Betsy L. Howell

I received a copy of Acoustic Shadows through the Goodreads Giveaway program in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting memoir exploring one family's multigenerational involvement in the US military (specifically during the Civil War and World War II). Throughout the book the author references her great-great-grandfather's civil war journals in an attempt to recreate the route his group took. The author seems to learn a great deal more about her family dynamics, and gains an appreciation for the complexity and trauma her father experienced during his enlistment.

It was a good read, although at times I got lost in the overly detailed accounts of specific battles or military routes. I would have appreciated more of Betsy's interpretations and introspections as to how her family history shaped who she is today.… (mer)