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Unspoken Abandonment: Sometimes the hardest part of going to war is coming home

Bryan A. Wood

4.13 · Rating details · 597 ratings · 100 reviews

Prepare to walk more than a mile in one soldier's boots as you see exactly what it's like to go to war and face the struggles of coming home. This is as real as it's going to get...

Unspoken Abandonment is the story of one man's struggle to return home from the war in Afghanistan, only to find the person he once was may never be the same. Bryan Wood is a military veteran ...more

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Paperback, 208 pages

Published February 1st 2012 by CreateSpace

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Jun 13, 2012 Rhonda rated it it was amazing

Recommended to Rhonda by: Jillian Stein

http://samsawesomness.blogspot.com/20...

"I didn’t even realize, but I was quickly going to see, that the person I was before this all started had somehow changed. The way I saw the world was gone, and I saw things, almost everything, in an entirely different way."- Bryan A. Wood

Based on a true story.

First of all, I want to give a huge “thank you” to Bryan Wood, and every American soldier for the job they do, and the job they have done. I am extremely humbled by all that you do, and endure for ...more

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May 28, 2012 Jillian Stein rated it it was amazing

Let me start out by saying this is so not my typical reading genre….

That being said, I want to urge you all to read this book no matter what you normally read.

I am not the same person I was before I started this book. I sat down at 3:00 and was finished by 9 that same day. I couldn’t put this book down. Bryan’s journal entries are unforgettable and in some cases, define all that is unimaginable in the world most of us live in. By page 23, I was crying. I was upset not only for the scenarios ...more

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Feb 20, 2019 Linda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle, free

After binge reading a romance series, I was due for a genre change.
Even I kind of surprised myself with this pick, since it is so different from my usual reads.

This book is a personal account of a soldier who is stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2003. It includes actual journal entries from his time there- which were absolutely astounding. The book continues with the author's account of his time back home.

This book was absolutely jaw-dropping. From the journal entries detailing life in ...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Joseph rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: all not afraid to get out of their comfort zone

Shelves: military-biography

Best book I've read about Afghanistan and the best book I've read in a while ... will expand this review in a day or two. Can't remember the last time I couldn't put a book down, err turn off my Kindle. Need to digest this book a bit more before I give it the review it deserves.

(slept on it overnight, review follows)

“The tour continued on … with nothing being seen except for the magnitude of extreme poverty. That is when we stumbled upon a woman being beaten by two men. That woman, wearing a Best book I've read about Afghanistan and the best book I've read in a while ... will expand this review in a day or two. Can't remember the last time I couldn't put a book down, err turn off my Kindle. Need to digest this book a bit more before I give it the review it deserves.

(slept on it overnight, review follows)

“The tour continued on … with nothing being seen except for the magnitude of extreme poverty. That is when we stumbled upon a woman being beaten by two men. That woman, wearing a dark blue Burqa, was on her knees and struggling to stand, as one man beat her with a belt and the other pushed her back to the ground. As we drove by this scene, our “guide” told us this was very common in Kabul, and he said, “Try not to let it bother you.” He told us we were going to see a lot of things that would bother us here, but we cannot get involved in this kind of mess. You just have to look the other way.”

This is a book about many things: a young soldier experiencing war in Afghanistan, how he ‘copes’ with that war, the stresses he endures, the people he serves with, the people who are Afghanistan – who they are and how they live, injustice, culture shock, how he was torn up by the war and ultimately how he is able to put his life back together.

The book had me from the get go quite simply because it is compelling. Yes, I brought myself, the old Vietnam vet, to the reading and among my initial reactions was the thought those who served and who now serve in Afghanistan have a much tougher go of it than many of us who did Vietnam tours, not that Vietnam was a piece of cake, it certainly was not. My second thoughts were of my son who is in Afghanistan right now.

