Jessica Buchanan

The Sound of Resilience was a powerful chapter. It demonstrates the depth and breadth of the author’s experiences and her inner courage. Even despite all her own perceived faults.
I've known the author for quite a few years, but I did not know about all the background of her story. The key message that she repeats: “Never turned down anything but your coat collar”, resonates deeply. Even though there are so many other lessons that can be learned from her story.
Her story is show more unfortunately, like the story of far too many women and many people who are not in positions of power, the minorities in our present society. They are consistently undervalued, underpaid, underestimated, and they are under respected. In hindsight, she managed to deal with all of that with great aplomb. She improvised, adapted, and overcame. Indeed, she fought like a Marine.
Grit and resilience are her guiding mindset, even though it took its toll on her mental and physical being. This was a lesson that was brought to the foreground as I read through her narrative. Something that I did not really truly believe until much later in my life, when I realize that your existence in toxicity takes an immense toll on your health — mental, intellectual, and physical; even though I knew that reality deep in my subconscious, I denied that reality because of what society and the work culture had ingrained in my psyche. She was much more conscious of that fact; but most importantly, unlike most people, she had the courage to do something about it.
One lesson that blossomed during her narrative is her realization of the Stoics lesson: the dichotomy of control. Essentially, it is: “control what you can control, and don't worry about what you can't control”. In her narrative about a particularly evil boss, she talks about holding a grudge and her belief that the universe will level the karmic disparity. Her admission that her realization of the fact that the great leveling had taken place but in a way that she hadn’t foreseen was a powerful admission. An admission that holding on to all of that vitriol really does nothing, that her basic belief in the fairness of the universe will happen, just not in the way she expected, and in the end all of the grudge holding over something that she could not control was wasted energy. It builds the toxicity in her being and brings her down. I believe, I don't know this for a fact, that the moment she realized that she had ultimately won is the real moment of victory over her own shortcoming. Even as she avows that she still holds grudges, I don't think that it is at that same level.
This is a heartfelt recommendation for this book and for this story because it is a straightforward lesson for all the lost souls out there who are going through self-doubt, denial, mental anguish, and all that comes with living in the vagaries of life. The lesson is that there are no recipes, no formulas, no How-to methods to get through all of these things, because everybody's journey is different, and everybody's journey should be different. It doesn't take a formula or a recipe to overcome all that life has in store for us.
It takes taking a deep breath, and taking every chance that life offers you, to never turn down anything but your coat collar, shutting your eyes, moving boldly into the unknown, taking your chances, making your mistakes, learn from them, and then making brave decision based upon who you are and what you know, because that's the only way to deal with life. Learn to deal with difficult situations and difficult people as they show up in your life, but never turn down an opportunity to experience life.
This story is a shining point of light to all who think: hope is lost, or is in fear of themselves. This is a beacon for all to take inspiration and to be motivated. Even though They don't have the metaphor of singing to inspire them, but I am very sure that the author’s example will inspire many to look uniquely at their own situation and draw inspiration from her experience.
Joan Didion once said: “I write to find out what I think.” This is a powerful example of that quote, we are all better because the author chose to find out what she thought and shared it with us. show less

SPOILER ALERT -- While this book had all of the components of a true, edge of your seat, can't stop reading story, the author did Jessica and Erik no favors. From the start, they're described in unlikable, self-important ways; the harrowing story of 3 months in captivity contains no details of the practical details of survival (like what did she eat, did her thyroid medicine run out, how did she spend hours every day - not just circling the tree, etc., were there biting bugs, etc), just show more chapters and chapters of khat chewing and proof-of-life calls. We know that Jessica gets very sick and her body emaciated, but we're told, we don't experience it -- and a photo caption says she had a son in just over 9 months - how did her body recover so quickly? A very shallow capturing of an otherwise dramatic and unimaginable experience. Odd levels of detail: we know exactly how the SEAL team jumped from the helicopter, but don't know any of the details of how the mission logistically occurred. Disappointing. show less

I am recommending this book to everyone I know and don't know. As a book it is flawed -- it was clearly rushed to publication, and the closer you get to the end, the more jumbled the action and timeline becomes. But the stunning story of these two remarkable individuals shines through. Also, the account of Jessica's abduction is the finest piece of first person point of view I have ever read. You feel her terror moment by moment, which is by no means a good thing, but is an extremely show more impressive feat of writing. Hopefully, one day another book will be written to address some of the unanswered questions -- Why did it take 93 days! What really went wrong with the negotiations? Who really advocated for her release and who finally made it happen? I would also like to read anything further Jessica and Erik might write about their experiences, if they so choose. Meanwhile, may Jessica and Erik enjoy a long life of happiness and peace -- and I would like to say to them -- that although they are not out in the trenches anymore serving humanity one prisoner or child at a time -- there is no telling how many people they may serve by having told this story. show less

This true story is a nail-biter. Jessica, an aid worker in Somalia, is kidnapped and held for ransom in primitive, insanitary conditions for over 3 months by a gang of khat-chewing, gun-toting, zonked out, irrational men and boys with a penchant for violence and rape. Luckily, at least for Jessica, a fellow aid worker - a Danish man called Poul, is kidnapped with her so at least she has someone to remind her of the saner world she has been dragged away from. Throughout the book Jessica show more presents herself as victim rather than heroine, and quietly laughs at herself for being so naïve about the lives of the people she has come to help. The story is told from three different points of view: Jessica's, her husband Erik's, and Flacco the book's 'professional' author. Flacco's role functions to round out the scenario by telling us the US government's position on the kidnapping and the history of the heroes of the story, Seal Team Six. This structure also works well to bring out the contrasting personal and bureaucratic viewpoints of the different players in this nasty event.

This books offers a glimpse of the real dangers that thousands of aid workers face selflessly every day in order to improve the lives of others. It's a cautionary tale. show less