Far From the War

Feb 28, 2012 Catriona (LittleBookOwl) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned, read-in-2011, reviewed

Original review from Little Book Owl

I will admit that I have never read a book based around politics and war. I was surprisingly pleased with it, though, and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

The beginning was just a little slow for me. I am completely clueless and politics and all that, even more so considering it is American politics, so I was confused with all of the technical and political parts explored towards the beginning.

Esther was an interesting character to follow. I loved her wit and h...more Original review from Little Book Owl

I will admit that I have never read a book based around politics and war. I was surprisingly pleased with it, though, and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

The beginning was just a little slow for me. I am completely clueless and politics and all that, even more so considering it is American politics, so I was confused with all of the technical and political parts explored towards the beginning.

Esther was an interesting character to follow. I loved her wit and humour. Whenever Esther engaged in conversation with others, she managed to pitch in and provide some funny one-liners. I also really admired her boldness, bravery and determination. When it came to the war aspects, Esther's mind was set on survival. She was determined to get home and did whatever it took to get there. Not once did she consider giving up.

On the other hand, when the love interest was introduced, Esther took the initiative to make a move herself. I loved seeing the roles reversed with their relationship, and it was done in such a way that the male was not deemed as any less of a "man", so to speak. She was bold and did not hesitate to take chances. I loved the relationship between the two characters. Although I felt it was a little rushed, I understand that the story occurred over a long period of time, and it skipped forward a few months every so often.

The people Esther met and befriended on her journey home added so much depth to the story, and unfortunately more tragedy and pain for Esther. She grew so close with a select few, and the war ripped them away from her. This was bitter sweet - Payne crafted lovable and humorous characters, and just as you grew attached to them (alongside Esther), a sudden turn of events would take them away.

The action in this book was quite graphic and gruesome. This was shocking and confronting, but I did not have any issues with it, in all honesty I liked how Jeffrey Payne did not attempt to hide the harsh nature of war. It assisted with the realism and visual impact of the novel, but for those of you who may have an issue with this, be wary of the fact that it gets a little bloody. I would not recommend this book for younger readers, because of this factor. It is set during a civil war, and the conflicts Esther faces are described in a little bit of detail.

I loved how the book ended. It wrapped up quite nicely, yet still leaves you wanting to know what happens next, and how things turn out with the love interest. The second book, The Mail Still Runs is released next year, and I am really looking forward to continuing on with the story!

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Sep 24, 2011 P.E. at Tantalizing Illusions rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

WIN A COPY OF FAR FROM THE WAR HERE:Enter here!

Far From the War was a battering, brutal story of war. Honestly, it leaves me wanting to be more active and make sure nothing like that ever happens. But the shocking reality is that it does happen! How many stories do we hear on the news of revolutions and fights for control?

The strength of this book was the fact that it didn't shy down from the aspects of war. We met soldiers from both sides, we learnt of the obliteration of several cities. There...more WIN A COPY OF FAR FROM THE WAR HERE:Enter here!

Far From the War was a battering, brutal story of war. Honestly, it leaves me wanting to be more active and make sure nothing like that ever happens. But the shocking reality is that it does happen! How many stories do we hear on the news of revolutions and fights for control?

The strength of this book was the fact that it didn't shy down from the aspects of war. We met soldiers from both sides, we learnt of the obliteration of several cities. There were violent and painful deaths. There were good people, bad people, desperation, hope. There was an appropriately large range of characters each with their own quirks. I feel like crying right now thinking this is what people go through.

Esther is the main character here. She's strong, smart, and seriously witty. I liked Esther in the way I like a role model. She was so incredible and knowledgeable all the time. I couldn't relate to that part. Esther certainly doesn't have it easy. What she goes through... It's a heck of a journey. So much sorrow and tears.

With all the death, you'd expect this book to be a "sad" story. You know, the kind of book that is heart-wrenching and makes you tear up. With dramatic scenes and the whole nine yards. While there was plenty of material to make this a "sad story" it was more of a survival story. If you have nightmares, are squeamish or queasy, you may have trouble with Far From the War. It's very much smart a story for mature audiences.

Plot and interest wise, this book had me hooked. I learned early on to pay careful attention to what's happening and I'm a daydreamer so sometimes I wander off to another world. Not with this book. I reread certain parts to get the full impact. The story had me addicted and reading far into the night.

I do have to mention the little problems I had too though. First, Esther didn't feel like a normal teen. She's 17 and serious, yes, but she never really ever mentioned anything that someone in my generation would know. She used some language but some parts of her character had me thinking, "Hmmm, really?" I wasn't always convinced of her emotion. That may have been due to the fact that the story was written in third person so that we saw what was happening but didn't get overwhelmed. I could disregard this easily enough though.

