Mrs. Lieutenant: A Women's Friendship Novel

by Phyllis Zimbler Miller

When newly married Sharon Gold suddenly finds herself in the unfamiliar culture of the U.S. Army during the unpopular Vietnam War, she realizes she must quickly adapt to this alien world. If she does not learn to "fit in," the consequences could have a severe impact on her husband.

The women's friendship she unexpectedly experiences turns out to be her lifesaver.

Genres: Chick Lit, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Womens Fiction, Military Fiction

494 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2008

About the author

I write to share espionage, military and women's fiction (see www.amazon.com/author/phylliszimblerm...) featuring strong female characters as well as info and history in my nonfiction (see www.amazon.com/author/phylliszmiller)

I love to help other authors by sharing author and book information at my author site at www.PhyllisZimblerMiller.com and I was the founding president of the Los Angeles Chapter of Sisters in Crime.

My work-in-progress fiction and nonfiction as well as some of my published stories can be read for free on my Wattpad account at www.wattpad.com/user/ZimblerMiller

I invite you to follow my author page here on Goodreads -- and I welcome all friend requests.

Connect with me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ZimblerMiller

Reviews

[John Nevola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not My Cup of Tea

Although this book is well written and edited, it's not the typical military-themed book I normally read. However, I found myself interested enough to finish the book even after realizing it was the literary equivalent of a "chick-flick" but with a profound message.

Perhaps it was because I lived through the Vietnam War time period and struggled with Army rules, deployment and base housing issues much like the couples in this story. It could have been the frequent references to period music, which had me humming tunes I had not heard in years. Or it was the clever way the author used both the active and passive voice to differentiate the current action from the frequent flashbacks and memories of the characters. Maybe it was the combination of all of the above but I found myself unexpectedly hooked on this novel and determined to find out how it ended for the four ethnically diverse couples struggling with military protocol, the morality of the war, the arcane social structure on an Army base and sometimes with each other.

This is a well-structured and very professional piece of writing. Although the ending was not satisfying for me, I can understand why the author attempted to mete out the appropriate justice for all the major protagonists so at least some of them could live happily ever after.

John E. Nevola - Author of The Last Jump - A Novel of World War II

[Kathleen Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Author tackles Race, Religion, and Rank in story about Rookie Officers' Wives, October 20, 2009

This review is from: Mrs. Lieutenant: A Sharon Gold Novel (Paperback)
Phyllis Zimbler Miller is an author with guts. She tackles the tough topics of race, religion and rank in her novel about four young rookie officers' wives in 1970 while the Vietnam War rages on. And don't forget about the "Rules." While men are dying in an unpopular war overseas, these four young women with very different backgrounds are thrown together into a world where white gloves and the right outfit are expected attire for the proper officer's wife. If only white gloves could protect Sharon, Kim, Wendy and Donna from the harsh realities of military life and the cruel dark places that sometimes exist in the human heart.

Although this story takes place almost 40 years ago, it is so relevant today. Rank still has its privileges, soldiers still die in battle, and some people still cling to outdated rules and old prejudices. Despite some of the unsavory aspects of military life, this novel captures how quickly friendships are made and how most military spouses learn the ropes quickly and are stronger women for it. "Mrs. Lieutenant" is well written and these four main characters will grab your heart and you will come to think of them as friends. You will care about them long after you've finished the last page and closed the book.

Kathleen M. Rodgers -- author of the novel "The Final Salute: Together We Live On"

[Nancymk · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good display of the connection that military wives make that transcend race, religion and politics.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a long time to read this book. Not as in length of book, but had on reader long time. In 1970, four young men arrived at Ft Knox to begin Armor Officer's Basic training for possible deployment to Vietnam. These young men brought their young wives. The wives had to adhere to Army Code of Conduct for new officers wives from a handbook called "Mrs. Lieutenant" The four young wives were of diverse colors and religion and some never exposed to different people.

I think maybe I postponed reading this book was because my brother was an enlisted soldier in Vietnam in the time frame of this book. The news highlights at beginning of each chapter reminded me where I was with this news.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost gave up on the book for it was a slow read for me. It did get a little better but the ending was so unsatisfactory. It would have been nice to know where all the people involved were up to, not just the one couple. A different ending would have made a huge difference to me.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just could not get interested in thks book . it was boring and uninteresting.

