channeling the 3rd grade...

I want to talk about books... and third grade is probably the last time I did a book review, so hence the title! I'm a big reader. Always have been. And thanks to riding the train, I'm guaranteed about 40 minutes a day of reading time. It's ME time. I adore the feel of a new book, and love diving into a new story that takes me away from a frustrating day.

I just finished the Hunger Games (trilogy) and am currently reading Ender's Game. I highly recommend the Hunger Games and its two follow up books... they are good. Simply written, but so real, they really suck you in... and make you question humanity just a little. Ender's Game is great so far, I can't wait to see how it ends.

Next, I'm totally doing the Harry Potter series again... I'm just in the mood!! Plus, movie 7 part 2 comes out in July!

The book I really want to talk about today though, to do an actual review of, is The Profession by Steven Pressfield (author of The Legend of Bagger Vance).

This book isn't actually coming out until June (HERE), but Pressfield is a friend of a friend, so I got my hands on a copy about a month ago. I couldn't put it down! Honestly.

I didn't know what to expect... war books aren't normally my thing, but this wasn't just a war book.


The main character, Gent, and I have little in common... he is a career soldier, separated from his wife, lives for the thrill of battle. Despite our differences, I immediately found him relatable and likable. I understood him, and Pressfield painted a great picture of the real brotherhood feel of Gent's interactions with his military (turned mercenary) compatriots. I loved the way I felt so sure at the beginning of the book who the "good guys" were, vs. the "bad guys"... and how that was blown all away into shades of gray by the end!

Pressfield managed to lay out a future that was easy to fall into. Meaning, I had no trouble imagining that this was actually the way things will play out... given the events in the book, that was a little terrifying! The timing was perfect, not so far ahead that we fall into the whole "flying cars" area of things, but not so close that your mind wants to poke holes into the realisticness of certain changes.

I thought this was a great read. Even as a civilian, having never been there myself, I felt plunged into the war scenes; and I felt the heady feeling of the life-or-death decisions Gent (et al.) were forced to make. And I got a tight stomach at the betrayals in the end. I finished the book satisfied with the ending, yet still wanting more of the story.

I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from Pressfield in the future; and I highly recommend you pick up your copy of The Profession in June.