter of a literature professor and a Manhattan police officer, Zelda is known among friends and acquaintances for her intelligence and genial nature. However, she hides a simmering resentment: She believes that her investment banker husband, Nick, is having an affair with her close friend, Brooke, an outspoken Bay area socialite. Zelda decides to shelter herself and her four daughters at her parents' home, but she never admits to her feelings of shame, confusion, and intimidation, and she struggles with the emotional contradiction of loving a husband who attacks her physically with increasing hostility. She eventually returns home to find Nick in one of his better moods. But her self-deception soon crumbles, and she finally tells her friends about his physical violence. She also begins an extramarital attraction of her own. Later on, things get messy and the lines between lovers and enemies become blurred. The story fairly brims with amiable and charming characters, but it also effectively gets across Zelda's dark history, eliciting empathy and compassion. Foster's prose style is cleareyed and relentless throughout, right up to a rousing conclusion that will shock and satisfy readers. An intense, emotional story of domestic abuse.
Children are introduced to language through play, ensuring that their first encounter with English is non-threatening and fun. Children join the characters Katy and Tom as they travel around an island inhabited by animals in Zig-Zag Island, the first level, and around another island occupied by magic characters in Zig-Zag Magic , the second level. This sets the context for songs, games and stories covering a variety of topics such as the family,toys and food. There are no words in the Zig-Zag Island coursebook; each unit focuses on a different story told entirely through the illustrations. This allows children to take part in communicative activities without worrying about written forms. Zig-Zag Magic introduces reading and writing at a very gentle pace. Ateach level puzzle pages, featuring a wide variety of puzzles, keep children attentive and motivated and help to develop thinking skills. Cut-outs for easy-to-make items such masks, puppets and cards are included. At each level posters and flashcards provide the stimulus for a number of games.
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