On the fourth Thursday of each month, I share a memoir that’s well written, meaningful, and full of lessons for writers.
This time, I look at Camouflage: How I Emerged from the Shadows of a Military Marriage by Heather Sweeney. It’s a memoir focused on life at home rather than combat and missions.
The memoir follows Sweeney as she reshapes her life around her husband’s navy career, raising their two children largely on her own. She shows behavior and emotions without blame, giving readers space to draw their own conclusions.
She develops a strong character arc that depicts the woman she was when she married and the person she evolved into by the end of the book.
Might Camouflage be a memoir you’d like to read? Why or why not? Have you read other military memoirs? If so, which ones?
But always remember, the only way to do this wrong is to not do it at all!
I will get her book. I, too, was an Army Vietnam era pilots wife for 16 years, 11 moves, 2 one year tours, with boys 2 and 3, first year and 3 children, 2, 6, and 7years old, second tour. Then 1 year in Korea, before divorce. I was fortunate to have 3 wonderful children.
I can so relate because my ex husband decided to enlist shortly after we were married and I was newly pregnant. How life challenges us and best we are not given a preview. However, I adjusted and was a happy military wife, until I wasn’t.
I have a friend who wrote her memoir about being an Air Force pilot’s wife (during Vietnam), but she traveled with him. Your recommendation is on my list…thanks.
Thanks a lot Patricia! Now I have to write a story. I have been a military member and a spouse, and have deployed and watched others deploy. This really triggered things for me.