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Sep 24, 2010

Tracey rated it:

Adult nonfiction. Someone else might really love this book, but I didn't. Journalists always think we want to read whatever story they have to tell, and they take their sweet time telling it, too. Sometimes we do want to read it, but I just couldn't bring myself to care about this one (though the mother's letters to her son in regards to his deceased dad probably do make a good story). I had wanted to read more of what the dad had to say (for he also wrote letters to the son--in fact, a whole bo More...

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Jan 26, 2010

Christy rated it:

I hate reviewing memoirs. I always feel like such a bitch when I'm critical of them because it seems like I'm criticizing a real person instead of a character and, in this case, because it is about a soldier and his family, it may even seem like I'm not being sufficiently supportive of the troops.

Oh well. I did not like this book. At all.

I read this book because it has been chosen as next year's OneBook selection for my university. That means that all incoming fres More...

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Nov 10, 2009

AnnaMay rated it:

I feel so honored to have caught a glimpse of Dana Canedy and her husband's love story and experience with the war in Iraq. As I tearfully finished this treasure, I wished there was a book like this for the 1000+ soldiers who have died since her husband, Charles, in that war. I know they each have a story and we would benefit from knowing it.

I am so indebted to books like this that teach me the value of a person and help me get back to the reality of life. We affect those around u More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Sep 12, 2009

Walter rated it:

Wow! What a fantastically moving tribute to an incredible person, relationship and legacy. Dana Canedy, a talented journalist, shares so honestly in this memoir that it makes an indelible impression, which is the best possible tribute to her fallen hero fiance, Charles King, and their son, Jordan (for whom, ostensibly, this book is written). This is truly a gift to us all, written so compellingly.

In recounting the story of her life, of that of her now-deceased fiance, of the love More...

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Jul 05, 2009

Sara rated it:

3.5 stars. Having heard about this book in a few magazines, I expected it to be a collection of the writings of Charles King, who wrote a journal for his infant son while in Iraq, then was killed, having spent only two weeks with his son. Well, there are snippets from this "journal for Jordan" in here, but this isn't the main focus of it. I suppose I started reading with different expectations of what the pages would entail.

Instead of just highlighting the journal he w More...

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Nov 26, 2011

Katie rated it:

What a heartbreakingly honest and thought provoking memoir in honor of Canedy's late fiance. A Journal for Jordan tells the story of a love that came to be, a father you'd never get to know and a family that wouldn't ever be quite whole again. Canedy is a New York Times editor whose fiance was a first sergant and was over on his last tour of duty in Iraq when his convoy was blown up with an IED and he was killed. She had his son Jordan, whom he only got to meet for two weeks when on leave. Prior More...

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Feb 05, 2009

Bookmarks Magazine rated it:

It would be difficult to anyone to resist being affected by the events recalled in A Journal for Jordan, and critics were no exception. A Journal for Jordan"is impossible to read without a sense of bitter knowledge that this principled man fell at the behest of leaders less guided by honor," noted the New York Times. In addition to being moved by this true story, reviewers praised specific aspects of Canedy's writing, which gave the book depth and authenticity. They particularly admire

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Apr 28, 2009

Tanya rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Mar 06, 2009

Miriam rated it:

I have a negative view of the military, but I also have no friends or loved ones in the military and can only imagine the terror of having a loved one away at war, or the thoughts and feelings of the individuals directly impacted. The military involves so many people though, not all of whom enlist for purely financial reasons, I'm curious about their decision and thoughts. So, when I read a review of this book, written by a senior NYTimes editor critical of the military and the war that killed h More...

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Feb 16, 2009

Jackie added it

I saw this book come thru & found myself reading it for a long time... A big NO-NO, but I was caught up. I read the whole book in one day & cried my eyes out. The story is very heart-warming, but also very sad... As a girl from a family where every man was in the military, married to a man whose family is the same way I read a lot into the story that may not be there for people without the experience of dealing w/ the military or the fear you feel when one of your relatives is off serving the More...