Basically, Far From the War surprised me in the best possible way. It was a fulfilling story of war, peace, love, hate, and everything about life and survival. I was thoroughly compelled to keep reading until the satisfying end. The world needs more stories like Far From the War. 4 stars,

****(less)

1 like · like · see review

Dec 27, 2012 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

My first review in a LONG time! And what a great book to start with again! Yes it has taken me a while to read this one - but it is not because of the book it is for many other reasons! Every time I picked up this book to continue reading it - it was SO hard to put it back down. Let's see in a nutshell what is it about? Imagine the United States going to war with itself... and 17-year-old Esther is caught smack dab in the middle of it. We first meet Esther when she leaves her home on Orcas Islan...more

like · see review

Jan 07, 2012 Mary rated it 4 of 5 stars

When Esther Casey leaves her island home near Seattle to serve as a page in the United States House of Representatives, she expects a learning experience, but she gets so much more. First she discovers the mean-spirited partisanism that has become the norm, even among the pages. Then the war starts. Washington, DC, is the epicenter and Esther has to flee with her friend Gwen. Things start to go wrong almost immediately, and Esther must struggle for survival in a continuously shifting landscape....more When Esther Casey leaves her island home near Seattle to serve as a page in the United States House of Representatives, she expects a learning experience, but she gets so much more. First she discovers the mean-spirited partisanism that has become the norm, even among the pages. Then the war starts. Washington, DC, is the epicenter and Esther has to flee with her friend Gwen. Things start to go wrong almost immediately, and Esther must struggle for survival in a continuously shifting landscape.

Thankfully, politics do not predominate in this not-so-distant-future dystopia although extremism is certainly to blame for the coup that starts the war. The details on who's fighting who and why remain vague to me, but I enjoyed the way Esther starts out on the right and ends up not only befriending a left-wing page but ultimately learning that the sides don't really matter. In fact, once the war was underway, it seemed as if no one really understood what it was about. Money seems to be part of it (get this--gas costs $30/gallon! And it goes up as supply diminishes!), and both sides want to control the Federal Reserve. Esther's dad, a tech millionaire, had moved his family to an island to avoid being caught up in what he foresaw as an inevitable cataclysm, though his reasoning seems a bit far-fetched--searches at the airport were his main clue that bad things were afoot. There is some romance between Esther and a soldier she meets, but the story largely focuses on Esther's trials as she fights to survive and get home. It's easy--and scary--to imagine the way communications and finance networks would disintegrate in war time.

Overall, this was an entertaining read with plenty of action to keep the story moving along, though it dragged a bit at times when Esther was recovering from injuries. It also seemed a bit dubious that every time Esther left her belongings behind something happened so she lost everything. Recommended for ages 15 and up. Intense situations, violence, sexual situations, language.
Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher. (less)

1 like · like · see review

Dec 03, 2011 Jenna rated it 4 of 5 stars

I went into Far From the War after a string of dystopians. I didn’t read much of the summary before I accepted the request. I knew it was set in the future and involved a second civil war in the U.S.

At first I was daunted; in the first hundred pages you have a lot about politics. It’s stuff the average person can understand. Couple that with Jeffrey David Payne’s very distinct writing style that is characterized by an expansive vocabulary, and I was more than intimidated.

With that being said, I...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 28, 2011 Megan McDade rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-since-blog-started

I gave this book 4/5 stars on my blog http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.com

Far From War is from debut novelist Jeffrey David Payne and is the first book in a trilogy. When I first picked up Far From War I was a little confused as the book is set in Washington D.C. where the main character Esther is serving as a page in the United States House of Representatives. The confusion was I don't live in the U.S. and I don't know how the whole political system works there. However there was just somethi...more I gave this book 4/5 stars on my blog http://readingawaythedays.blogspot.com

Far From War is from debut novelist Jeffrey David Payne and is the first book in a trilogy. When I first picked up Far From War I was a little confused as the book is set in Washington D.C. where the main character Esther is serving as a page in the United States House of Representatives. The confusion was I don't live in the U.S. and I don't know how the whole political system works there. However there was just something about the book that made me want to continue reading it and once I got my head around the politics I discovered that it's not all about the politics and conflict.

While Esther is serving as a page a modern day Coup D'Etat is staged among Rougue Politicians and military leaders leading to a civil war. Esther must then travel from Washington D.C. to her home on ORCAS Island though ruined and seiged cities and towns being attacked from all sides.

Payne makes the story feel very real and though the eyes of Esther we see the tradegy of war and also humanity at it's best and worst. Esther grows as a person and it's great to go on that journey with her. Payne is not one for sugar coating the situation and along the way Esther does lose people she loves and cares about in some horrific ways. I liked this as the reality is in war you have to be realistic that not everyone is going to survive and you may lose loved ones. On Esther's journey though, understanding, pain, loss and heartache she finds love which was a refreshing feel to the story.

Over all I really enjoyed Far From War. The story really draws you into it and makes you feel like you are living though the situations that occur with the characters, with a strong and great main character in Esther. I can't wait for the next book in the series The mail still runs releasing July 4th 2012.

