Title: All Routes Are Amber: A Soldier’s Experience in the Iraq War
Author: Martin F. Swirko
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1663274687
Pages: 544
Genre: Iraq War History / Nonfiction / Memoir
Reviewer: Tony Esponiza
Pacific Book Review
Unless a person is involved themselves, very few people truly know what it’s like to be in a war. Soldiers on the front lines and those in command alike face impossible choices and difficult challenges which test them mentally and emotionally as bloody battles and harrowing fights for survival all come to a head, and only those giving the orders truly know what sacrifices are meant for or what impact they will have on nations going forward. Yet it is the soldier who must endure the lasting effects from war years later.
It is the perspective of a soldier and leader that drives author Martin F. Swirko’s, All Routes Are Amber: A Soldier’s Experience in the Iraq War. From the moments of joining the Army Reserves in the ‘80s to the choice to become an advisor embedded in Kuwait during the Iraq war, the author gives a personal glimpse into life as a soldier, dealing with culture clashes, and the personal belief that fueled his desire to face the growing radicalism of an entire religion which ultimately fueled so much of the violence faced during this war.
The author writes with such honesty and passion, not only about himself and his experiences, but also about the realities of war so many of his fellow soldiers faced during the Iraq War. The book proves to be very insightful, not only granting readers a chance to see the psychological impact the war has on soldiers personally from a soldier’s perspective by exploring everything from trauma to the guilt of serving in a different capacity back home, while others go back to the front lines, and so much more. The level of detail and precision the author provides for the specifics of these events allows the reader to feel transported, fully immersed in each memory and moment in history, and to gain the clarity of mind needed to appreciate the hardships and struggles these soldiers faced daily.
Readers who enjoy nonfiction, especially those that balance history and world events with memoir-style writing, and specifically those focused on the history and culture of the Iraq War, will be enthralled and engaged by this book. The author took great pains to detail the culture differences and experiences while working with and training soldiers from both the US Army and Iraqi combat units alike, and the relatability and conversational tone the author brought to their writing allows the readers to connect deeply with the personal experiences the author relayed, and made my understanding the struggles the author faced clearer. Rich with detail and exploring the human condition through the lens of war, Martin F. Swirko delivers a profound nonfiction read that will resonate with both soldiers and non-military readers alike.