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Apr 02, 2009

Candace rated it:

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Sep 08, 2009

Claire rated it:

This is an amazing love story. You know the tragic ending from the outset, which makes reading about the incredible love that the author shared with Master Sargeant Charles King before he was killed in Iraq all the more heart-wrenching. Ultimately, though, I was buoyed by Dana Canedy's amazing courage and by the knowledge that she has a beautiful baby boy to remind her of the love that she and Charles experienced for 10 unforgettable years. As an editor for the NY Times, Canedy definitely kno More...

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Jun 25, 2009

BestBargainBooks rated it:

When Dana Canedy met Chsrles King, she says he wasn't her type at all. "But he had the kindest heart and the kindest spirit of anybody I'd ever met." she says. The two fell in love and decided to have a baby. During Dana's pregnancy, Charles, a soldier, was deployed to Iraq. Six months after Dana gave birth to their son, Jordan, Charles was given two weeks' leave to see his new family.
Unfortunately, that visit would be the only one between Charles and Jordan. Two weeks after Cha More...

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Feb 04, 2009

Kyla rated it:

I really mentally resisted this book - growing up in Canada, we don't have the same ultra-reverence for the military and I don't even pretend to understand the life of military families and their choices. I don't like throwing the word "Hero" and "Sacrifice" around as often as it is. But this book put a crack in that viewfinder, a small crack. I liked that the author had to overcome these same hurdles. I'll admit I was pretty teary when her partner died and the book was worth More...

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Apr 16, 2009

Donya rated it:

I bought the Kindle version, so I didn't have the chance to flip through the book before purchasing. I was surprised that the narrative mostly consisted of Jordan's mother's recollections of her relationship with her "soldier" and that she was already an accomplished writer for the New York Times. I was hoping for more of the personal letters between father and son, but did find the story somewhat engaging.

I appreciated Dana Canedy's honesty with her finace's faults and s More...

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Jan 04, 2012

Sammi rated it:

This was an ok book. Took a bit to keep going in it. It really makes you think about what the men and women who defend our country sacrifice to do that job well and ensure our safety. My heart breaks for all the children who will grow up without mothers or fathers. I am glad the mother and author of this book did not put the whole journal that Jordan's dad wrote for him into the book. That would have just taken away from the fact it was something from father to son. This was a book by a mo More...

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Jun 04, 2009

Joy rated it:

This book brought a whole lot of meaning to the word "love" and "sacrifice". Reading it not only left me in tears, it brought out so many unsaid emotions that I had in me as well. From the first chapter to the end credits I was brought to tears. I could feel her emotions almost as if it happened to me.

Dana Canedy is such a great writer. She knew how to grab a hold of you and keep you there in most of the chapters in the book. Certain chapters to me were a bit slow More...

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Dec 03, 2010

Eva rated it:

3.5 - Hmmmmm... I just finished reading some reviews and one in particular is making me think. A few of the reviewers got the impressions that Canedy was glossing over aspects and/or romanticizing other aspects - I didn't get that impression at all. The book isn't all great (IMO) but that I did not come away with.
I think I'd like Canedy if I met her in person, she seems very well adjusted, very well in tune with herself.
I, like other reviewers, went into this thinking it would be C More...

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Feb 02, 2009

Alisa rated it:

This story was heart tugging and wrenching at the same time. I do not know anyone personally that has lost a close one due to being in Iraq. Dana lost her fiancé Charles just 6 months after having their baby. The book moves a bit through their childhood, as well as how they met, courtship, and eventual decision to have a baby (and what a miracle it was) and get married. Even though I knew how the book ended, several parts touched me, especially the love of Charles for Dana and the love of his so More...

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Mar 14, 2011

Jaime rated it:

I liked this book; it moved me to tears several times. But, it was also kinda boring in parts and not really what I was expecting. I expected a story about a dad writing to his son. But this book turned out to be a more of a story of the relationship between Jordan's parents.

