Waiting for Eden: A novel

An Amazon Best Book of October 2018: Elliot Ackerman is a war veteran and a National Book Award finalist, and he has written a short, mesmerizing, and profound novel that I think is even better than his first. Eden was once a warrior, but he is now a wounded vet constrained to a hospital bed, covered in burns and existing on life support. His wife, Mary, cares for their daughter and struggles with the reality of her once-strong husband deteriorating from his injuries. What makes this story different is that it is narrated by Eden’s good friend, who was killed in the war and is waiting to pass from this world. His omniscience is colored by his empathy and understanding for the family, for Eden, and for the very real sacrifices of those who serve. As we watch the present and learn of their past, the book takes on a dreamlike quality that strikes right to the heart and, by doing so, seems all-so-real. This is an illuminating, highly emotional read. Waiting for Eden is an important novel that deserves a wide readership. --Chris Schluep, for the Amazon Book Review