The book has much strength. After 27 years in the Air Force, I taught high school for ten years, among other things US History. It was a way to give back. Searched for things on Vietnam that would mean something to young people, what you might call Vietnam War literature – poetry, firsthand accounts, stuff that they could relate to. If I were still teaching, I'd use this book to teach about our involvement in Afghanistan. Have read a few books about Afghanistan, most recently “No Easy Day” but, this is the first book I would call Afghanistan war literature. It conveys an all too real sense of what it was like to have been there as a 'grunt.' It viscerally connects us as readers with the author as a soldier and with the soldiers and Afghanis with whom he ‘served.’ I chose the sword ‘served’ advisedly; I almost used the word ‘endured.’

Strength is the author’s gift of empathy. Through his capacity and desire to know something of what it is like to be an Afghani the book gives us -- perhaps more than the author realizes -- a sense of what it is like to have been born there, to live there and how tough life is there. As I read through his recounting of some of the things he saw, I relearned an old lesson. We Americans live in a cocoon. We worry about things like buying a new Kindle, whether or not we can afford an expensive restaurant, a Facebook post that offended us, a mortgage and so on. We are – for lack of better words – a ‘first’ world country. We do not have enough capacity to understand a place like Afghanistan. We lack the initiative and desire to understand other countries, particularly Muslim countries. This is the first book I've read about Afghanistan that provides a feel for daily life there. Yeah, it's gut wrenching and there is stuff that just rips your heart out.

The book is apolitical. It does not take sides. It is nonjudgmental, with the exception that the author judges himself. The fact that the book is nonjudgmental might just be its greatest strength.

This is an incredibly honest book. The author bares his soul. Life has a way of humbling us all if we live long enough. It takes a while, but the author rebuilds his life. It could not have been easy. Think it was Socrates who said the “unexamined life is not worth living.” Afghanistan forced Bryan Wood to examine his life and his assumptions about life. We who read his book are better for Bryan’s having done that.

...more

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Feb 18, 2019 Aqsa (On Hiatus) marked it as tbr-soon

Shelves: most-anticipated-reads

Read Ana's review that almost made me cry:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

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Apr 02, 2013 Natasha rated it it was amazing

Shelves: non-fiction

This is the most difficulty I’ve ever had to write a review. This book was amazing and deserves a review and I’ve thought about what I want to write all day long, but I’m still at a loss for words. Why? I have never read anything this touching and this personal. How do I do this book justice, keep my review objective and keep all my opinions about the war and some of the 'characters' aside?

Trust me, I got emotional and very worked up about a lot of stuff in this book, but I'm not going to talk This is the most difficulty I’ve ever had to write a review. This book was amazing and deserves a review and I’ve thought about what I want to write all day long, but I’m still at a loss for words. Why? I have never read anything this touching and this personal. How do I do this book justice, keep my review objective and keep all my opinions about the war and some of the 'characters' aside?

Trust me, I got emotional and very worked up about a lot of stuff in this book, but I'm not going to talk about any of that in my review.

This book is about Bryan Wood that is sent to Eastern Afghanistan for a 6 month deployment. He kept a journal while there and shares that journal word for word in the book. The journal is a daily account of his time there: his life at Camp Eagle and the military missions & patrols they went on, info about the life of locals and what they endure, background about the war, etc.

Nearly every day had accounts of life threatening action. I can’t even begin to understand how it must feel to wake up to that every day and not if it’s going to be your last day. How do you stay motivated and not fall into depression?

“I could not help but wonder how many times you can tempt fate and still walk away. How many times can you keep pulling straws before you finally pull the short one? I wonder if I am really going to get through this.

The accounts of what he saw done to the locals are completely heart-breaking. I had tears run down my face from just reading it…. Experiencing it and being ordered to turn a blind eye to it, unimaginable! It has made me realize how incredibly grateful I must be that I was not born in an oppressed country like that.

“I cannot understand how I was so blessed to be born into something so much better, and until this experience, I have never appreciated any of it.”

As a reader, I could feel his mood get darker and darker in his journal entries. He started to become numb to all the violence that surrounded him (“I think it is an internal defence to dehumanize these situations to make them easier to deal with.”). After a while he just stops writing in his journal completely.

“This will be the last night I write in this thing. I have already written about more than I ever care to remember, and I really do not see a point to it anymore. I am done.”

