Without my books and ABC Radio National I'd be dead - certainly brain-dead. I was reminded of this when I listened to Fran Kelly's SATURDAY EXTRA on ABC Radio National and her guest, David Finkel, author of "An American Dreamer, Life in a Divided Country".
The protagonist in the book, Brent Cummings, an Iraq war veteran, has come home feeling he survived one war only to find himself in the midst of another one. The country he loves and defended for twenty-eight years seems to be unravelling in front of his eyes. Raised to believe in a vision of America that values fairness, honesty, and respect for others, Cummings is increasingly engulfed by the fear and anger sweeping through his beloved country as he tries to hold onto hope about America’s future.
David Finkel, known for his unique, in-depth reporting, spent fifteen years immersed in Brent Cummings's world to create this intimate, acutely observed, and beautifully written portrait of a man's life, thoughts and feelings as America becomes ever more divided. Cummings was one of the unforgettable figures in Finkel's "The Good Soldiers", a book about which The New York Times stated, "Finkel has made art out of a defining moment in history. You will be able to take this book down from the shelf years from now and say, 'This is what happened. This is what it felt like.'"
The book will be available in Australia from 27 February 2024. In the meantime, you may want to listen to Fran Kelly's podcast here.
