Prayer at Rumayla by Charles Sheehan-Miles was published in 2001. It was Sheehan-Miles’ first novel, and drew on his experiences as a veteran of the Gulf War following Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait.

Sheehan-Miles has recently taken the novel and made it into an audio book in the form of nine podcasts available through his website. Currently, the first two chapters are available there, with the remaining seven to follow.

The protagonist of the novel is a nineteen-year-old veteran of the war who is struggling to deal with his experiences in the Middle East, in particular with the accidental killing of civilians. Upon his return home, he has to deal with events that have turned his life upside-down. Reviewers at Amazon praise Charles Sheehan-Miles for his realism in presenting the difficulties faced by veterans of this war upon their return to America. His podcast version is beautifully read by the author, and full of a resonant emotion of one who has shared in the changes wrought by the experience of war.

I’ll be honest – I liked what I heard. If you enjoy literary works dealing with the realities of warfare, this is a good book for you. For that matter, if you enjoy a taut storyline about a character you care about, this is a good choice for you. I listened to the first episode of the podcast, and will be back for the rest – and ready to read Sheehan-Miles’ next book when it comes out.

Paid Endorsement.

Posted by: Greg at 05:32 PM | No Comments | Add Comment
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