Review: A Beautiful Story of Survival and Strength of Spirit
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 20, 2013
I am always interested in reading books like this that explore the trying experiences and survival of those who had a life so far removed from my own. Beyond Survival: Building on the Hard Times by Captain Gerald Coffee brings his story of survival and of a flourishing life afterward into focus, recounting his time as a POW during the Vietnam War and the experiences he faced once he returned home. This is a beautifully captivating book that brought me to tears and gave me tearful smile as he overcame the troubles of his past and made a new life for himself amidst the psychological and physical remnants of his time as a POW. It really is an inspiring tale that sparks with hope, survival, the strength of the human spirit and the fact that if we put our minds to it we can overcome anything.Captain Coffee has a talent for writing that is clear in the book, bringing his life and troubles into pinpointed focus with vivid imagery and words that resonate. I really was tempted to give the book 5 stars instead of 4 as it certainly expressed the hope and pain of his experiences in an engaging way... but I decided to go with 4 stars because of the fact that every once in a while the writing would be a little bit stilted. The wording would be slightly off, not so much that it was a chore to read or that kept me from enjoying the book, but enough to take notice of it.Overall, I was wonderfully inspired and strengthened by Captain Coffee's life story. The book had a definitive quality to it that brought a smile to my face as I finished it and made a distinct impression on my thoughts afterward. It really is a well-written and engaging book that certainly begs to be read and enjoyed.