Throughout the book there are "Dear Jordan" sections that are clearly written to the son. However, in many of these sections the mother writes about how they (mom and dad) made love, or how he touched h More...

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Jan 06, 2009

Cheryl rated it:

Such a poignant story...beautifully written by a New York Times journalist about the life and death of her fiance, an Iraqi war hero, and the precious journal he left for his son. Dana's story will bring Charles to life as she describes their courtship and the arrival of their son, Jordan. All the while, she inserts entries from a ''Father's journal' that Charles wrote for his unborn son before being deployed to Iraq. I felt privileged to read this.

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Jul 27, 2011

Shannon rated it:

Dana Caneday writes to her son Jordan about the father he lost to war before he could speak. It tells of their courtship and hardships they faced. Then America'a war on terrorism was declared and First Sergent King was deployed. While there, he wrote a journal for his son telling of his experiences and how to grow up to be a gentleman just in case he never made it home to tell Jordan these things himself. Definitely a tear-jerker.

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Feb 03, 2009

Angie rated it:

This book was not the ultimate tear jerker I expected it to be . While it did move me to tears numerous times , the book more frequently left me in awe of this fallen soldier . His morals , values , and beliefs that he shares even after death , through the journal he wrote for his son , are an excellent example to those of us who never even knew him .
Dana Canedy outdid herself with her written words - never has there been a more beautiful portrail written . Her son and all her readers a More...

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Aug 09, 2009

Pat rated it:

A really tough book to read. The author is pretty open about the man she was married to who died in Iraq. Being a New York Times reporter, she also needed to know exactly how he died for herself and for their son who had only been months old when his father was killed and that was different than waht the Army had originally told her. Heartbreaking in places because her grief is very open.

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Jul 08, 2009

Pat rated it:

I liked this book alot. I read it in 3 days. It is a mother's letter to her son, about a father who was killed in Iraq and the journal he left behind. The journal has many heartfelt messages and prayers offered to his son in case he didn't return from the war. It made me realize the many sacrifices of militiary families and the price of our freedom. I would recommend everyone read this book.

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May 12, 2009

AuthorsOnTourLive! rated it:

We met Dana Canedy when she visited the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver. You can listen to her talk about "A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor" here: http://www.authorsontourlive.com/?p=239

About this podcast:
Pulitzer Prize-winning editor and journalist Dana Canedy reads from and discusses "A Journal for Jordan: A Story of Love and Honor." In 2005, Canedy’s husband, First Sergeant Charles Monroe King, began to write a journal for his son in cas More...

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Feb 12, 2012

Ashley rated it:

What a beautiful family they made spending what little time they had together and what a tragedy that Charles is no longer alive. The ravages of war are heartbreaking. Such a touching memoir of a couple that firmly believed in honor, respect and love. I'm glad that I got to know a little bit about the people who were and are Charles, Dana and Jordan through the pages of this book.

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Nov 04, 2009

Elise rated it:

As soon as I read the description of the book I was drawn in. Canedy did a wonderful job of the telling enough of the story from everyone's point of view and put excerpts from the journal in at just the right time. I like that it was not just the journal, but rather her telling the story of their lives. The voice in her writing is perfect. I could feel the sorrow and the happiness she went through and was unable to put it down until I finished the last word.

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Jun 30, 2009

Paula rated it:

I picked this book up on the off-chance and found that I couldn't put it down. Dana wrote from the heart, and it's an appealing mix of her memories and the journal her fiance wrote for their infant son. Punches aren't pulled; she's as critical of herself as anyone else and what comes across is a loving family, a reminder of why we go to war and a beautiful memoir.

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Feb 04, 2009

Helen rated it:

Literally made me sob uncontrollably. Takes you on an amazing journey and is SO well-written and observant. I can also relate to a HUGE amount of her story and emotional journey. Finally, it just taught/reinforced for me a lot about the good men who exist and how they treat both women and children. Possibly my favorite book ever.

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