For all you guys worrying about not understanding the politics of the book, don't worry, if I can understand it anyone can :) and as I said it is not all about the politics and fighting but a journey of love, hope and ultimate understanding lived though the eyes of a forgettable character(less)

1 like · like · see review

Nov 23, 2011 Larissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

As a seventeen year old she has always been confident in what she wants from life and where her future will take her. What she wasn't ready for was the harsh reality of politics, where truth is sacrificed for loyalty, power is all important and money is the only thing that matters. Wars have been started over less; however the start of this war was still a surprise to a country suddenly thrown into civil turmoil.

It began with a military presence. It seemed peaceful enough at first, taking up pos...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 02, 2011 Dawn Vanniman rated it 5 of 5 stars

FAR FROM THE WAR is about the worst things you can imagine happening if the US broke out into civil war. It's also about the tenacity of people, mainly a 17 year old girl, Esther.

Esther is from Orcas Island, Washington and wins a chance to be a Congressional Page in Washington D.C. Shortly after beginning her new job, a coup is accomplished by some political and military leaders. Esther and two other Pages decide to go home and they head out to the airport. Upon reaching the airport, they find t...more FAR FROM THE WAR is about the worst things you can imagine happening if the US broke out into civil war. It's also about the tenacity of people, mainly a 17 year old girl, Esther.

Esther is from Orcas Island, Washington and wins a chance to be a Congressional Page in Washington D.C. Shortly after beginning her new job, a coup is accomplished by some political and military leaders. Esther and two other Pages decide to go home and they head out to the airport. Upon reaching the airport, they find that there is only one seat available and have to make a difficult decision.

Throughout the book it's hard to decide which side is in the right as they both so firmly and desperately believe that their side is the right one. I'm sure it's that way in any war, civil or otherwise.

Esther's journey was often heart wrenching but so similar to stories that you read about people who have lived through a war zone that it comes off as very real. This is not a general book, Mr. Payne explains exactly what is going on, how it looks, feels, smells, etc. There are some scenes that were gruesome, but entirely necessary for the story.

Things of interest:

- romance - some, innocent and sweet, very little physical description

- language - not much, more tone than words

- events - death, dismemberment, rape, amputation

I've read a few reviews that said they felt Esther came across as much older than 17 and that the romance happened too quickly. I think that we all know a 17 year old who feels more comfortable with adults, and knows what they are doing and where they are going. It's not that unusual. Also, getting stuck in a war zone would certainly mature you in a hurry. As for the romance - it's wartime! Historically, there are a lot of quick romances and hurried weddings during wartime. Couples are worried that they may never see each other again.

I think that all history and political science students should read this. It really gives a great feel for what could happen in a civil war in the US. What things would shut down, how people would act, the entire thing. The more I read, the more disturbed I became.

Do yourself a favor, pick this book up, read it, then share it with a friend.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Sep 12, 2011 Donna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Product Description
Economic ruin and partisan rancor have pushed America to the brink of a new civil war. Esther is caught in the middle, serving as a page in the United States House of Representatives when rogue politicians and military leaders stage a modern day coup d’état. When the coup turns violent, she abandons Washington, D.C. for home. She must learn to survive on her own as transportation and financial networks fail, as the war disrupts food and water supplies. The result is a cautiona...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 11, 2011 (Benji) The Non Reluctant Reader rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

This isn't your normal dystopian novel. These days when you think dystopia you think books like The Hunger Games or Matched. Those are all fantasies. This book is not. Instead it's a realistsic, awesome story about a bad ass girl from Orcas Island.
I'm always excited to read a book about that takes place in Washington, so I was eager to read this one, although only a tenth of the story actually took place there.
From the very beginning I loved the character of Esther. She was funny. She was inte...more

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 08, 2011 May added it · review of another edition

For entire review run over to my super awesome blog :
http://oopsireadthatbook.blogspot.com/2011/09/far-from-war-by-jeffrey-david-payne.html
Ever wondered what would happen if war just broke out AND ( as if that wasn’t enough) you were far from home?

This happened with Esther. Esther is from Orcas Island and is now a page for the US House of Representatives in Washington D.C.

The novel follows her on her journey to return home once war breaks out in future dystopian United States.

