The Psychological Toll of War - an Editorial Review of "The Choice Within"

Book Blurb:

Save. Kill. Live. Die. How much do I give?

1944, and war rages in the Pacific. Two young recruits from opposing sides destined to cross paths without ever meeting, changing their lives forever…

Honolulu—Devoted nurse Lieutenant Jeannette Crawford has been working tirelessly, with dedication and wisdom beyond her years, to help wounded US servicemen on home soil face their greatest enemy—time. Wanting to do more, she volunteers to serve on a hospital ship, hoping to save the men she treats and worrying about the man she loves. But nothing can prepare her for the horrors she now faces on the front lines of the Pacific islands.

Tokyo—Akira Tanaka is conscripted to serve his country. He does so with determination to honor his family and the country he loves. Initially motivated in his fighter-plane training, he soon discovers that the news being shared with the people of Japan is a lie: the Combined Fleet is losing badly, and their European allies crumbling.

As the ferocity of fighting intensifies, and the reality of combat hits home, nurse and pilot experience very different wars in striking parallel. But when the Americans close in on the Japanese home islands, and the emperor’s forces become increasingly desperate in their tactics, the true, horrifying heartbreak of Jeannette and Akira’s shared destiny becomes clearer, drawing closer…

The Choice Withinis a story of two people, opposite in many ways, yet share an idealism, love of life, and the same questions: who is the real enemy and how much do I give? This heartrending fiction weaves historical events into a rich, poignant tale of love, duty, sacrifice, and questions never asked until the end.

Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/F31W

Author Bio:

Stephanie Woodman is an avid collector of experiences and a perpetual student of life. Despite her analytical background with a long engineering career and a short tenure as a high school math teacher, Stephanie has a powerful creative side which has manifested itself in her debut novel, Eye Contact Over Truk.

The inspiration for Stephanie's literary endeavors springs from a diverse array of influences. From the adventurous exploits of Clive Cussler's underwater thrillers, the poignant writing of Robert James Waller, to the captivating biographies of Aline, Countess of Romanones, Stephanie finds influence in stories that transport her to new places, times, and cultures. She also draws from her own life experiences, infusing her writing with authenticity and emotional depth.

The idea for Eye Contact Over Truk came to her in 1996 during a scuba trip to Truk Lagoon. She put the project on pause during her career and finished it in earnest after her retirement in 2021. With the additional two decades of life experience, her writing transformed to explore themes of perseverance, forgiveness, grief, loss, life, love, and adventure. This evolution of her story is captured best by Mark Twain's timeless adage that "history often rhymes," blending youthful vigor with seasoned introspection.

Outside the realm of literature, Stephanie is an avid pickleball player and golfer, finding joy in friendly competition. She loves scuba diving, sailing, traveling the world to explore new cultures and meet new people, and spending time with her son, who is now starting his own adventure in college. Stephanie is an active member in her community, volunteering her time to help students in robotics programs and is also known for her past role as a clown, bringing laughter and joy to those in need.

Editorial Review:

“All teasing disappeared as his eyes latched onto hers for a fraction of a moment, unspoken details paled as the impact bared itself. “I hope you never have to.” He closed his eyes.

She hooked the chart at the end of the bed and took her time walking back to the nurses’ desk. Glancing at each patient, she checked their faces, if visible, and tried to let go of the raw pain in those green eyes. Private Sutton sat up, reading. Lieutenants Keith and Clements were talking. Sergeant O’Neill and Jenkins were sleeping, thankfully, they both needed it.

“I had the seventh proposal” she said to the nurse sitting at the desk, writing up the daily report.”

“The Choice Within” by Stephanie Woodman is set in the Pacific theatre, in the latter stages of World War Two. The choice of narrator is a powerful one, as Woodman explores the conflict from two opposing perspectives. Lieutenant Jeannette Crawford is a nurse, waiting all the while for her sweetheart to return. Akira Tanaka is defending Japan. The differences are stark and obvious, and also somewhat confronting for those of us to whom this era is not the very-distant past. Woodman does a superb job in creating two authentic characters; Jeannette is caring and compassionate, with a compelling and also surprising character arc. Like Jeanette, Akira is facing his own individual battle, weighing up how much to sacrifice on a personal level. His personality is quite different, but he too is questioning the assumptions of others around him.

The novel is packed full of gripping historical detail, and the depth of Woodman’s research is obvious but never overbearing. The internal and external challenges of each main character are well-drawn without being cliches. Of course, global war is the obvious external challenge, but Woodman goes deeper, with Akira in particular having to reflect on what such a war means both for his homeland and for him as an individual. Jeanette is faced with uncomfortable realisations about “us” and “them” and what that really means in her own life. “The Choice Within” is an apt title for such a thought-provoking read.

““After distributing the supplies, she joined the nurses in the farthest ward. All day, she cleaned up the wounded, mixed dried plasma, started IVs, mixed dried penicillin to make IVs, gave penicillin injections, changed dressings, and started written records. Someone went back to the ship to retrieve the Burman locator. The general hospital nurses got all excited until they heard it was only on loan.

“Lieutenant,” said Captain Lewis, “would you be willing to help me?”

“Of course.”

“Don’t say that so fast,” she said without a smile. “If you don’t want to do this, I won’t think anything less of you.””

Even the semi-humor of receiving seven proposals takes on its own pathos for Jeanette, as the reason for such apparent good fortune becomes clear - the mass of men are desperate for some form of companionship and stability during such turmoil.

Yes, the dual perspectives are in many ways polar opposites, but this is never jarring due to the author’s skill in world-building and understanding the social constructs of each. The perhaps more familiar “western setting” with jokes and dialog does not overshadow the regimented structure of Akira’s world. The author herself makes reference to the process of researching two different cultures in her Author’s Notes at the end of the book. The reader will find themselves equally invested in the personal concerns of both Jeanette and Akira, despite any social differences. It is clear from the author’s own research that there were a range of opinions on the war, regardless of the “side” nurses and soldiers were on.

“”Japanese, God, time - take your pick.”

“Lieutenant-”

“Why did you give last rites to that Jap?” Her accusation escaped before she could stop it. Do I have control over anything?

He looked at her in confusion.

“On Leyte, next to the church. I saw you. Why?”

“Because he asked me to.” His eyes reflected his confusion. “Though, I would have done it even if he hadn’t asked.

“How can you help them?” Once she got started, she couldn’t stop. “After all that they’ve done to our guys, and countless more? Children, women, innocent civilians. How can you forgive?” How can you tolerate such horrific actions? I don’t understand.””

This is not a book for the faint of heart, nor one to read while chopping onions. This reviewer, an old (and enthusiastic) hand at reading this genre, thought she was prepared for the ending, whatever it would be. But Woodman’s skill at delving into the true nature of her characters meant being drawn into an ending that was impossible to prepare for and will linger in the mind for some time to come. What an incredible (and challenging) book!

“The Choice Within” by Stephanie Woodman is a heartrending and poignant read that defies the reader’s assumptions about a typical novel set in this era. The characters are vividly portrayed and Woodman successfully portrays both sides of this monumental conflict. A highly memorable read.

*****

“The Choice Within” by Stephanie Woodman receives 5 stars from The Historical Fiction Company and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence

Award:

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