I am again so thankful to be in a book club where books like this are selected. This small book is a very quick read but is very powerful in its many, varied messages. My nurse background brings some of the messages very close to home. I highly recommend this book and a couple of others similar to this: "The world I made for her" by Thomas Moran and "Address unknown" by Kathrine Kressman Taylor - both five star reads for me. ( )

Sad yet inspiring

Brilliantly written, the story engages the reader at a deep level as it toggles back and forth. Told through the eyes of his best friend and fellow soldier this story bears a strong resemblance to The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Eden demonstrates the traits of humanity few possess and knowing death nears he remains within them. I look forward to other stories by this author an recommend you add this book to your list. ( )

All told from the perspective of a best friend who didn’t make it home, Waiting for Eden is about a soldier who lays dying over Christmas. Trapped in his own mind which sends visions of bugs crawling on him, the ever present narrator fills in the story of their past, their training, and the connection with Eden’s wife who is by her husband’s side. It is about connection, loss, death, and numbness. It is very poetic in style and is such a good read. ( )

I cried through this book. I am so grateful to Goodreads, the author and Knopf Publishing for offering this book in a giveaway. I might not have discovered it otherwise. Yes, I did win a paperback copy. This review is my honest opinion.
My son was just 18 when he went to Iraq. What happened to Eden and our narrator were my nightmares the entire time he was deployed. I waited to hear from him. I waited for someone to come to my door. I waited and I prayed...for a call or letter, for no ring of the doorbell. I thought a lot of my time waiting as I read about Mary’s waiting and, also, the narrator’s wait. Though the story is about Eden and Mary, he is also a part of it and he is waiting too. I don’t know how I feel about Mary. I understand the choice she made, or perhaps I just think I do. I don’t know what would have been choice. I like to say, I would have made the right choice. The truth is, though, I don’t know. My heart breaks for the three of them. It breaks harder for Andy. In a sense she lost every parent.
If you are checking out this review, then you had an interest in the book. I recommend you read it. It is my pick for the most profound book I have read this year. It is going to haunt me. Buy Kleenex, a lot of Kleenex, and read this book. I read it twice to do this review. I will read it again. I will think of Mary, the narrator and, mostly, Eden. ( )

A short book in terms of the number of pages and time needed to read, but powerful in terms of it's message. A tale of love and war, dedication and, again, love. I strongly recommend this book and am putting the author on my must-read list! ( )