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    Home Front: A Novel
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    Home Front: A Novel
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    Home Front: A Novel
    Audiobook15 hours

    Home Front: A Novel

    Written by Kristin Hannah

    Narrated by Maggi-Meg Reed

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    About this audiobook

    "Home Front is Hannah's crowning achievement."—The Huffington Post

    In this powerhouse of a novel, Kristin Hannah explores the intimate landscape of a troubled marriage with this provocative and timely portrait of a husband and wife, in love and at war.

    All marriages have a breaking point. All families have wounds. All wars have a cost. . . .

    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 a 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.

    "Hannah has written a remarkable tale of duty, love, strength, and hope that is at times poignant and always thoroughly captivating and relevant." —Library Journal (starred review)

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateJan 31, 2012
    ISBN9781427215574
    Author

    Kristin Hannah

    Kristin Hannah is an award-winning international number one bestselling author with over 25 million copies of her books sold worldwide. Her most recent titles, The Four Winds, The Nightingale and The Great Alone won numerous best fiction awards and her earlier novel, Firefly Lane, is currently a bestselling series on Netflix. Kristin is a lawyer-turned-writer and is the mother of one son. She and her husband live in the Pacific Northwest near Seattle.

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    Reviews for Home Front

    4/5

    411 ratings42 reviews

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    • 5/5
      This is one of those books that has made an impact on my life. I am not part of a military family, but have always had immense respect for them. This book has given me an appreciation for their sacrifice more intense than I thought possible. Everyone should read this book. Kristin Hannah makes you feel all the feelings that our soldiers and their families deal with. She brought to light PTSD and I thank her for giving me that understanding in the only way possible short of living it yourself. Excellent read, just makes sure to have a case of tissues nearby because you will need them as you grieve with the characters and for the immense gratitude you will have for all those who fight for our freedoms!
    • 4/5
      Jolene and Michael are a ‘normal’ couple with two kids, a lovely home… and a crumbling marriage. The distance between them seems to be becoming unsurmountable and Michael caves one day and says he doesn’t love Jolene anymore. A hard statement to overcome at the best of times but when your wife is suddenly called to active service and you haven’t retracted it, what comes next can only be agonising for both parties. Thus begins a novel that is beset with struggles. For Jolene as she faces fear, loss and displacement, mourning the loss of friends and colleagues at the same time as she fears her marriage is over and her children’s resentment and confusion is unsurmountable. For Michael as he struggles with life alone with the children and the guilt over his cruel announcement. For the children as they live in fear and confusion over their mother’s absence.Sometimes the greatest thing about receiving review copies unexpectedly is that you get a book you would never have picked up under any other circumstances and find you really enjoy it. I didn’t think Home Front was necessarily for me from the blurb but by the second chapter I knew I could settle into it. This is an excellent story with many facets, delving into the intricacies of relationships but also raising more specific points, such as the pressures on military families, coping with time away from home, injury, bereavement. The novel also skims over PTSD, as Michael (who is a lawyer) becomes involved in defending a soldier who is accused of murdering his young wife.This is a very compelling and emotive read, which kept me turning the pages. It’s thought-provoking and well written, all characters displaying emotional strengths and weaknesses that make them – and their struggles – seem very realistic. Kristin Hannah has produced an excellent novel here and should be applauded for raising some difficult issues in such a sensitive and insightful way.**Review originally published on Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave. I received a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I did not receive any additional compensation and all views are my own.**
    • 5/5
      An excellent story of military life and tragedy, marriage almost failing because of it. Alot of emotions
    • 5/5
      This was the 3rd book I have read by this author. This one was a very powerful emotional book. The only negative was the 12 year old daughter.
    • 5/5
      I wasn't sure I was going to like this one, but as with all of the authors books I have read each one is better than the last. She has a gift with character development and pacing the plot just right. This book tells the story of a female Black Hawk pilot who is deployed and must leave her family. Told from the points of view of her husband and herself, the story takes us through how war impacts not only those who are deployed but also those left behind.
    • 5/5
      Too real, too sad for many American soliders , their families and friends. Definitely worthy to read.
    • 4/5
      Another wonderful book by Ms. Hannah. Realistic characters in an enthralling story.
    • 5/5
      This book was amazing. I couldn't put it down!!
    • 3/5
      I wanted to give this book a 3.5. It was not as good as her other novels but an enjoyable read.
    • 4/5
      Hannah knows how to play a reader’s emotions. As I listened to this, I smiled, I cried (way more than I wanted), and I yelled at the characters—a lot! It really takes talent to make a reader (or listener) do that, so kudos to Hannah for writing yet another remarkable, heart-wrenching tale.
    • 5/5
      Another great book from Kristin Hannah! I love how she is able to put so many feelings into words, and the books are so true to life and realistic that it makes it easy to relate to so many characters! I enjoyed getting to know Tami and Jo and following their story, their friends, and families.
    • 3/5
      a story of a failing marriage and how a family adjusts when their mother is deployed and the father is left to take care of their two daughters. Learned a lot about military life and how it affects the soldiers and their families.
    • 5/5
      Kristin Hannah's latest novel is a powerful, emotional read. At first, I wasn't sure I'd identify with the main character, Jolene, a 40 year old mother who is being deployed to Iraq. However, Kristin Hannah, who I wasn't familiar with prior to reading this novel, truly breathes life into her characters. I felt that Jolene and her husband, Michael, grew and evolved in a natural, realistic way.

