Marcus Brotherton

I first have to say that The Long March Home is a must-read novel. It is so many things — a coming-of-age story, a tribute to those who sacrificed for their nation and world. a riveting account of an historical event — but it really goes much deeper than that. It explores the triumph of the human spirit, the love one has for a brother born not of blood, but of shared experiences, and search for purpose in the midst of hell. The book has two narratives, both in the voice of Jimmy show more Propfield. We get his growing up recollections in a past tense POV, and the present tense experiences of three childhood friends who are not quite men forced to endure extreme hardship and brutality. The structure of the novel is important and really works to get the whole of who the characters were and became. The chapters featuring their childhood also help relieve some of the intensity of the war scenes. Jimmy, Hank, and Billy grow up in Mobile, Alabama during the Depression. They impulsively enlist in the Army for varying reasons prior to America’s entrance into WWII. They land in paradise — boot camp in the Philippines. That is, until December 7, 1941. I was woefully ignorant of just what happened when the Japanese were successful in bombing Pearl Harbor. It was not the only serious Allied defeat that month. The Long March Home is an excellent historical account including fictional and historical figures. It reveals the horrors of war, the atrocities perpetrated by the Japanese, and the astonishing bravery of American soldiers and the people of the Philippines. The war is ever present in the book — it spans days leading up to the attack through the end of the war. Jimmy, Hank, and Billy are larger-than-life characters that are realistically drawn. Their struggles, doubts, fears are relatable to the modern reader. Their story gives insight into the character of those real men who lived through the nightmare of Japanese POW camps. As you can imagine, the will to live ebbs and flows. But strength was shared between the three men ensuring some bit of survival. Lives are changed irreparably, but not always for the worse. There is healing and hope.

The Long March Home was an emotional read for me. It drew me in immediately and never really let me go. I’m still thinking about it days after finishing. I believe it will stay with me forever. It gets a very rare Very Highly Recommended rating. I also strongly recommend you read this with your book club or reading buddy. I will be pressuring my husband to read it in the coming days. 😉

Very Highly Recommended.

Great for Book Clubs.

Audience: Adults (please note this book does not shy away from the brutality of war) show less

This was a difficult one to read—mainly because my mind tended to gravitate to my dad, a Vietnam War Vet, who lived through similar experiences. I found this story most challenging because it’s not a work of fiction. Yet, I love a book that makes me FEEL.

War, in itself, is a tragic and harrowing thing, but the act of returning home afterward is often overlooked. It’s heartbreaking to think about how our men (boys) struggled and how they were unjustly treated upon their return. The book show more encases so many emotions, so many facets—grief, sacrifice, love, guilt, and extreme heroism, and a faith that ties everything together.

Green Beret Medic, and Medal of Honor recipient, Gary Beikirch, showed incredible strength in his journey of perseverance, redemption, and faith. An astonishing and inspiring model of an overcomer.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. show less

The story is told from the time in the Pacific in 1942 with flashbacks to their time back in Alabama growing up in the late 1930s in Alabama. The story unfolds more and more as the memories come. It is a remarkably well written story!

I am not one to choose a war story. For some reason I could not pass this one up. It is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. For a Christian publishing company it is really outside the norm. It is real. It is gritty. I could not put this thing show more down!

It packed a punch. I suspect this is a story I won't easily forget. It is haunting and thought provoking and has brought me to a deeper respect for those who served our nation in such atrocious circumstances. War is ugly and evil and no one comes out unscathed. But God...

I was thrilled to be a part of this blog tour with Revell Publishing. The book was sent to me free of charge from the publisher and I was only asked to give an honest review. show less

This book should come with a trigger warning. It is raw, gritty and depicts atrocities of war in a very personal way. It is about a dark time in history: The Bataan Death March and POW camps. Although it is published by a Christian publishing house , I would say it did not clearly present the Gospel message. Some characters were Christian, a pastor and family, but some were decidedly unrepentant.
The authors realistically showed gut wrenching, heartbreaking situations. The scenes in the show more Philippines were broken up by those in Mobile, Alabama before the war. The background story of Jimmy, Hank, Billy and Claire was a homey, welcome break from the painful horrors of war.
Although distressing to read, I am glad these authors chose to tell the story. We should not forget or cover up the facts of what brave men endured in order to secure our freedom.
Emotional, haunting, and unsettling, but well written and not soon forgotten.
* A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.* show less