[Jenni Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/26/08
Well, I finished this book last night-- FINALLY! While the beginning was slow, it finally picked up speed once it was determined how the four main characters (Sharon, Kim, Wendy and Donna) were all going to come together.

The author has sprinkled a lot of historical references throughout the book so that the reader can place the scene in each chapter. I admitted previously to not really having much knowledge of the Vietnam era, but I think the way the book is written, you don't really have to.

Mrs. Lieutenant Mrs. Lieutenant follows the lives of four women as their husbands go through 9 weeks of Armor Officers Basic (or 'AOB' for short). Four women who are as different as different can be ('Sharon is a Northern Jewish anti-war protester.. Kim is a Southern Baptist...Donna is a Puerto Rican... and Wendy is a Southern black') The bond of these womens' friendship is amazing.

I enjoyed this book, and I'm glad I took the time to make it through the seemingly slow parts in the beginning.

8/20/08
I promised you all I would give this book some more time and actually focus on reading it instead of just a page or two at a time in between loads of laundry! Last night, I spent a good 90 minutes just reading this book. I was elated to get to the part of the book where these four main characters meet and get to know one another. The four of them are absolutely NOTHING alike, and I have truly enjoyed what I've read so far. I'm about halfway through the book, and I plan on spending my lunch hour today getting through a few more chapters.

As of right now, my two most favorite characters are Wendy and Sharon. Neither of them are even remotely anything like me, and maybe thats what I like about them.

Keep watching for more updates as I read this book!

8/19/08
As of today, I have sat down to read this book at least a dozen times. I'm in love with the topic, but having a hard time staying focused on the story. I have read several books like this before, where you have several main characters, and you read about their different points of view in separate chapters.

Jodi Piccoult (one of my favorite authors) follows this style of writing also, and I have never had this issue with reading her books. I will put a lot of the blame on my ingnorance and lack of knowledge when it comes to anything relating to the Vietnam war or that general era in history. Because I'm familiar with a lot of the happenings during that time period (I wasn't even BORN YET!), I am having a rough time grasping some of the terms and things mentioned in the book.

Still reading it though! I really need to find some quiet time and get farther into this book. So far I've only read the first few chapters!

I'll update my review as soon as I finish the book!

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phyllis Zimbler Miller's novel, Mrs. Lieutenant: A Sharon Gold Novel, takes a unique look at how young men seeking alternatives to the draft opted for Armor Officer's Basic (AOB) training, while their wives tagged along to Ft. Knox, Kentucky, where the training was held.

Unlike many of the other novels and non-fiction books I have read about the Vietnam War, including those examining the politics of the war, this novel sheds light on how wives, especially new wives, deal with the commitments of their husbands to the military. The novel provides a varied examination of how these women--one Jew (Sharon Gold), one Puerto Rican (Donna Lautenberg), one African-American (Wendy Johnson), and one Southern White Woman (Kim Benton)--struggle with their own convictions regarding the war, their husbands' decisions about their role as soldiers, and how their ethnicity impacts their actions and decisions.

From Sharon's feelings against the war to Donna's experiences as an "army brat" turned officer's wife, this novel takes the reader inside these women's lives and the emotional roller coaster they experience beginning with Day 1 at Ft. Knox. Whether it is dealing with racial discrimination or anti-semitism or just the basic human need to belong, these women struggle against their own biases to find friendship with one another.

The bond these women create at a turbulent time in history is admirable not only because the bond crosses racial lines, but also because it transcends their own fears about their roles as Mrs. Lieutenants and wives.

The novel also sheds light on the thought processes of army officers' decisions to either extend their obligations with the army as part of involuntary definite or the regular army.

Miller's writing technique draws the reader into each character's plight easily, and it is hard not to be pulled into their triumphs, sorrows, and fears. As a former Mrs. Lieutenant herself, it is not surprising that this novel is emotional. The way in which Miller incorporates elements of actual events into her fictional novel is admirable, and it is wonderful to see excerpts from the manual provided to AOB wives, also called Mrs. Lieutenant by Mary Preston Gross.