      Although the plot involves the Iraq War, the novel does not come off as political, it does an excellent job of focusing on the struggles of a wife and mother who happens to be a soldier. The story breaks your heart and then believably begins to heal the pieces.
    • 4/5
      Jolene and Michael have to face the every day pressures of married life-careers, children, bills, and chores-even as their 12 year marriage falls apart. Then a deployment sends Jolene to Iraq where a horrific event sends Jolene home to face the even harder part of war: her return- when those she fought with and cared for throughout her Army career are taken.
    • 5/5
      What a great book, powerful, intense, and so emotional that at times I had trouble reading because of my tears. I totally admire the heroine and am grateful for our soldiers. Michael and Jolene are having marital problems when she is deployed to Iraq and agonizes about leaving her children.
    • 3/5
      Book was rather simple and did not really develop the potential of a family in crisis. The story was too pat and predictable. The book may open a few doors to people who don't know anything about soldiers problems when they return from active duty.
    • 4/5
      Great story! Everyone should read this... it was eye opening!
    • 5/5
      Jolene Zarkades, Wonderful wife, mom and soldier. What an emotional roller coaster this book takes you on. From home life to the battlefield, to coming home after a tour of duty in Iraq and dealing with demons. Jolenes family has to deal with all of this too. Because not only does it effect the soldier but the family of the soldier. What a well written heart felt, heart warming, great story that makes me want to share it with all of my friends and family. This book made me feel like I was there. Favorite Quote : “They are heroes, our soldiers, the men and women who go into harm’s way to protect us, our way of life. It doesn’t matter what you think of the war, you have to be grateful to the warriors, of who we ask so much.”
    • 5/5
      Wow, what a story. Michael and Jolene Zarkades, husband and wife, father and mother to 2 girls ages 4 and 11, .lawyer and Black Hawk pilot. Jolene is deployed along with her best friend, Tami. A story of the struggles of leaving a family and the struggles of returning from war. A story full of emotions. Would recommend this book.
    • 4/5
      A bit of a hard read, likely because of the war in Europe now. Jolene is a married guard helicopter pilot and 2 daughters. When she's deployed to Iraq with her best friend and fellow pilot, Tami, hubby Michael needs to step up to the plate quickly. Balancing Jo's story, is Michael defending a vet who killed his wife during a PTSD flashback. Of course, a kindly psychiatrist is involved in the case, which also helps Michael understand his wife quite a bit better, because things are very rocky when she gets back wounded when her Black Hawk was shot down.
    • 5/5
      Excellent, but I cried a lot. Paints a good portrait of what military families face, especially when the soldier is deployed. Excellent that it looked closely at what it means to have a family member (a mother) deployed. Once started, hard to put down.
    • 5/5
      Excdllent and very moving. One of her best novels
    • 5/5
      Excellent book about a women who goes off to war and her unsupportive husband has to stay home and take care of the house and kids. He comes to realize what his wife means to him and the sacrifice she is making and how much he misses her. She ends of getting seriously injured and he stays by her side to help her heal.
    • 5/5
      Home Front is a stunning, intimate tour of duty in the life of an Army Reservists Jolene and her best friend and neighbor Tami. The story details their struggle to serve their families and their country, while they endure with dignity the costs of their service. The horror and isolation of serving in a war zone feels palpable in this story. The emotional battle in the lives of these soldiers rages on two fronts, the war zone and the home front.
    • 5/5
      Oh, Kristin Hannah! How do you do it? This was another tear jerker so be prepared. I have read so many military romances/books over the last few years. It is very rare to find one that was following a women in the military and being deployed. This is a very raw look into War and what it can do to a family when a family member leaves and returns from War. It gives a look into the very real PTSD and the toll it can take after War. Overall, another home run from this author.
    • 5/5
      An absolutely griping, emotional roller coaster story. I laughed, I cried, I commiserated with the main character. Definitely a great book
    • 3/5
      Couldn't get past 15%. I did not like the writing.
    • 5/5
      There should be a warning on the cover of this book. "Do not read this book in public unless you want to have people see you cry." I learned that lesson after sobbing during lunch at work. This book is a typical Kristin Hannah book, wonderfully written. She knows how to suck you into the story and care about the characters. She did a fantastic job with this one, I think one of her best. I cried through the entire book and sobbed three times. The descriptions, the emotions. Kristin really knows how to do it. She writes from the heart and it shows. She also did a great job helping you understand just a little about the Iraqi war and PTSD. Well done Kristin.
    • 4/5
      The first five chapters of "Home Front" were a bit slow, but then it picked up pace and I loved it. The author provides an emotional insight into military deployment and its effect on marriages and families - separation, fear, injury, changing roles and stress. It also brings into perspective the issue of PTSD and makes the reader realise the sacrifices our military, and their families, make to keep us safe. Ultimately, a book about love, loss, tragedy and hope, this was a terrific read!
    • 5/5
      I loved this book! What an amazing story of a military family. This is not a traditional military family, instead the mother gets deployed to Iraq instead of the husband. The husband is not supportive but stays to take care of his children. This story deals with the emotional toll the war takes on the entire family, not just the person deployed. It also deals with PTSD, a real disorder that affects the person for life. The author does an excellent job of giving details that make the story come to life. It makes you realize the hard job the military has to provide our freedom while still being real people with real problems. I laughed, I cried, I sympathized because I was also a military wife with a husband that was deployed. Thankfully, he was in the Navy before 9/11 and we were not at war. If you want to know the truth about the soldiers and sailors that fight for us overseas and the family that is left behind, read this book!