I initially strugg...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 03, 2011 Tammi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Esther Casey lives on Orcas Island. This is off the coast of Washington. She earned the right to become a page for the US Government in Washington D.C. by submitting an essay and being nominated by Congressman Kamerlin. The page program is pretty strict with strict rules. You earn 15 demerits and you are sent home. One morning, while in the page house, tanks moving into Washington D.C. were heard and woke everyone up. Following that, was the introduction of Marines who were assigned to the pages...more Esther Casey lives on Orcas Island. This is off the coast of Washington. She earned the right to become a page for the US Government in Washington D.C. by submitting an essay and being nominated by Congressman Kamerlin. The page program is pretty strict with strict rules. You earn 15 demerits and you are sent home. One morning, while in the page house, tanks moving into Washington D.C. were heard and woke everyone up. Following that, was the introduction of Marines who were assigned to the pages as security. The pages try to keep going on in their assignments as normal, but this is difficult when there is military in Washington D.C. When the president, who has left the capital, declares war against the military already in the cities across the U.S., Esther decided it is time to leave and head home. She tries to leave via the airport near the capital, but everything is closing due to the war. She ends up making her trek across the U.S. with her friend, Gwendolyn Farmer.

I really liked this novel. At first, I wasn’t too sure about it but then after I started to read it, I got hooked. The way the novel was written, it is easy to understand what was happening and the emotions the characters were feeling. I found myself believing that Esther and her friends were really in the middle of a Civil War. I was always wondering what would happen next and would she get to Orcas Island. I could easily see the confusion between the two sides, the Arnies and the Pinkos, and see how both sides thought they were in the right. An astounding read, Payne really surpassed my expectations and I cannot wait to read more.

I Like:

*Esther’s witty humor in this book. From reading it, she seems like a person that I would like to know.
*The experiences that are told in this book during the war are some that you would expect and some that I didn’t even think about. It makes the story seem more real.
*Esther doesn’t use her social standing as a crutch. She is from a wealthy family and she doesn’t act like that is all that matters and will get her anything she needs.
*Esther doesn’t follow the social norms – liking Gwen for a friend even though they were on opposite parties in the page house.

I Did Not Like:

*The cover. I am one who usually “judges a book by the cover” and if a book doesn’t have a good cover, I won’t necessarily give it a chance. I understand the reasoning for the cover; I just thought it was a little drab. Stories about war are not supposed to be colorful, I guess.
*Colin. I just do not like his character.

(less)

1 like · like · see review

Sep 08, 2011 Jasmine Rose rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-books-read

This took quite a while to catch my attention. All the parts before the actual war kinda bored me. Instead of feeling like a setup for the story, it just felt like we were watching Esther's fairly mundane day-to-day life and then BAM there's a big fat war going on. The flow definitely wasn't there for me.

I loved the concept of the story though I wasn't sure about the political aspects. The first third of the book is pretty full of political jargon fulfilling my fears and leaving me pretty lost,...more

like · see review

Sep 28, 2011 Traci (The Reading Geek) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Jeffrey David Payne's Far From the War is the story of a modern civil war set in a dystopian future. Esther is interning as a page in Washington D.C. at the House of Representatives when she finds herself in the middle of chaos and the beginning of a war. Esther must leave D.C. and find her own way home as the country begins to fall apart.

Far From The War is a realistic and interesting dystopian story. I have never had much of an interest in politics but the synopsis for this book caught my att...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 16, 2011 Katie rated it 3 of 5 stars

When I first started reading Far From the War I felt very overwhelmed by all the political terms. I know more than the average person my age about politics in my country, but I have very little knowledge on US politics which led to me feeling as though I was drowning in it in the first part of this book.

The writing was very realistic and simple enough - when the political terminology is put to one side - although I do feel that the narrative was rather passive. This may have been because it was...more

like · see review

Oct 01, 2011 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have been at a loss for words ever since I finished reading Far From the War. I don't even know where to start when it comes to describing my feelings and reactions to this book. So, I'll start with the one image that has stayed with since I finished reading: children collecting brass shell casings. I can't even quite pinpoint why that image has stayed with me. It certainly wasn't the most horrifying or vivid image in the novel. But maybe that's exactly why it has stayed with me; because it's...more I have been at a loss for words ever since I finished reading Far From the War. I don't even know where to start when it comes to describing my feelings and reactions to this book. So, I'll start with the one image that has stayed with since I finished reading: children collecting brass shell casings. I can't even quite pinpoint why that image has stayed with me. It certainly wasn't the most horrifying or vivid image in the novel. But maybe that's exactly why it has stayed with me; because it's not horrifying in the usual sense that we say things are horrifying, and because it's not something you expect to see in a war novel. But in its own way, it is horrifying to see children collecting brass shell casings. It portrays innocence on their part, and perhaps a fascination with things that are out of the ordinary. Kids don't always understand the true impact of war. And I think that's what makes this scene so horrifying. To see a boy excited about finding shell casings, and getting to keep them, when he probably doesn't what they are is frightening to me. I feel like I'm not even explaining very well why I find this image so frightening and beautiful.

To be honest, it's hard for me to write a review about this novel without wanting to analyze it. Far From the War is a novel that needs to be read and discussed, not just by bloggers or by people who really like to read, but also in schools. I can already picture how many people would argue with that statement, but frankly, I don't care. Far From the War is an important novel, and it deserves to be treated as such.