After sustaining an injury in Afghanistan, he was sent to Fort Drum in New York for recovery and to serve the rest of his term. The conditions there made that even more unbearable for him and he started wishing he was rather back in the war.

After his term was done he returns to his live and tries to pick up where he left of, but it is not easy. You can’t ever un-see stuff you have seen.

“The way I saw the world was gone, and I saw things, almost everything, in an entirely different way. It was now time to face this fact, and I needed to adjust to life in an entirely new reality.”

“Going from war to everyday life turned out to be much more complicated than it was for me to go from everyday life to war. I searched desperately for the metaphorical light switch that would just turn that part of my life off for good, but such a switch simply doesn’t exist.”

The war changed him and there was no time to process everything that he has seen and endured. He felt like nobody understood what he went through and felt alone and isolated. He built up major walls around himself and became a master at hiding his problems and covered everything up with laughter and sarcasm.

Somebody he barely knew broke through to him and thank God he followed the advice and started facing his demons. For the first time he tried to process his experience and feelings about what he endured. The transformation is not something that happens overnight. It takes time, but he made the choice that he wanted to change and got the help he needed. He does get his happy ending and it made me smile like you won’t believe ;)

“I promised to never again take a single day for granted. I promised to always strive to be a kinder, gentler, and more understanding person. I promised to enjoy life to its fullest, and make the most of every opportunity and blessing I am given. I promised to stop worrying about the incidental, truly unimportant details we all burden ourselves with on a daily basis. Most importantly, I then promised to never again give my love and affection to anyone who did not purely and honestly deserve it.”

This book was powerful and it really makes you think about your life and how incredibly insignificant your problems are. This does not read as a self-help book and it does not come across as 'preachy' - it just reads as a guy’s honest account of what he endured and how he overcame the resulting PTSD. I hope that other people that read this also find the strength like he did to face their problems. There is always light at the end of the tunnel …

“No matter what life brings to me, I know I will always find a way to get by. I, like everyone else, have no way of knowing what tomorrow is going to bring, but I do know I will always have the strength to get through it. I will never quit, I will never surrender, and I will always prevail.”

Amen. ...more

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Jun 21, 2012 GraceMyBookSnack rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommended to GraceMyBookSnack by: Jillian Stein

A must-read memoir!

Out of curiosity and upon a friend's recommendation, I started reading Unspoken Abandonment even though it's not my usual genre. From beginning to end, I was captivated by Mr. Wood's journey while serving in Afghanistan, and then trying to live and cope after returning home. He writes with an incredible flair of compassion and raw honesty as he describes horrific and shocking events in his journal entries, events that will be forever ingrained in my mind.

After reading this, I ...more

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Jul 20, 2012 Tiffany Tabor rated it it was amazing

**I can still hear his words as if they were spoken just yesterday, “If you try to do only for yourself, you’ll only get so far in life. If you reach out to touch other people, you can fix your own soul…”** Charles to Bryan

Unspoken Abandonment by Bryan A. Wood had come highly recommended to me by my dear friend, Jillian. It was literally a “stop-what-you-are-reading-and-read-this-book-right-now” kind of recommendation. She told me it was definitely not our normal genre of PNR and **I can still hear his words as if they were spoken just yesterday, “If you try to do only for yourself, you’ll only get so far in life. If you reach out to touch other people, you can fix your own soul…”** Charles to Bryan

Unspoken Abandonment by Bryan A. Wood had come highly recommended to me by my dear friend, Jillian. It was literally a “stop-what-you-are-reading-and-read-this-book-right-now” kind of recommendation. She told me it was definitely not our normal genre of PNR and romance/suspense, but that was really all she said. Of course, I went right out to research the book. Truth be told, when I read the synopsis I thought “True story? War veteran? Memoirs? Struggle with coming home? Really? What is Jilly thinking?” That probably sounds awful, I know, but it’s the truth. I had never even read any book about war…fiction or nonfiction. But I have learned to trust my friend and her book recommendations and I have never been more grateful that I listened this time.

I’m not the best at writing reviews. I struggle to express how books really make me feel. There is NO WAY I can give Bryan and this book the review it deserves, but I’m going to try.

