Reviews
Soft Spots: A Marine's Memoir of Combat and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, by Clint Van Winkle
valfreya's review against another edition
4.0
this is a very personal story, so it's weird for me to rate it. it's structured to give the reader an understanding of how disorienting PTSD can be, with memories of deployments overtaking peaceful moments at home (or drinks at the bar). there's a lot of honesty about the author's struggles and things he is not proud of, frustration with treatment at the VA, things he saw that haunt him - the writing definitely feels raw, not in the sense that it's unedited, but such that the immediate impact (at least for me) is emotional more than intellectual.
I think it's great to have someone share this experience, the process of seeking treatment and working hard to change things. a lot of media portrays people with PTSD as fragile or helpless or about to explode, when actually they are just folks who deserve understanding and respect.
I think it's great to have someone share this experience, the process of seeking treatment and working hard to change things. a lot of media portrays people with PTSD as fragile or helpless or about to explode, when actually they are just folks who deserve understanding and respect.
bartendm's review against another edition
3.0
A personal and very brave memoir of a soldier's experience in war and afterwards. It is an important contribution to this growing body of literature. It is not a feel good book and does not have a sweet happy ending, but it is an important testament to what so many of our soldiers experience.
rachelstocki's review against another edition
4.0
This was a difficult book for me to read, for a variety of reasons. The first was the content itself. Some of the stories made me want to either cry or wince, but at the same time I truly appreciated Van Winkle's honesty. The second reason this was a hard read was the lack of any chronological order in the story. Once I got to the end I was able to grasp the journey the book had led me through, but as I was reading the jumps between war, home, and hallucinations were slightly confusing.
On that note, however, I thought this memoir was a heartbreakingly honest depiction of what someone goes through when they get home from war. I truly felt for Van Winkle and the horrors he went through, and his memoir has given me an even greater respect for our troops and the service they provide.
On that note, however, I thought this memoir was a heartbreakingly honest depiction of what someone goes through when they get home from war. I truly felt for Van Winkle and the horrors he went through, and his memoir has given me an even greater respect for our troops and the service they provide.
hldonavant's review against another edition
5.0
View into the mind of a deployed Marine who is reintegrating back into civilian life. Makes you compassionate to what some could be going through. Very helpful to family and friends of afghan vets.
alyssaarch's review against another edition
4.0
This intense memoir provides insight into the life of a Iraq war veteran suffering from PTSD. It is an eye-opening read and one that I would recommend for everyone; especially those who have loved ones who served in Iraq. It provides a more realistic view to war than what we are used to, and while some details are grotesque and horrific to imagine, it is refreshing to get the perspective from someone who has known the reality of war and who is willing to talk about it and how it affected him.
valfreya's review
4.0
this is a very personal story, so it's weird for me to rate it. it's structured to give the reader an understanding of how disorienting PTSD can be, with memories of deployments overtaking peaceful moments at home (or drinks at the bar). there's a lot of honesty about the author's struggles and things he is not proud of, frustration with treatment at the VA, things he saw that haunt him - the writing definitely feels raw, not in the sense that it's unedited, but such that the immediate impact (at least for me) is emotional more than intellectual.
I think it's great to have someone share this experience, the process of seeking treatment and working hard to change things. a lot of media portrays people with PTSD as fragile or helpless or about to explode, when actually they are just folks who deserve understanding and respect.
I think it's great to have someone share this experience, the process of seeking treatment and working hard to change things. a lot of media portrays people with PTSD as fragile or helpless or about to explode, when actually they are just folks who deserve understanding and respect.
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