The Crossroad
Registered by 
Davros-10
of Banyo, Queensland Australia on 10/26/2014
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
Davros-10 of Banyo, Queensland Australia on 10/26/2014 This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
From amazon.com:
On 2 September ,2008, in a valley in eastern Afghanistan, Trooper Mark Donaldson made a split-second decision that would change his life.
His display of extraordinary courage that day saw him awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, making him the first Australian to receive our highest award for bravery in wartime since Keith Payne in 1969.Yet Mark's journey to those crucial moments in Afghanistan was almost as exceptional as the acts that led to his VC. He was a rebellious child and teenager, even before the death of his father - a Vietnam veteran - when Mark and his brother were in their mid-teens. A few years later, their mother disappeared, presumed murdered. Her body has never been found.
Mark's decisions could have easily led him down another path, to a life of self-destructiveness and petty crime. But he chose a different road: the army. It proved to be his salvation and he found himself a natural soldier, progressing unerringly to the SAS, the peak of the Australian military.
From his turbulent early years to the stark realities of combat in the mountains and valleys of Afghanistan, Mark's book is the frank and compelling story of a man who turned his life around by sheer determination and strength of mind.
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars (68 customer reviews)
On 2 September ,2008, in a valley in eastern Afghanistan, Trooper Mark Donaldson made a split-second decision that would change his life.
His display of extraordinary courage that day saw him awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, making him the first Australian to receive our highest award for bravery in wartime since Keith Payne in 1969.Yet Mark's journey to those crucial moments in Afghanistan was almost as exceptional as the acts that led to his VC. He was a rebellious child and teenager, even before the death of his father - a Vietnam veteran - when Mark and his brother were in their mid-teens. A few years later, their mother disappeared, presumed murdered. Her body has never been found.
Mark's decisions could have easily led him down another path, to a life of self-destructiveness and petty crime. But he chose a different road: the army. It proved to be his salvation and he found himself a natural soldier, progressing unerringly to the SAS, the peak of the Australian military.
From his turbulent early years to the stark realities of combat in the mountains and valleys of Afghanistan, Mark's book is the frank and compelling story of a man who turned his life around by sheer determination and strength of mind.
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars (68 customer reviews)
I am somewhat abashed to say that when a fellow patient gave this book to me I thought "God, a book written by an A.J. This can't be very good." Well, I was wrong. It is extremely well written and flows like you were having a natural conversation with Mark Donaldson. This may be because he had a good ghost writer, but after reading his story I think my cynicism was totally unfounded and that he definitely wrote it himself.
I'd also like to add that it was his description of his home life with Emma, and their difficulties with having a family, that were most alive for me, which is probably how it should be. I've never been in combat, or trained for it, so can't identify with this part of his story, but I can understand it better now. I've also never been in the situation of trying to start a family, my partner miscarrying twice and being told that she probably cannot have another child. But I can identify slightly with it as I've had friends in the same situation, and although I cannot truly understand what their feelings must be, I can empathise with them and I did in fact find myself silently crying about their situation as if they were indeed my friends as well. This is how well this book is written.
Highly recommended, and thank you Rebecca. As you've already been discharged so I cannot return this book to you, I've registered it on Bookcrosssing and will be releasing it onto the bookshelves in the Patient Lounge here.
I'd also like to add that it was his description of his home life with Emma, and their difficulties with having a family, that were most alive for me, which is probably how it should be. I've never been in combat, or trained for it, so can't identify with this part of his story, but I can understand it better now. I've also never been in the situation of trying to start a family, my partner miscarrying twice and being told that she probably cannot have another child. But I can identify slightly with it as I've had friends in the same situation, and although I cannot truly understand what their feelings must be, I can empathise with them and I did in fact find myself silently crying about their situation as if they were indeed my friends as well. This is how well this book is written.
Highly recommended, and thank you Rebecca. As you've already been discharged so I cannot return this book to you, I've registered it on Bookcrosssing and will be releasing it onto the bookshelves in the Patient Lounge here.
Journal Entry 3 by Davros-10 at Pine Rivers Private Hospital in Strathpine, Queensland Australia on Thursday, October 30, 2014
Davros-10 at Pine Rivers Private Hospital in Strathpine, Queensland Australia on Thursday, October 30, 2014
Released 9 yrs ago (10/30/2014 UTC) at Pine Rivers Private Hospital in Strathpine, Queensland Australia
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Welcome to BookCrossing!
Thanks for checking the site out. I hope you enjoy both the book and the site. People all over the world are tracking their books through BookCrossing. While you're here, I'd really appreciate it if you'd make a journal entry for this book so I know that it's safe. You may choose to remain anonymous or to join (it's free).
If you do decide to become a BookCrosser please consider using me, Davros-10, as the member who referred you. If you are already familiar with BookCrossing, thanks for picking up the book, I hope it is one you were looking for!
Please feel free to keep this book for as long as you wish, and whenever you're ready pass it on to a friend, or leave it "in the wild" for someone else to find. Then watch its journey - you'll be alerted by email each time someone makes a new journal entry. It's all confidential, free and fun (and addictive - but in a GOOD way)!
Released onto the bookshelves in the Patient Lounge.
Released for both the 2014 Tick Tock Release Challenge and the Virtually Backpacking Across The World Release Game.
Thanks for checking the site out. I hope you enjoy both the book and the site. People all over the world are tracking their books through BookCrossing. While you're here, I'd really appreciate it if you'd make a journal entry for this book so I know that it's safe. You may choose to remain anonymous or to join (it's free).
If you do decide to become a BookCrosser please consider using me, Davros-10, as the member who referred you. If you are already familiar with BookCrossing, thanks for picking up the book, I hope it is one you were looking for!
Please feel free to keep this book for as long as you wish, and whenever you're ready pass it on to a friend, or leave it "in the wild" for someone else to find. Then watch its journey - you'll be alerted by email each time someone makes a new journal entry. It's all confidential, free and fun (and addictive - but in a GOOD way)!
Released onto the bookshelves in the Patient Lounge.
Released for both the 2014 Tick Tock Release Challenge and the Virtually Backpacking Across The World Release Game.
