Forget the old adage that says there are two sides to every coin. There is a third side, the very thin and never-mentioned edge of the coin. The story of Stephen Augustus is just that, the story of a man who spent much of his adult life living on the edge, standing on the precipice of good and evil, right and wrong, life and death. His story is not one that will fit in a genre. He has fought demons, both within and without, and the fact that he has the strength to put his story into words is a testament and a worthy reason to read this fast-moving, uniquely American tale.
A Young Soldier is an autobiography told with uncompromising clarity and honesty. Growing up in an affluent east coast suburb, Augustus leaves home to seek his destiny, which starts with Las Vegas and is followed by a stint with the United States Army. His military service ends up as both a blessing and a curse, particularly when Augustus leaves for the civilian world.
He is woefully unprepared for what he finds at a small college in the west, both as a student and as a person. His eating habits deteriorate, and the things he has learned in service to his country have little to no meaning for fellow college students and his own family.
Without giving away his story, Augustus makes some decisions and life choices that will make the reader say to himself, this cannot end well. But that is wrong, and that is the relevance and the vitality of this book. For Stephen Augustus has been to the dark side and he has come back to tell his tale, albeit not a pretty one, but a very American one in the end. He shares his reading lists (this guy is not dumb); he gives opinions and backs them with facts and figures; he unabashedly shares his innermost feelings. This is must-read stuff for all of us; those who have spent time in military service and wonder just where they fit in with society now that their honorary discharge has left them alone in the real world; those of us with brothers and sisters who dont fit the norm; and for those looking for the great American novel. Five Stars.