Formation

A Woman's Memoir of Stepping Out of Line

By: Ryan Leigh Dostie

Narrated by: Ryan Leigh Dostie

Named by Esquire as one of the Best Nonfiction Books of the Year: Chanel Miller's Know My Name meets Cheryl Strayed's Wild and Anthony Swofford's Jarhead in this powerful literary memoir of a young soldier driven to prove herself in a man's world.
Raised by powerful women in a restrictive, sheltered Christian community in New England, Ryan Dostie never imagined herself on the front lines of a war halfway around the world. But then a conversation with an Army recruiter in her high-school cafeteria changes the course of her life. Hired as a linguist, she quickly has to find a space for herself in the testosterone-filled world of the Army barracks, and has been holding her own until the unthinkable happens: she is raped by a fellow soldier.
Struggling with PTSD and commanders who don't trust her story, Dostie finds herself fighting through the isolation of trauma amid the challenges of an unexpected war. What follows is a riveting story of one woman's extraordinary journey to prove her worth, physically and mentally, in a world where the odds are stacked against her.

Critic reviews

A 2019 New England Book Awards Finalist
Longlisted for the 2019 Outstanding Works of Literature (OWL) Awards

An Esquire Best Nonfiction Book of the Year
A Bustle 21 New Memoirs That Will Inspire, Motivate, and Captivate You This Summer
A BookRiot 50 of the Best Books to Read This Summer
A PureWow Books we Can't Wait to Read in June
A Patch.com 10 Best Books to Read in June

"Urgent and necessary."—--Esquire

"Rape victims must yell, cry and fight, says the Army that trained us for years to be silent, strong and obedient."—New York Times

"FORMATION is a brilliant addition to the memoirs of war. With grounded and elegant prose Dostie narrates her harrowing journey into combat and through the violet quagmire of Military Sexual Trauma. We should all read this heroic and timely book."—Anthony Swofford, New York Times bestselling author of Jarhead

"Raw, explosive...Dostie writes powerfully...In the sparse landscape of war memoirs by female soldiers, Dostie's resolute, literary account of her five years in the army sets a benchmark."— Publishers Weekly

"Though I knew it would be urgent, compelling, and excellent from the first page, Formation was a much more expansive book than I even could have suspected: a riveting, enraging memoir from an author of remarkable toughness and emotional range. This is an unflinching and honest account of war, of homecoming, and of what happens when a woman reports an assault and the institutions around her try to smother the truth."—Phil Klay, National Book Award-winning author of Redeployment

"Formation grabs us by the collar and never relents, much like Dostie herself, whose path to independence gets paved with blood and sacrifice. Her gripping memoir lays bare the pain of proving yourself in a man's world, but also the rich rewards. Most of us will probably never go to war, but Dostie's story speaks to a daily struggle many of us face: the battle to believe in ourselves."—Sarah Hepola, New York Times bestselling author of Blackout

"An essential telling of one woman's account of training and combat: staggeringly beautiful, gutsy, and harrowing. Dostie has written the rare memoir that is destined to be a classic. I couldn't put this book down and I never wanted it to end."—Christa Parravani, bestselling author of Her: A Memoir

"This is a fierce memoir of survival-a visceral and vital portrait of what it takes to thrive as a woman in a man's world. Time is long overdue for the world to hear Ryan Leigh Dostie's remarkable story of resilience in the face of the unspeakable."—Susannah Cahalan, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Brain on Fire

Wonderful story in her own voice

This story is so important and I feel very privileged to be able to hear it in her own voice. I felt like I was intruding into Dostie’s life and a part of something so private. I’m so glad she brought it into the light and wrote about the rape and how it has continued to affect her life. These stories need to be told and heard. It is hard and brave. Her story is wonderfully written and spoken.

Fantastic Book

One of the best books I have listened to in a long time. The story is compelling and raw, well written and the fact that it's recorded by the author made it that much more meaningful.

Chilling, uplifting, and humbling all at once

Narration by the author adds a feel that no other can bring to this story.

First Review Ever

I have never felt more compelled to write a review on a book before. But this book commands one. It is powerful. It is raw. It is so honestly written that I feel like I am right beside the author sharing in her pain. I stumbled across this book by chance. And it has changed me. As a veteran female, I can relate. Oh, how I can relate. The military, regardless of branch, treats females differently. And unless you have been in that situation, you don't know. But if you listen to this book you will know. You will have a glimpse behind the uniform...behind the barbed wire. The courageousness of the writer is astounding. To share such personal details is to open a wound for all to see. Ryan Leigh Dostie, you are courageous beyond your uniform. Thank you for taking us with you down that painful path as hard as it must have been. And best wishes on your journey of healing. May God bless you.

Great book

This was recommended to me from a friend. I probably would have missed it otherwise. I don’t usually read books about rape and it’s aftermath. This book was very different because it dealt with the treatment of women in the military good and bad. I can’t recommend it enough.