Unspoken Abandonment is a book about war, however the war Bryan fought in in Afghanistan was only one war he survived, the second being (and maybe even the harder of the two in my opinion) coming home and fighting to return to his “normal” life. To me the book has three distinct segments. The first being his journal entries from his time in Bagram, Afghanistan. Bryan journals his experience each day while on patrol and on different missions. Again, I’ll admit, I know nothing about what truly happens “over there.” But reading the things Bryan experienced made me realize I am ignorant about how life is in Afghanistan, what our troops see daily but can do nothing about and how close they come to dying no matter what they are doing. I’ll leave the details for you to read, but have a box of Kleenex ready. You will hurt and cry for Bryan and the struggles that start taking shape in his life as he serves our country. And you will never look at a black backpack or something as simple as a ballcap the same again. (Bryan, I have a backpack with your name on it.) The second segment is when he returns home and the struggles that took shape in Afghanistan become full blown when he tries to return to the life he had before. He quickly learns that the normal life he once had cannot be found and the relationships he had before being deployed aren’t the same and never would be again. This brings me to the third and final segment of the book and the reason I used the quote I did at the first of this review, Bryan taking his life back. Not the one prior to leaving but the life he was meant to live once he came back. The quote comes from a conversation he has with an unlikely acquaintance and it is what changes his outlook and it is where his healing starts. No quote has ever rang truer or made such an impact on my life as this one. If you read no other book, read this one. It will change your life.

Bryan, you have reached out and touched my life, and from reading the other reviews of your incredible story, you have touched many others as well. Thank you for serving our country and protecting everything I hold dear in my life. Thank you for opening my eyes to a world I know so little about. But mostly, thank you for sharing the struggles you had and how you reclaimed your life.
...more

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Mar 05, 2013 Radostina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Unspoken Abandonment tells a story so typical--a story that any soldier might have told--and yet so very personal and unique that by the end of the book I felt I've known author Bryan Wood forever. War has this way of depersonalizing its victims, both civilian and military; we are so used to hearing about it in terms of numbers and dry statistics that we often fail to realize how many anonymous lives have been shattered to serve purposes that at best can be called unclear.

Bryan Wood's writing is ...more

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Mar 08, 2013 Ramona rated it it was amazing

Unspoken Abandonment is one of those books that "love the book" is not the appropriate term to use. I am so glad I read this book, and feel it's a must read for family & friends of anyone who has been deployed in the military and for returning soldiers who knows or thinks they may have PTSD & anyone who cares about them. PTSD can be prevalent in soldiers who have served & we as a nation need to be more aware of its symptoms & not only be able to, but willing to show our support ...more

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Jul 08, 2013 Wendy rated it it was amazing

This was an incredible book. I am still thinking about it. What courage Bryan Woods has shown by writing this book. I know that he has helped many people understand what it is like to go to war then have to come home and adjust. That's all I can say is that he is an amazing and incredible man. Thank you Bryan even though thank you doesn't seem to be nearly enough. I am recommending this book to everyone that I know.

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Jul 10, 2012 Elizabeth (Stuffed Shelves) rated it it was amazing

What is the book about?

Bryan Wood deploys to Eastern Afghanistan not knowing what to expect or what the final outcome may be. A personal journal becomes his companion as he lives every day in the midst of war. As you read his journal you will be taken through his story, see the things he saw, and feel the things he felt. A truly moving book that will open your eyes to the conflict in Afghanistan.

You'll be taken back to understand the extreme effects war has on a person on their recovery as he What is the book about?

Bryan Wood deploys to Eastern Afghanistan not knowing what to expect or what the final outcome may be. A personal journal becomes his companion as he lives every day in the midst of war. As you read his journal you will be taken through his story, see the things he saw, and feel the things he felt. A truly moving book that will open your eyes to the conflict in Afghanistan.

You'll be taken back to understand the extreme effects war has on a person on their recovery as he comes back to the states, and finds inspiration through others around him to get past his pain. This is an amazing book that completely opens up the mind to understand what veterans experience on their return back home from war.

What did I think of the book?