I admit there were moments of confusion for me. I think if I were to read through the novel a second time, the majority of that confusion will be cleared up. Part of me wonders, though, how intentional those moments of confusion were. But again, that leads me to start analyzing the novel, which I don't want to do.

I think the most terrifying thing about Far From the War is how realistic it is. I have no idea if we're headed toward another civil war any time in the near, or even distant, future. But Far From the War shows how it could happen, and the fact that this novel takes place in present-day America doesn't just make it terrifying, it makes it one of the most interesting and captivating dystopian novels I've read. The detail throughout the novel is incredible. The characters are great, and I can't wait to see how they develop further in the next novel. I'm not sure it's completely accurate to say I loved this book--for some reason, it just sounds wrong to me when I say that. But, I did thoroughly enjoy Far From the War, and I would love to read it again soon, so that I can really let my analytical side come out. I love novels that force me to think, and Far From the War definitely does that for me. I can't wait to see where Jeffrey David Payne takes us next.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Sep 13, 2011 Mrs. ReaderPants rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011

More reviews at http://readerpants.blogspot.com

WHAT I LIKED: I always love a good post-apocalyptic survival story, and it was interesting to read about how quickly things could break down in the event of a White House coup. Esther is tough, smart, and driven to survive. She is very serious much of the time and doesn't waste time with a bunch of shenanigans or worry about what everyone else is doing. While she probably would not be much fun to hang around with, I have to respect her focus.

When Es...more

like · see review

Oct 27, 2011 Holly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Reviewed for In-Interest

Given a chance to leave the small island that just lies of the coast of Washington, Esther Casey is privileged enough to gain a place as a page for the US Government - where she realizes that it's not what's best for society that determines the next move. Tanks start to move into Washington and the pages are expected to act as if nothing is happening. After fleeing the capital,the president declares war. Esther realizes it may be harder to get home — it's not only gold th...more Reviewed for In-Interest

Given a chance to leave the small island that just lies of the coast of Washington, Esther Casey is privileged enough to gain a place as a page for the US Government - where she realizes that it's not what's best for society that determines the next move. Tanks start to move into Washington and the pages are expected to act as if nothing is happening. After fleeing the capital,the president declares war. Esther realizes it may be harder to get home — it's not only gold that she will lose.

As a UK resident I had no idea on the US political system, at all; when I read the first to chapters I had no idea as to what was going on. I soon, sort of, eased into where I kinda guesses what everything means. I have no idea which side is which — even still — and that left me pretty much confused. It was, nonetheless, a really great book complete with action, death (my favorite) and a tiny sparkle of romance. I didn't really find it too difficult to overlook all the political talk and the references that I didn't get.

I've read one dystopian before, Divergent, and I have to say this really took me by surprise; Far From the War the War is far more realistic then I ever imagined which made it all the more frightening. WIthout Ester, this could have been really hard to read. One of the things I loved most about this book was her; she clings on to hope with such charisma. Sometimes I felt that Esther wasn't a teen, all those references that many teens would have no idea about.

I was such a fan of how this book included many aspects of war and didn't shy away from the more gory happenings. Including rape scenes, death, violence and underage drinking is a really brave move in a YA book; I think it works, although I wouldn't recommend it to younger readers. I thought the way that Payne deals with some of the more difficult scenes is a bit blunt — but, I think it really does reflect the situation Esther is in and war in general.

I would recommend this to people who do like politics and to those who do not. For me, it became less about the politics towards the middle/ending. Like I mentioned, I wouldn't recommend this book for the younger teen as it can be pretty stressful at time. I literally cannot wait until the next book.

(less)

1 like · like · see review

Sep 12, 2011 Briana rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Honestly, I don't even know where to begin with this review. I expected this book to be a good read, perhaps even average, but I quickly found that it was so much more than that. Far From the War tells the story of Esther, a strong female character and her internship at the House of Representatives as part of her goal to become involved in politics one day. As the government, politicians, and military become completely corrupt and everything pretty much shuts down, Esther's experiences show what...more Honestly, I don't even know where to begin with this review. I expected this book to be a good read, perhaps even average, but I quickly found that it was so much more than that. Far From the War tells the story of Esther, a strong female character and her internship at the House of Representatives as part of her goal to become involved in politics one day. As the government, politicians, and military become completely corrupt and everything pretty much shuts down, Esther's experiences show what an absolutely frightening world this would be and how every person is basically left to fend for themselves with little chance of survival.

With his writing, Payne creates a shockingly complex yet very believable state of the world for the characters. I think it definitely fits into the category of books you could read over and over again and notice something new each time, because there's just so much going on. I was slightly on edge while reading because honestly it frightened me a bit how realistic it all sounded, and how it seemed that we could very easily end up in a similar situation. Many parts of the book were somewhat disturbing and graphic as they described the violence and corruption taking place, and I could feel my stomach turn a few times while reading, but these scenes were necessary to get the point across and not overdone or exaggerated, in my opinion. Just a warning for those of you who may have a hard time reading about such things. The whole topic of the novel is somewhat disturbing, not in an overtly grossed out kind of way but more in a way that really gets you thinking about the state of things and just one possibility of where we might end up if things ever took an awful turn for the worse.

