Book Jacket

 

rank 3741
word count 90465
date submitted 19.11.2008
date updated 10.02.2009
genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Chick Li...
classification: moderate
complete

Mrs. Lieutenant: A Sharon Gold Novel

Phyllis Zimbler Miller

A semi-finalist in the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, MRS. LIEUTENANT features four newly married officers’ wives in 1970 during the Vietnam War.

 

They had their whole lives to look forward to – if only their husbands could survive Vietnam. In the spring of 1970 – right after the Kent State National Guard shootings and President Nixon’s two-month incursion into Cambodia – four newly married young women come together at Ft. Knox, Kentucky, when their husbands go on active duty as officers in the U.S. Army. Different as these four women are, they have one thing in common: Their overwhelming fear that, right after these nine weeks of training, their husbands could be shipped out to Vietnam – and they could become war widows. Sharon is a Jewish anti-war protester who fell in love with an ROTC cadet; Kim is a Southern Baptist whose husband is intensely jealous; Donna is a Puerto Rican who grew up in an enlisted man’s family; and Wendy is a Southern black whose parents have sheltered her from the brutal reality of racism in America. Read MRS. LIEUTENANT to discover what happens as these women overcome their prejudices, reveal their darkest secrets, and are initiated into their new lives as army officers’ wives during the turbulent Vietnam War period.

 
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tags

army wives, drama, fiction, military fiction, military spouses, officers' wives, r.o.t.c., u.s. army, vietnam war, women's fiction

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12 comments

 

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Phyllis Zimbler Miller wrote 426 days ago

Liz --

What a wonderful comment to be greeted with this morning! I so wanted to preserve this particular slice of women's social history while also describing military life to all those people in the U.S. today who have no understanding of military life. Of course, in addition I wanted the book to be a compelling and entertaining story.

Thanks again,
Phyllis

P.S. You might like to check out my site http://www.insupportofourtroops.com

lizjrnm wrote 426 days ago

Thi sis a superb read so far and deserves publication. As a former military brat and then wife I can so relate to the sory you ar eweavinghere mixed with real life drama. I can see this as a mini-series. I will give you a more detailed critique when I am done and I thank you for uploading this wonderful read in its entirety.

Liz
The Cheech Room

markwoodburn wrote 430 days ago

Phyllis, one of the joys of this site is finding gems like your book. I have found others from this era that have fascinated me also. I believe that these memoires should find a home somewhere as they are an essential in allowing future genarations to understand the era from the view of the ordinary people who were caught up in it, not the politicals and generals. Mark

Phyllis Zimbler Miller wrote 431 days ago

Mark --

Thank you for leaving such a nice comment. I wanted to tell this story for 40 years since I was a new Mrs. Lieutenant in the spring of 1970 right after the Kent State shootings. I believe this era is often somewhat ignored in high school history classes plus the era covers a significant slice of women's social history in the U.S. I'm very pleased that you appreciated the book.

Phyllis

markwoodburn wrote 431 days ago

The era described is of interest to me and the author writes with authority on her subject. Vietnam from an original slant, it is not afraid to address the issues of the times, the war, racism etc and all with a deft touch. Starred and WL for now . Regards, Mark

Louis wrote 446 days ago

I already have, Phyllis. Thanks. Robert Davidson The Tuzla Run. Louis

Phyllis Zimbler Miller wrote 449 days ago

The previous comment on this work was made 404 days ago. This book has been available all this time without new comment, which illustrates just how ineffectual, bankrupt and misleading this site is, as a self-professed promoter of literary effort. The work is a substantial, modern historical fiction, grounded in realism, crafted in graphic but unadorned prose, by an artisan. It has pace, is well-modulated and unlike others, is obviously taking the reader somewhere. An undoubted tour-de-force, providing an engrossing & enjoyable read. Louis aka Robert Davidson, The Tuzla Run.




Louis --

Thank you so much for this lovely comment about "Mrs. Lieutenant." And perhaps the reason no one has put a comment here for over a year is because I have been busy focusing on my social media marketing company rather than "Mrs. Lieutenant."

But the other day Google Alerts notified me that BestArmyWives.com was about to launch a book club and "Mrs. Lieutenant." would be the first book featured. Since then I've been trying to get out the word about the book club. If you have time, do "drop in" at http://bestarmywives.com/book-club and leave a comment.

Phyllis

Louis wrote 449 days ago

The previous comment on this work was made 404 days ago. This book has been available all this time without new comment, which illustrates just how ineffectual, bankrupt and misleading this site is, as a self-professed promoter of literary effort. The work is a substantial, modern historical fiction, grounded in realism, crafted in graphic but unadorned prose, by an artisan. It has pace, is well-modulated and unlike others, is obviously taking the reader somewhere. An undoubted tour-de-force, providing an engrossing & enjoyable read. Louis aka Robert Davidson, The Tuzla Run.

J&M JENSEN wrote 853 days ago

Fabulous!

M&J

hapless rider wrote 1090 days ago

Lovely story so far (read upto chap 4) you have obviously either first hand experience or have bothered to do the research for this period of american history including life in the camps and the experience of a multi-cultural candidate pool. I like that the story starts with journeys - they are all so full of hope, dread, newness - it is a great way to start a story as there are so many possiblilities!

Jill Harris wrote 1281 days ago

I love this. Great pace and characterisation, and about a subject that is always worth bringing to light, the effect of war on the families of those who fight. Jill.

sunsinger wrote 1282 days ago

I enjoyed reading this novel.

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