What a page turner. I couldn't put it down from the moment I picked it up. The path that Bryan takes to finding himself is absolutely amazing. Wood is an amazingly strong person to be able to go find peace and love through his transition from soldier to veteran. This is a book of overcoming obstacles and finding true love and peace. Unlike any other war story you will ever read.

My favorite quotes from the book

"I've seen a lot of hurt in my life, and I know what it looks like. There is just something you can see in a person's eyes. No offense, brother, but I am seeing a lot it when I look at you. I can't walk away from that without asking you if you really are ok."

"You know what? You're probably right when you say I wouldn't understand because no matter what i's from, your hurt is different from my hurt, and hell, it's all different from that guy's hurt,"

"I know it's hard to open up about something, but it's the first step to letting go. Hiding from pain only allows it to grow strong and stronger. It's like a beast that feeds off of you. It feeds off of you until you actually become the beast."

"Because, I learned something a long time ago: if you try to do only for yourself, you'll only get so far in life. If you reach out to touch other people, you can fix your own soul and move further than you can ever imagine."

"For the good, the bad, and everything in between, everything changes and moves on."

"One of the things I have learned throughout this entire process is that when you beat yourself up over something internally, you eventually come to accept negativity from outside sources as also being acceptable. After all, it you treat yourself like shit, it must be perfectly fine for others to do the same."
...more

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Jul 10, 2013 Courtney rated it it was amazing

I have never had a harder time writing a review than I did with this book. And it's not because the book was bad - it was FAR from it. I just can't seem to find any words to give this book justice.

Bryan gives us a look inside what it was like to be in Eastern Afghanistan. We learn about what days were like for him and horrible things that he had to witness. It is a truly compelling read and visualzing everything that he went through there.

"Seeing things like this on television or movies is I have never had a harder time writing a review than I did with this book. And it's not because the book was bad - it was FAR from it. I just can't seem to find any words to give this book justice.

Bryan gives us a look inside what it was like to be in Eastern Afghanistan. We learn about what days were like for him and horrible things that he had to witness. It is a truly compelling read and visualzing everything that he went through there.

"Seeing things like this on television or movies is one thing, but when it is right in front of your face, day in and day out, it is something completely different. The part that scares me is I feel like I'm growing numb to it all."

But this book isn't just about his deployment there. Yes, we get to read his journal that he wrote in daily while deployed there. But it's the parts about him coming back stateside and then finally going home that really get to you. Bryan went through so much, not just in Afghanistan, but when he came back stateside. It amazes what our injured vets have to deal with and how little help they truly get. This book puts into perspective what life is really about and how much we take for granted.

"I know now that at the end of the day, it is all what you make of it. I said it at the very beginning: you will certainly face challenges in your life, but it is how you face and overcome these challenges that will ultimately define you as a person."

Bryan is truly an inspiration to all of us. This isn't a "how to" guide or anything like that. It just an every day guy's personal view of what he lived through in Afghanistan, his battle with PTSD and how he was able to overcome that and move on and where he is now. Bryan speaks from the heart. It's 200+ pages of gut wrenching honesty.

“No matter what life brings to me, I know I will always find a way to get by. I, like everyone else, have no way of knowing what tomorrow is going to bring, but I do know I will always have the strength to get through it. I will never quit, I will never surrender, and I will always prevail.”

Bryan - Thank you for your service and for bearing your soul to all of us. I have never been so touched by a book before. You truly opened my eyes!

...more

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Apr 26, 2013 Lisa Skabrat rated it it was amazing

Bryan Wood’s vulnerability in Unspoken Abandonment is a gift to all of us. He not only shares his experiences in the war zone of Afghanistan, but he allows us to hear his heart speak about what he witnessed. This book should be required reading in every high school in America. From the grass-roots up we need to try to understand the sacrifices our soldiers make for our freedoms so we will not only welcome them home but honor them for all they have done.

In addition, Unspoken Abandonment is a Bryan Wood’s vulnerability in Unspoken Abandonment is a gift to all of us. He not only shares his experiences in the war zone of Afghanistan, but he allows us to hear his heart speak about what he witnessed. This book should be required reading in every high school in America. From the grass-roots up we need to try to understand the sacrifices our soldiers make for our freedoms so we will not only welcome them home but honor them for all they have done.