The first chapter was a bit mundane, but after that it started picking up, and I was drawn in. I found many aspects of the book refreshingly unique, such as the setting of Esther's internship and the overall turn of events that took place. I experienced a whole multitude of emotions while reading, from excitement and happiness about the relationships she formed along the way, to fear and horror when everything seemed utterly hopeless, and even tears of joy at the end. It is very rare that a book makes me feel such strong emotions as this one did, and even rarer that a book will make me cry.

I'd go as far as to say that Far From the War has earned a spot among my top ten favorite books, because it was just that amazing. I am very eagerly awaiting the second book in the trilogy, but sadly it's not due to be released until next July. So for now, I will just have to strongly recommend this novel, as I know it's one of those that will stay in the back of your mind and keep you thinking long after finishing it. I don't even feel like my review adequately captured all of my feelings about the book, but if it sounds at all interesting, please do yourself a favor and pick up a copy. (less)

1 like · like · see review

Dec 14, 2011 Preston Fleming rated it 4 of 5 stars

My interest on dystopian fiction drove me to read this book on the recommendation of a friend. Though I do not read many Young Adult novels, I enjoyed FAR FROM THE WAR.
I found it to be a thoughtful and original coming of age story set in a dystopic not-so-distant future. The author seemed to capture the anxieties and concerns of the protagonist and her fellow teens very well, with an keen ear for their dialogue.
In my view, Esther Casey came across as a strong and capable protagonist with who...more

like · see review

Nov 04, 2011 Big Book Little Book rated it 4 of 5 stars

With little understanding of American politics I found the initial portion of the book slow paced and at times perplexing. This back ground is essential however, as it places our protagonist in a unique position to witness the growing political unrest first hand. Once war is declared the pace builds quickly and the resulting story is impossible to put down as my red rimmed, sleep deprived eyes can testify.

Esther is a complex and flawed character, a combination of determined political ambition an...more With little understanding of American politics I found the initial portion of the book slow paced and at times perplexing. This back ground is essential however, as it places our protagonist in a unique position to witness the growing political unrest first hand. Once war is declared the pace builds quickly and the resulting story is impossible to put down as my red rimmed, sleep deprived eyes can testify.

Esther is a complex and flawed character, a combination of determined political ambition and idealistic naivety. I didn’t immediately warm to Esther; at times she was proud and superior and I particularly disliked the dismissive manner in which she spoke to her parents. But she is also exceptionally patient, open and honest to a fault. She has a remarkably well developed vocabulary, beyond anything I was capable of at eighteen or even now. I have to be honest that I needed to utilise the dictionary feature of my Kindle on more than one occasion!

But Ester is not your average teen. She is a gifted student who has been selected from thousands of applicants to undertake the once in a lifetime opportunity to serve as a republican intern in the United States House of Representatives. Initially desperate to leave home and experience all her internship has to offer, Esther is quickly disillusioned with the page program and the senators she had previously admired and aspired to be like.

The turning point in our character’s development, and my relationship with her, came when she had to choose between her future political career and her integrity. From that point on she displays amazing mental and later physical resilience as she fights her own battle to survive the war and make it back home.

Unlike other dystopian stories I have read, Far from the war is set in fairly contemporary America. This is the story that bridges the gap between society as we know it and the warped Utopian visions and dystopian societies of futurist fiction. There are no fantastical technologies or extreme societal rules allowing you to maintain a degree of detachment. While the violence is not gratuitous, it is harder hitting for its realism and as such I would recommend that those with a sensitive disposition proceed with caution.

Verdict: I urge you to persevere with this book as following the slow burn of trilogy scene setting, you will be rewarded with a devastatingly realistic dystopian journey through modern war torn America that will leave you thoughtful, and just a touch nervous .

Parental Note: Contains realistic depictions of war including: dead bodies, graphic injuries, murder, rape and the destruction of cities.

Caroline.
4.5/5
http://bigbooklittlebook.blogspot.com
(less)

1 like · like · see review

Aug 05, 2011 Kathryn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

You may think that I am just being partial, given my relationship with the author, but even he will admit that I am one of his biggest critics. I think Far From the War is his best work to date. But I also think that this book was written for someone like me. Esther is a great female character and the journey that she takes is one that you won't regret joining her on. I am extremely proud of this accomplishment and I hope you take the time to read this book and let me know your thoughts. I would...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 19, 2012 Carrie Rundhaug rated it 5 of 5 stars

The first few chapters of Far From the War were slow and a little hard to read to the point I put the book down and told my husband that I didn't think I could read anymore. However, we still had a good hour to go in the car so I picked it back up and continued reading just to kill the time and I'm so happy I did. The story really drws you in and captures your undivided attention.