[Viviane Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

The early 1970s is a difficult time in American history. The Vietnam War is in full swing, surrounded by patriotic men who sign up to fight this war to save America from the spread of Communism and the protestors who face armed violence but refuse to back down against a war they believe is totally unjust . In the middle of this pitched battle are the wives of four officers undergoing special training in Fort Knox, Kentucky. They represent four types of women throughout America, a Jew, an African-American, a Southern Baptist and a Puerto Rican. They have received a booklet by the name of Mrs. Lieutenant, a book whose contents they are to read and obey without question, rules that determine the success or failure of their husband’s officer training program.
It sounds a simple enough plot yet there is so much complexity representative of this actual historical period of bloodshed and strife. Yes, there is the obvious prejudice that depicts the anguish of being a Jew or black person in a white, “Southern” mentality Army; but always threading the conscious conformity lie the fears and questions of those who knew that orders to Vietnam meant death or at the least permanent mental anguish from what is seen, heard and done during that time. For instance, what of the custom of “fragging” which means the killing of an officer by discontent men who lack respect for their leader? Those who are older might think they know everything about these years and scarring memories, but this novel will open the eyes of many.
What about the tension that mounts to snapping point and winds up in the near-death of a man and the actual death of the one who has flipped? What about a woman who has lost one husband and is now faced with the death of another to this man-eating war that promises disaster no matter how well one is trained? These and so many more questions are addressed in this monumentally simple yet profound account of historical fiction that is replete with too much painful and yet proud reality? Quite a job well-done, right down to the raw emotions, memories, and imagined scenarios for the present and future replete on every page for Vietnam era participants! Read it and reflect on its theme about tomorrow’s possibilities!

[Alessandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

They had their whole lives to look forward to - if only their husbands could survive Vietnam.

I requested a review copy of Mrs Lieutenant by Phyllis Zimbler Miller because I was interetsed in these women's lives and, not knowing much about the Vietnam war and the events surrounding it, I was curious to learn more. Ms Miller was kind enough to send me a copy and to stop by this blog a few times.

Set in the spring of 1970, Mrs Lieutenant deals with the stories of four young women whose husband are called to go on active duty as officers on the US army. They find themselves together at Ft. Knox while their husbands undergo nine weeks of training. Different as though these four womes are, they have one thing in common: the fear that their husbands coudl be sent to Vietnam to fight - the fear to become war widows themselves.

These four women have very different backgrounds: Sharon is a Northern Jewish anti-war protester who fell in love with a ROTC cadet; Kim is a Southern Baptist whose husband is intensely jealous; Donna is a Pertorican who grew up in an enlisten man's family; and Wendy is a Sourthern black whose parents have sheltered her from racism in the US.

The main them of the book is feeling different--each of these women feels that she is different from all others: Sharon because she's a Jew; Kim because she's an orphan and has no family apart from her husband; Donna because she's Puertorican; and Wendy because she's black and doesn't know very much about the harsh reality of racism in America.

Another relevant theme in the book is overcoming prejudices: in the process of becoming friends, the four women have to overcome their prejudice, share their depp secrets and fears, and be initiated into their new lives as army officers' wives during the hard Vietnam war period.

This book is very different from what I usually read, but I enjoyed it a lot. I love reading about women's stories and femal friendships. This book is something to be reckoned with - a novel about the Vietnam war period seen from the perspective of women fearing for their husbands' lives.

The subtitle of the book, "A Sharon Gold Novel" makes me think there will be a sequel to this book - am I right?

[Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is about four young army officers wives who meet when their husbands are all assigned training at Ft. Knox, Kentucky in the summer of 1970. They are very different women from very different backgrounds but the circumstances they find themselves in help them to draw together and form unique friendships that they would not have dreamed of in their pre-army life.

Sharon Gold is a Jewish girl from Illinois with a journalism background. She is an anti-war protester but couldn't resist falling in love with an ROTC cadet while she was at Michigan State.

Kim Benton is an orphan from North Carolina who, with her younger sister, was raised in foster care. She has no self-confidence and is married to a controlling, jealous young man.

Wendy Johnson is an African American from South Carolina whose father is a physician. She has been sheltered by her parents her whole life and has little idea of the amount of prejudice in the world.

