Interrupted Journeys

A Memoir of an Army Brat

Non-Fiction - Memoir
340 Pages
Reviewed on 05/06/2017
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Lucinda E Clarke for Readers' Favorite

Interrupted Journeys by Barbara Fifield tells the story of her life, but concentrates mostly on her childhood and then the later years. As the daughter of a Major in the American army, they relocated several times, including stays in Japan, Germany, and several army bases in the United States. We learn of the effects the upheavals had on Barbara and her younger sister, Marilyn. The book opens on a particularly poignant farewell as she says goodbye to their German maid, Eliska, and like many people she grew to love, once the goodbyes were said, she never heard from them again. It becomes obvious that Barbara’s mother was a narcissist and that Marilyn was the golden child. Unfairly, Barbara was made responsible for caring for her from a very young age and suffered the consequences for her sister’s bad behaviour. This behaviour pattern and what is expected of Barbara continues right up until both her parents die.

I enjoyed reading Interrupted Journeys by Barbara Fifield and could relate to her many moves, losing friends, learning to fit in, attending new schools, unfamiliar neighbourhoods, and different activities. She had a very strict upbringing, and her descriptions of her mother and father brought them to life. She did not have an easy time and the reader can easily sympathise with her. I found the narrative occasionally backtracked and hopped from one country to another, and there was a little repetition, but for me this did not spoil the story and it was an enjoyable read. This book should be prescribed reading for all adults who relocate frequently, to highlight the difficulties faced by their children as they travel. One example was Barbara being forced to leave her dog behind when they returned to America, a heartbreaking story. Today, we would describe her upbringing as an abusive one, being left in charge of her sister when she was only six years old. On one occasion she was unable to prevent Marilyn scribbling on the walls and got soundly beaten for it – Barbara, that is, not her younger sister. I can only admire Barbara Fifield for having the courage to write her memoir, sharing her experiences with us and opening our eyes to a life lived as an ‘army brat.'