In addition, Unspoken Abandonment is a powerful tool for men and women across this great nation who have returned home to discover they have changed and there’s no going back. Their friends and family will also benefit from reading it as they prepare to face these new challenges with their soldier.

Nothing explains the dailiness of life in a war zone like a personal journal. Some may argue that the days when nothing eventful happened should be deleted from the manuscript saying they serve no purpose. I would disagree. Wood allows us to see the extremes of monotony vs intensity by including the mundane. “Once again, hours and days of utter boredom sandwiching seconds of pure terror; that is life in Afghanistan.” He also refuses to write about some things expressing that they were too terrible to record. Saying nothings tells us a great deal.

Wood expresses the extremes of emotion as he describes terror, deep sadness, and memories he believes no one can possible understand. He brings the realities alive with the odor of his trunk – a memory so strong he can smell it. But sharing the experience isn’t all Wood has done here. He has also allowed us to see his process of healing. That gives hope to all of us.

As our soldiers struggle to recover, we as a nation must support those who have sacrificed so much for freedom. Bryan learned from Charlie, “if you try to do only for yourself, you’ll only get so far in life. If you reach out to touch other people, you can fix your own soul.” Bryan took that seriously and shared his story with the world. His story has the power to bring healing to other soldiers and their families and so many more.
...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Lauren Mayet rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

First off, I have to tell you that I usually don't read books on this subject, but I have to say that I am sure glad I did. This book wasn't about being a Democrat or Republican or any other political party. I wasn't about whether you are for or against the war either. This is story of one man's journey to get back to "normal," whatever normal may be. They review may go over many edits over the next few days as what I read sinks in and I have more time to think about what I actually read.

I am ...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Gerry rated it it was amazing

Shelves: military-history, memoir, terrorism-related

A book that covers the individual US Army Soldier's existence in a place where it would seem that "time forgot" and maybe more likely the world simply ignored. In my view this book also in many ways covers the existence of any service member regardless of Branch, Mr. Wood could have been a Marine, Navy Seal, Air Force Pararescue Member or any not referenced within. Mr. Wood reached within the depths of his soul to survive this onslaught - he represents (to me) all of us who have ever wanted to ...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Chantelle rated it it was amazing

Spellbinding.

Raw and real. Bryan's journal from his deployment in Afghanistan in 2003 is by turns heartbreaking and heartwarming. His writing made me feel as if I was there alongside him, experiencing what he experienced. I cried for some of the Afghani people when he described their situations. I want to go back in time and send him a care package with a backpack. Coming home was no sweet homecoming for Bryan either - and that part was just as hard to read.

Not only was this a gripping ...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Yury Sanchez rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bryan-wood

Loved this book his story had you up and down with him. Even though i was not there with Bryan but i can feel the fear, sadness and so much anger and at the end his happiness. I recommend this book to everyone you will love his book. :)

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Jul 09, 2012 Sarah R rated it it was amazing

I've read a lot of military memoirs over the last decade, and quite a few about Iraq and Afghanistan. It's one of my favorite book genres. This could sound rather odd considering my husband is a U.S. soldier, but I'm one of the (probably minority) military wives who would rather know what happens over there than not. You can't really prepare for something you know nothing about. With that said, I've had this book on my to-read shelf for awhile now, after running into the author here on I've read a lot of military memoirs over the last decade, and quite a few about Iraq and Afghanistan. It's one of my favorite book genres. This could sound rather odd considering my husband is a U.S. soldier, but I'm one of the (probably minority) military wives who would rather know what happens over there than not. You can't really prepare for something you know nothing about. With that said, I've had this book on my to-read shelf for awhile now, after running into the author here on Goodreads, and was kind of avoiding reading it. For one thing, my husband is heading over there in the not-too-far future and I've been struggling enough with the thought without adding anything else to it. But I finally started it last week, figuring it would be easier to read it while he was still here than wait til he's gone.