Donna Lautenberg is Puerto Rican but has lived all over the world because her father is enlisted in the army. She is having trouble adjusting from enlisted life to different social strata of an officer.

These women are only together for nine weeks but in that time they experience situations and deal with issues that break down the barriers of race, religion and class to allow them to form bonds of friendship and trust. In that short time they all grow, change and learn important lessons.

It's a compelling story that seems so real it made me wonder how much is based on actual experiences. I'm looking forward to reading the next Sharon Gold novel!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. Lieutenant: A Sharon Gold Novel follows four women who spend nine weeks in Fort Knox, Kentucky, as their husbands complete Armor Officers Basic (AOB) training. The book takes place in early 1970, just after the Ohio National Guard kills several Kent State University students during the volatile times of the Vietnam War.

The women are as different as night and day: Sharon, a Jewish anti-war protester from Chicago; Kim, a white Southern Baptist from North Carolina whose rough childhood causes her to cling to her jealous husband; Donna, a Puerto Rican coping with the shift from being the daughter of an enlisted man to the wife of an officer; and Wendy, a black woman from South Carolina who confronts the harsh realities of racial discrimination for the first time.

I’ve read novels about serving in the war and the psychological impact of the war on returning soldiers, but until Mrs. Lieutenant, I never read a book about the wives of those men who served. Zimbler Miller’s novel is important because it preserves a part of our history, a part that often is overlooked. She also does a marvelous job detailing the anti-war sentiment, racial and religious discrimination, and social divisions within military ranks. Not only did I enjoy reading each woman’s story, but I also learned a lot about the military and the expectations of officers’ wives.

Full review at Diary of an Eccentric.

I received a free copy of this book for review.

[Shari Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of four very different women, all married to men attending an officers training school in Fort Knox, Kentucky, during the spring and summer of 1970, who despite their differences, bond and become friends.

Sharon is Jewish and from Chicago, and she is against the war. Kim is an orphan from South with a tragic past and a controlling husband. Wendy is from a black community in Texas, and until she was married, her parents shielded her from situations where she might face discrimination. Donna was born in Puerto Rico, and is an "Army brat", and has seen the world though her father's deployment to different bases.

The military world is foreign to them, except for Donna, who grew up in the military, but being an officer's wife is an entirely different thing than being the daughter of an enlisted man. Since the Vietnam was was so unpopular, very often these military wives only had each other for support, and the four women in this story bond over learning what is expected of them as officers wives and their own personal trials.

I really enjoyed this novel, and it felt authentic to me because the author herself was an officer's wife during that same era. I read in a blog interview with the author that she was planning a sequel, about Sharon's life in Europe when her husband was sent there, but that interview was done in June 2008. I did a search on Amazon and could not find a sequel, so I wonder if the author changed her mind about writing it? I would very much like to read it, but even without a sequel, this is a satisfying read.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is a fabulous way to inform young adult readers about the confusions of the Vietnam War era and the conflicting tugs on young people serving in the military in a country torn by anti-war protests. As someone who married into the military in the 1970s and grew up in the shadow of our increasing commitment to Vietnam, I read this novel with a sense of familiarity salted with incredulity at the naiveté of the quartet of heroines. Were we ever really that naïve? I hope not. Miller works hard to make her diverse cast of characters accept each other, mixing a southern black, a southern belle, a Puerto Rican, and a Chicago Jewish intellectual together. It’s accurate that the military forces you into proximity and friendship with people you would never have met otherwise, but even so, this quartet seems contrived. Also, when bra-burning feminism was raging throughout the USA, these women seem atypical throw-backs to a submissive understanding of marriage. Probably the most amusing elements of the book are the antiquated and creaking instructions from the Mrs. Lieutenant handbook scattered throughout the text at the start of each chapter. These are faithful to the reality and reflect the schizophrenia of the tradition-bound military trying to dominate in the confusing years of the anti-war movement. The high school lesson plan and discussion questions at the end of the book offer excellent suggestions for bring this material alive for high school language arts, history, or social studies classes.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mrs. Lieutenant" brought back so many memories to me. I grew up in the 1970s, had friends fighting in the Vietnam War, and many did not make it home.

