Home Front

By: Kristin Hannah

Narrated by: Maggi-Meg Reed

Length: 15 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

"Home Front is Hannah's crowning achievement."—The Huffington Post

In this powerhouse of a novel, Kristin Hannah explores the intimate landscape of a troubled marriage with this provocative and timely portrait of a husband and wife, in love and at war.

All marriages have a breaking point. All families have wounds. All wars have a cost. . . .

Like many couples, Michael and Jolene Zarkades have to face the pressures of everyday life—children, careers, bills, chores—even as their twelve-year marriage is falling apart. Then a deployment sends Jolene deep into harm's way and leaves defense attorney Michael at home, unaccustomed to being a single parent to their two girls. As a mother, it agonizes Jolene to leave her family, but as a solider, she has always understood the true meaning of duty. In her letters home, she paints a rose-colored version of her life on the front lines, shielding her family from the truth. But war will change Jolene in ways that none of them could have foreseen. When tragedy strikes, Michael must face his darkest fear and fight a battle of his own—for everything that matters to his family.

At once a profoundly honest look at modern marriage and a dramatic exploration of the toll war takes on an ordinary American family, Home Front is a story of love, loss, heroism, honor, and ultimately, hope.

"Hannah has written a remarkable tale of duty, love, strength, and hope that is at times poignant and always thoroughly captivating and relevant." —Library Journal (starred review)

©2012 Kristin Hannah (P)2012 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Kristin Hannah's Home Front, read with fine emotional nuance by Maggi-Meg Reed, is the kind of novel that grabs your heart as it draws you in…Keep the Kleenex close, and breathe through the lumps in your throat.” —Booklist

“The novel's second half, a moving exploration of the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder on an already shaky family dynamic, is especially well read by Maggi-Meg Reed, who inhabits all the voices and characters with skill and heartfelt emotion. A timely book that is highly recommended for all audiences.” —Library Journal, Starred Review

Enjoyed this novel

This was a good book and I listen to all my books while I try to go to sleep. A few things bothered me about it. I got tired of that bratty teenager saying “WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU? That phrase was used way too much but other than that I liked it. It was a good book to listen to.

Horrible narrator, but like led the book

The novel was very good. Hard to get into after The Great Alone. Hated the narrator. The voices of the kids nearly made me stop listening. I’ll keep an eye out for her name in the future.

Character

I loved the development of characters in this story. I am a fan of Kristen Hannah and I feel her talent in character development and change is phenomenal it is obvious how her character’s decisions propel the plot. The characters are rich and real in an all around way and I feel that makes her novels so enjoyable

Military family

I listen to the book prior to my husband leaving on a deployment. It hit a ton of spots for me.

I should have read this book instead of listening to the narration….

First, let me say that the story itself is good… It addresses a realistic and horrific situation for many vets returning home.

However, this was a book that I should have read, and not listened to. The narrator’s voice really accentuated things/emotions that found me not liking any character in this book except the mother-in-law.

The older daughter was a spoiled brat before her mother went overseas, and the father was a pathetic wimp. The children were coddled and not disciplined, and I felt that it was more of a best friend relationship between mother and child as opposed to parent and child.

The narration of the two daughters was the tipping point for me in the last quarter of the book. I can’t tell you the number of times that I wanted to physically backhand the older daughter. I have a few choice words for the description of her… Not suitable for an audible review. The younger daughter was neurotic and hyperactive. All in all, it was a good story, and probably too realistic. As I said, I think the narrator put a lot of emphasis on the two daughters. The father did little to prepare the daughters, he did little to prepare himself.

I understand that this is written with the way children/teenagers are today, but I grew up in a different time and my teeth would’ve been across the room had I been the older daughter.

Overall well written, but I would’ve probably done better with a different narrator or reading on my own.

better understanding

Thank you for helping me to understand. my niece is in the national guards help with helicopter and went to Iraq. struggles with PSTD.

Oh my tears!

Not only was this a beautifully written book but the great amount of detail/research was incredibly clear. I went into this book not expecting to connect with the characters as much as I did but wow…

The whole story

this was such a fantastic book. Being a military spouse she touched on many things you go through.

Choke up

I am a military wife, vintage Vietnam. So many times through this book I had to choke back tears. My husband was the helicopter pilot. He did come home but suffered from PTSD. Our marriage broke up, but we have stayed friends all these years, thank you for writing such a respectful book about our military. In todays world so much of that respect has been forgotten, God bless you

Most emotional read ever

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I cried several times throughout the book and will never look at soldiers in the same way again. It's an incredible read and well worth the box of tissues it requires. :)