I was sucked in from the very first page. Bryan is an excellent writer. I don't remember any other war memoir that made me feel like I was right there like this one did. His descriptions paint every scene in vivid detail; it was like watching a movie. Some memoir authors get so militarily technical or so "down and dirty" that you become detached from the story, but not this one. It's simple, blunt, and real.

Even though I couldn't put it down, it was certainly not easy reading. My heart hurt over the descriptions of the plight of the Afghan people, especially the children. Americans have NO idea how good we have it. I got very angry over the way his wife treated him (though I definitely appreciated the fact that he kept her out of the story as much as possible); when my husband was deployed a few years ago, anything he even hinted at wanting got put in the mail to him the very next day, and it's hard for me to imagine a military wife who refused to do the same. The only thing that kept me from completely breaking down over some parts was my mistake to take my Kindle with me to public places.

Bryan's experiences upon returning from Afghanistan would be important for anyone to read who has a servicemember in their life, no matter in what capacity. I appreciated his honesty about his struggles and also his humility. He doesn't write with a victim mentality; he just tells it like it was. I think every veteran's journey back to wholeness is going to be different, but without doubt most of them struggle with similar things, and I feel like I will be a better support to my soldier after having read Bryan's story. So, many thanks to him for putting himself out there! ...more

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Aug 21, 2013 Will Mego rated it it was ok

As I'll explain, this could be a five star book...

Hard to quantify at times, this is the memoir of its author, a combat veteran of Afghanistan. Equally hard to qualify, it's compelling, at turns gripping, and speaks a truth which (bizarrely enough) few other contemporary war records are bothering to relate. It's hard to quantify because it doesn't really end up being a memoir, nor a war record, an inspirational book, or really anything specific. It begins quite strongly, using flashback and As I'll explain, this could be a five star book...

Hard to quantify at times, this is the memoir of its author, a combat veteran of Afghanistan. Equally hard to qualify, it's compelling, at turns gripping, and speaks a truth which (bizarrely enough) few other contemporary war records are bothering to relate. It's hard to quantify because it doesn't really end up being a memoir, nor a war record, an inspirational book, or really anything specific. It begins quite strongly, using flashback and foreshadowing to set itself up, but it's as though the editing process, the hand of which can be clearly felt in the first half simply gets up and leaves before the ending, which feels unedited entirely.

It's hard to qualify because without having a clear goal, it's hard to ascertain whether or not the book accomplishes it. For me, Mr. Wood doesn't really ever reach any specific genre...and that's ok.

So why must I sit here, feeling guilty that I've given it 2 stars instead of the raging 5's it looks like nearly everybody has given it? I suspect that those reviewers have rewarded Mr. Wood for his brutal, honest, and openhearted truth, which is very much the strength of the book. But the simple act of writing a book means you stand in contrast with all other books of it's kind, and the writing is left too uneven, too unpolished to stand on its own. Now please before you get angry at me, I used the word "left" deliberately: an accomplished, professional editor is all that this book requires, and certainly online there's speculation that the book being pulled from the author's website and amazon (there's only four copies in the public library system, AFAIK) means exactly that. There's a remarkable story here, ranging from the horrors of DAILY life in theatre, to the terrible (IMO) betrayal by the military of our wounded soldiers. Few authors, and practically zero autobiographers, are expected to both have lived a life worth words AND be able to write AND edit it. For one thing, they live too close to the subject.

With some spit and polish, this book can reach 5 stars. I hope it does so. ...more

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Nov 15, 2012 Ginger Myrick rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: rated-and-reviewed

This book is extraordinary. Unspoken Abandonment is a brutally honest account of a young soldier's time in Afghanistan. It is well-written with a flowing and facile prose. There is surprisingly little editing needed, which is astounding for the fact that it is basically a journal penned during a time of extreme duress. This can only be attributed to the author's superior writing skills and ability to relate information most important to his readers.

My son did two tours in Iraq, and until I read ...more

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Jan 21, 2013 David Thompson rated it it was amazing

A few notes on "Unspoken Abandonment" by Bryan Wood.

Bottom line: Wood takes a brief journal "journey" and is able to comprehensively expand the story to let readers see how that initial experience in Afghanistan in 2003 impacted his life.