Esther is a strong and independent young lady who makes an incredible leading character. She is truly focused on what...more The first few chapters of Far From the War were slow and a little hard to read to the point I put the book down and told my husband that I didn't think I could read anymore. However, we still had a good hour to go in the car so I picked it back up and continued reading just to kill the time and I'm so happy I did. The story really drws you in and captures your undivided attention.

Esther is a strong and independent young lady who makes an incredible leading character. She is truly focused on what she wants for her future in the opening of the book however once the war begins her focus shifts to survival and getting home. She truly grows as a character. I loved getting to know her.

The people she met added so much to the story. Rachel, one of her roommates in DC, was so much fun! She was outgoing, rich and very opinionated. I loved how she finally broke away from her family and figured out what she really wanted to do. Gwen, a liberal, became her best friend. I love how Gwen and Esther were able to overcome their differences!! Oh and let's not forget Matt who was super sweet.

The love in this story added hope to a brutal war story. Gwen and Chad showed us that no matter what love will help you enjoy life even though it was for a very short time. I think this helped Esther so that once love presented itself she was prepared for it. Esther's and Matt't relationship moved fast but for once I wasnt upset about it. In the situation and not knowing what might happen you must act when you can.

The war iteself was raw, graphic and gruesome, however, it wasn't a bad thing. I appreciated the honesty. The authorpresented the war with so much detail you thought you were there. You felt what Esther felt. You met soldiers and people on both sides and sometimes it was hard to keep up with who's who because both sides truly believed in their causes.

Far From the War is not a light-hearted novel. It is a heart-wrenching novel on the effects of civil war. It is a book that has profoundly touched me. It has me pondering about what I would do in order to protect my family and myself.

I can't wait for the next book in this series, The Mail Still Runs, but in the meantime do yourself a favor and go buy thic book immediately, read it and pass it along. The more people who read this novel and experience will acquire knowledge that I feel is essentional to our future as well as our childrens. This novel will have you thinking and contemplating because of the realistic feeling.(less)

like · see review

Dec 22, 2011 Eve rated it 5 of 5 stars

The United States is in the midst of civil war. The country is in economic ruins. Retirement accounts have been seized, although it is never made clear why. Hordes of people camp outside of the capital (99%ers anyone?). And, extreme partisan politics have brought government nearly to a standstill.

The protagonist, 17 year old Esther, makes her way slowly across the country from D.C. to her home in Washington. In the process she loses friends to the war and meets her first love. She grows and matu...more The United States is in the midst of civil war. The country is in economic ruins. Retirement accounts have been seized, although it is never made clear why. Hordes of people camp outside of the capital (99%ers anyone?). And, extreme partisan politics have brought government nearly to a standstill.

The protagonist, 17 year old Esther, makes her way slowly across the country from D.C. to her home in Washington. In the process she loses friends to the war and meets her first love. She grows and matures as she travels.

Not sure if this novel qualifies as dystopian? Perhaps post-apocolyptic is better. No matter, it was surprisingly one of the best novels I have read this year.

Let me first get the nitpicking out of the way . . . I am in the Army and very sensitive to inaccurate military references. I will toss a book in a heartbeat if I see the writer did not care enough to get "it" right.

As soon as the Marines entered the narrative early in the book, I braced myself for the typical military archetypes and inaccuracies. Understand this one thing MARINES ARE NOT SOLDIERS! Those are not interchangeable terms. I am a soldier. My friend is a Marine. Using the wrong term is understandable if you have little to no military knowledge and are having a casual conversation in your kitchen. It is not acceptable if you are a writer and want to be taken seriously. There are no periods "." in military acronyms and commands are capitalized. Thus, infantry division is abbreviated ID, not I.D. And, it is 1st or First, not "first" = 1st ID. Has that dead horse been beaten enough? Hopefully Jeffrey Payne will not make the same mistakes in the next installment. Or at least have a better fact checker. Moving on.

I love PA novels, but was a bit skeptical when I learned this is tagged as YA. All of my reservations quickly faded away as I followed Esther's route across the country. Even my husband who does not enjoy reading asked for updates, "where is she now?", "who is 3rd ID backing?"

I did not feel there was too much politics, in fact more politics would have nicely filled out the pre-story. I was intrigued by the notion the military departments would splinter, with some assisting in a coup. As a judge advocate, I kept wondering how any military lawyer could advise a commander that backing a coup was legal? But instead of saying "oh, no way that would happen," I kept thinking "hmmm, how would that happen?" My brain tackled that bit of the narrative more as a hypothetical to be parsed and examined.

There are so many interesting characters throughout the novel. I am looking forward to seeing many of them again as the series continues. I can see how Esther appeals to the YA audience. She's mature, focused, and smart (albeit a little too sassy at some points). But do not let the YA tag fool you, Far From the War offers something for everyone.