This is the story of four officer's wives (Sharon, Kim, Wendy and Donna) during the period of May - July 1970. Their husbands, new lieutenants in the US Army, are trying to decide their future decisions as they apply to the Vietnam War and their Army service.

Kent State, President Nixon, the Vietnam War, bigotry, racism, a handy little booklet telling these new lieutenant's wives how to dress, eat , drink, think..., male chauvinism, fear, courage, youth, death - this novel tells it like it was.

Well developed characters, an interesting and insightful storyline, and a well-thought-out conclusion - what more could we, as readers, want in an excellent period drama?

P.S. I've never been a Second Lieutenant's wife but I was a Second Lieutenant's mother not that many years ago.

[Adrienne Van Houten · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of 4 women from the four corners of a square. The square is their husband’s military service and while they are all going through the same thing, they are each coming at it from their own completely different background and beliefs. It is 1970 and the one thing they all have in common is the worry that their husband will go to Vietnam.
Sharon is Jewish, Kim is a Southern Baptist, Donna is a Puerto Rican Army brat and Wendy is Black.
The story is told in 3rd person but flows as if each woman is telling her own. You cringe when prejudices are shown and you cry when bonds are formed.
The book can look deceiving as being long and daunting because the type is large, which I enjoy as being easy to read at night in bed, but it makes it almost 500 pages.

[Corina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite good. It deals with the lives of four women, each the wife of Army officers accompanying their husbands to Fort Knox for Armor Officers Basic. Although they are an unlikely group to become friends, each feels like she will be the outcast. Together, they form a friendship that helps them get through others' prejudices and their own insecurities.

This group, one Puerto Rican, one Jewish, one black, and one southern white, take us on a journey to 1970 and the extremely strong pro and anti Vietnam sentiments. It's also a backward trip through some very volatile and maddening racial and ethnic prejudices.

I highly recommend this very human novel, with the exception being the Epilogue. It was not necessary and did not add anything to the novel.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about the book. I wanted to love it but I didn't. The story itself is interesting and most of the women were likeable but I had a hard time relating to anyone or anything except the music. Growing up as an Air Force brat in the 70s I thought I would be able to relate to someone or something. I don't remember that much discrimination in the military but my dad was enlisted and we lived mostly outside of the south or in Europe. The other thing I struggled with was the writing style, it felt juvenile although the subject matter wasn't.

[MaryJane Rings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, addressed the issues both nationally and culturally of the 1970's believable characters and the scenarios of the time period. I will remember the ladies, their lives and experiences for many years to come. I was approximately the same age as these women and experienced the same frustrations and the moral code of women in the time period. I am also familiar with the cultural expectations of women in their role as officer's wives in the military. The constant threat of deployment for the husbands to VietNam.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting read because it addressed some of the etiquettes that have gone "out of style" or expected of women in today's world, but is quite clear about how the wives of officers of the Army should dress and behave. This was written about the Vietnam era, and each chapter begins with a statement of significance in U.S. history with a specific date.

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read especially for a freebie. This story set in the 60s follows. 4 young couples who have come to Fort Knox for officer training school. They are from diverse backgrounds sharing the same fears I learned a lot about what it takes to be a military wife

[Joy Mosier-Dubinsky · Rating 2 out of 5]

If your idea of a great read is one-note characters drawn in the broadest, most stereotypical strokes possible, you simply must read this book! If I had paid actual money for it, I would be twice as scathing in reviewing it.

[John Podlaski · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book jumped around too much and made it hard for me to follow. I finally gave up 40% into the story. Sorry!

[Aletha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thankfully, times have changed.

[Deleyna Marr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this multicultural novel focused on the power of women's friendships.

[Angie Wheelehan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to,read this book, but the more I read the more bored I became. The characters were all a little to blah for me. Not the story I anticipated.

[Melissa Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started out well but then was dragging and somewhat unbelievable. A couple of te scenes were pretty far fetched. I would've enjoyed more historical fiction to add to the reality of the stories.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book I've read about the Vietnam era and found it interesting.

[Corissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. The characters, the story, all of it!

[Crena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book focused so much on establishing a friendship, yet at the end of the book she didn't know what became of her friends, I found that odd.