Many OIF and OEF veterans kept a regular written account of their experiences--myself included. However, Wood is able to bring that simple writing experience into relevance several years later as he attempts to cope with the aftermath of his exposure to combat ...more

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Apr 25, 2012 Christina White rated it really liked it

Shelves: nonfiction

Unspoken Abandonment is the story of a young man that went to war, witnessed unimaginable tragedy, and then suffered for years with the horrible memories of it all. He found relief in writing and used it to help him get rid of the guilt he was caring around with him.

I found the journal entries to be very interesting and wanted more of them. Some of them had my jaw dropping to the floor and others had me furious. Reading about how he readjusted once he got back didn't grab my attention quite as ...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Scott Collins rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Unspoken Abandonment is the story of a veteran and his struggle to readapt to civilian life after a tour in Afghanistan. Reading Mr. Wood's journal was heartbreaking as was the tale of his difficulties in dealing what what he'd seen overseas. It wasn't until he'd lost almost everything that he finally found a person who saw through his facade and called him out.

Mr. Wood eventually worked through his troubles and reassembled his life. I wish him continued success and pray that this book can help ...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Tonya V rated it it was amazing

While reading "Unspoken Abandonment" by Bryan A. Wood, I was blown away by the many injustices he witnessed and resulting experiences while serving in Afghanistan. Wood, gives the reader an inside glimpse of what life was like while serving over seas and his adjustment upon returning home. Reading his documented experiences really made me more aware of how we take so many things in life for granted.

I highly recommend this book for those who have spouses, family members and friends who have ...more

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May 14, 2012 Holly rated it it was amazing

Just finished reading, Unspoken Abandonment by Brian A. Wood. It's an amazing biography of a soldier, including his daily journal he wrote while serving in Afghanistan. Then his later struggle with PTSD. For me it was a complete eye opener to the horrors going on over there and what our brave soldiers are witnessing and even worse, the inhumanity they can to nothing about. I think every adult should read this.

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Apr 02, 2013 Peggy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: biography-autobiography, favorites, spirituality

All I can say is thank you. Thank you for your service, thank you for sharing your story and giving others a glimpse of what our soldiers endure. There are many who may make it back alive, but I don't believe any come back uninjured. Bryan found a way not only to find healing, but to share it with others. I was deeply touched by this book.

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Jan 10, 2013 Parreads rated it it was amazing

Shelves: current-events, kindle

I enjoyed it-this is a very intense book. The author buys a black and white composition book before he is deployed to Afghanistan so that he can write about his experiences. This is a good book and you should read it so that you can attempt to understand what our servicemen and women go through in the field and in their homecoming experinces. I would read it again.

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Mar 14, 2013 Lynette Barfield rated it it was ok

I thought that the book was well written, his problems were probably typical of others returning from military duty, and i felt the passion in the narrative. My only problem was with the lack of conversation after the diary. Frankly, I just got bored. I think it is a good first attempt. Keep it up.

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Aug 12, 2012 Lea rated it it was amazing

Loved this book and whilst i thought it skimmed over a lot.... it really made me think. A wonderful read and after all this man has been through he is allowed to say or not say what he wants.
I liked the fact that he kept his wife out of the book - showed a lot of respect

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About Bryan A. Wood

Bryan A. Wood

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Bryan A. Wood is the author of the newly released dramatic memoir Unspoken Abandonment (Free Sample). It is the story of Bryan's journey from combat operations in Eastern Afghanistan to adjusting to a life torn apart after war. This true story, which is one of hope and inspiration for anyone who has ever faced life's trials and tribulations, will touch your soul and change the way you look at life ...more

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“For some life is incredibly easy, and for others, life is incredibly hard. Regardless of what side you fall on, you will certainly face challenges in your life. It's how you face and overcome these challenges that will ultimately define you as a person.” — 19 likes

“Everyone thinks that being in a war is nothing but non-stop action and fighting. I thought that too before I came here. It is actually ninety percent boredom mixed with ten percent shitting your pants, and there is absolutely nothing in between.” — 2 likes

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