(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 15, 2011 Marybeth (Manhattan Reader) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, i-own

This book is not like your typical dystopia book, where you already see the fall of humanity and the rise of a new oppressive government. This shows what happens beforehand, and what's scary about this book is that it could possibly happen. When you turn on the news you see our current "leaders" you can imagine something like what Esther goes through to actually happen.

Personally, I feel like the book should have been called FAR FROM HOME because the majority of the book was her journey getting...more This book is not like your typical dystopia book, where you already see the fall of humanity and the rise of a new oppressive government. This shows what happens beforehand, and what's scary about this book is that it could possibly happen. When you turn on the news you see our current "leaders" you can imagine something like what Esther goes through to actually happen.

Personally, I feel like the book should have been called FAR FROM HOME because the majority of the book was her journey getting home, but FAR FROM THE WAR is good enough.

The beginning I felt like the character's were a little flat, like people were just going through the motions, not really showing interest. Esther was the kind of character that is focused and has one goal in mind, and you just want to jump in and give her some fun. She was so serious. But later on in the book you start to see the way war changes her, the way war changes everyone.

I feel like Jeffery captured the fall of humanity so well. He takes you from the country's capital where everything is semi-together, to the West coast where the war grows increasingly and people go to their savage behavior. It actually gave me goosebumps and I almost wanted to just stop reading.

For me, the character's development really surprised me. I thought this book would be a complete disappointment, but I was taken aback by the way he just started making these character's three dimensional and believable.

The reason it got a four is because there was a lot of things that moved really fast, like some relationships. I mean, Esther knew a guy for one day and it was like she was in love or something. And the same happened with her friend, and I just kind of scoffed at that. And there was the ending. It leaves you in a cliffhanger, because now you really, really want to read the next book, but the problem with the ending, and I'll try to say this with as little giveaway as possible, is that it didn't get the emotion I was looking for. I was really surprised by what happened and I was expecting something else, but it was really an anticlimax.

I was expecting more and felt that the author fell back a little in the writing. I could almost see why he did it, and it's pretty scary, but still. I wanted some tears, some joy, some disbelief; something. Instead I got the same monotone voice that spoke in the beginning. A little disappointed there.

Another thing that bothered me was the cover. For a young adult book I wish they would have done more with it, like put some of the symbols that are expressed in the story with the eagle and swords, but I can tell you that story is a lot more interesting than the cover.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and can't wait for the next book to come out, next year in July. (less)

1 like · like · see review

Nov 27, 2011 Sabrina rated it 4 of 5 stars

I would like to thank everyone involved with the Goodreads Firstreads program for the opportunity to read this book since I REALLY enjoyed it. It seems weird to say that given the nature of the content, but the story was so compelling I finished this book in just a few days and probably could have read it in one sitting. The story, about the US when the next civil war breaks out, certainly made me think about the current economic and political situations and actually made me appreciate my brothe...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 21, 2011 Gary rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A real page-turner. Can't wait for the next addition in the trilogy. A very timely read given the times we live in. A great story on how one woman can overcome in some of the most difficult times one could imagine.
Could this happen? I hope not, but maybe "Far From The War" will be a clarion bell warning of what could be. I loved it. A must read!

1 like · like · see review

Dec 26, 2011 Reut (reutreads) marked it as considering-to-read

I'm writing this review because I accepted this book for review. And it makes me sad that I'm calling this a review, when it really isn't one.

You know when you meet someone? And you're so excited to be friends with them because they seem awesome? And then you start getting to know them a little better and you realize that you just can't?

That's how it was for me and this book. It's taken me so long to get around to doing this because in some way I'm a bit ashamed that I didn't give this more of...more

like · see review

Nov 21, 2011 Rachel rated it 3 of 5 stars

I really wanted to like this book but I could not get into it. For some reason, I thought there would be more romance in the book but I guess I was wrong. I am not a fan of horror or war movies so I think that played a part in why it was hard for me to like this book. There were a lot more gruesome parts than I was expecting. Also, I could not make myself care about Esther and what she was going through. I have been having personal anxiety issues and other things so maybe this was not the book f...more

like · see review

Jan 28, 2012 Christy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Just a really good book. With the tensions between political parties it is easy to see how this fictional book can become a reality and how completely a civil war would effect our lives.

1 like · like · see review

title link	preview: Far From the War
avg rating	preview: Far From the War Goodreads rating: 4.07 (56 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12257984-far-from-the-war?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312492678l/12257984.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12257984-far-from-the-war?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Far From the War by Jeffrey David Payne[/url]

Far From the War

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (3)

Genres

About Jeffrey David Payne

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Far From The War

Far From the War

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

combineOther Editions (3)

Genres

About Jeffrey David Payne

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Far From The War

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (3)