I’m not a huge military-related book fan, but Book of the Month has always been about stretching me since I started my subscription, and I love that about it. What intrigued me about this particular novel was that it’s about women in the military. I feel like most military-related books are very male-centric, being both written by men and containing male lead characters. For the first time, I found myself very excited to dive into a military-related read.
Book 17:
Beyond the Point
by Claire Gibson
Genre:
Historical Fiction
Published:
April 2019
Synopsis According to Mandi:
Without spoilers, Beyond the Point is the stories of three women who begin their journeys at West Point in the year 2000. When the terrorist attacks of September 11 take place in their sophomore year, their fates are sealed; they know they’ll be serving overseas, but life takes all three in different directions. What does the future hold? Will they stay in touch? Was West Point the right choice for each of them?
Favorite Quote(s):
“Vulnerability can bring two people closer together, or it can expose a distance that an’t be overcome.”
“When you allowed yourself to enter someone else’s trauma, there were so many benefits: a righted perspective, a deeper sense of friendship, a holy devotion to the sacredness of now.”
“I wanted perfection. But it turns out, here on earth, we don’t get perfection; we get people.”
– Claire Gibson, Beyond the Point
Awards (based upon my brief research):
None yet.
Pages:
490
My Overall Rating:
3 – This book was not what I expected. When I read West Point and September 11 in the synopsis, I assumed it was going to be more of a military-focused story. However, the story was softer. It focused on each of the three main characters lives – professionally and personally, and arguably more on the personal than professional side.
I did love the three main characters. I rooted for them and was curious about how things would turn out. I just expected a stronger story, and therefore struggled with so much backstory to get to the heart of the story. The second half was great. The first half just felt like too much chick lit.
