There are two audiences to whom I would recommend it. First, all young women thinking of pursuing an appointment to West Point, and second to anyone interested in what the first year at West Point is like.
I think young women would benefit from it as a way to understand what previous generations of military women had to put up with. Although certain things are relics of the past, there are a several part where I asked myself "What would I have done?"
The second is to all who want to understand what plebe year at West Point is like. If a prospective cadet can read through this and still say, "Yes, that's what I want to do," then God bless -- go for it.
When I was in the Army, I sponsored a West Point cadet who was between his cow and firstie years. From what he described, some things have not changed at all. Beast Barracks, the indoor obstacle course, the five responses, the class rings, and the mandatory football game attendance -- it's all there.
Gray Girl -- being a novel -- provides the required dramatic climax, but it is obviously contrived. West Point is a university where one day is much the same as the next, and time bleeds out at a slow, steady pace until graduation. It is only in looking back that you see how far you've actually traveled.
Nevertheless, Gray Girl is enjoyable for all the secret insights -- how a plebe really feels about the institution, how they imagine private sector universities, and how often they think of quitting. Those are the most relatable parts.
Sunday, March 08, 2020
Review: Gray Girl
Gray Girl is a kind of historical fiction. Set in the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in the early 1980s, it tells the story of a female cadet in her freshman ("plebe") year, from cadet basic training ("Beast Barracks") through the annual graduation ceremony.
There are two audiences to whom I would recommend it. First, all young women thinking of pursuing an appointment to West Point, and second to anyone interested in what the first year at West Point is like.
I think young women would benefit from it as a way to understand what previous generations of military women had to put up with. Although certain things are relics of the past, there are a several part where I asked myself "What would I have done?"
The second is to all who want to understand what plebe year at West Point is like. If a prospective cadet can read through this and still say, "Yes, that's what I want to do," then God bless -- go for it.
When I was in the Army, I sponsored a West Point cadet who was between his cow and firstie years. From what he described, some things have not changed at all. Beast Barracks, the indoor obstacle course, the five responses, the class rings, and the mandatory football game attendance -- it's all there.
Gray Girl -- being a novel -- provides the required dramatic climax, but it is obviously contrived. West Point is a university where one day is much the same as the next, and time bleeds out at a slow, steady pace until graduation. It is only in looking back that you see how far you've actually traveled.
Nevertheless, Gray Girl is enjoyable for all the secret insights -- how a plebe really feels about the institution, how they imagine private sector universities, and how often they think of quitting. Those are the most relatable parts.
There are two audiences to whom I would recommend it. First, all young women thinking of pursuing an appointment to West Point, and second to anyone interested in what the first year at West Point is like.
I think young women would benefit from it as a way to understand what previous generations of military women had to put up with. Although certain things are relics of the past, there are a several part where I asked myself "What would I have done?"
The second is to all who want to understand what plebe year at West Point is like. If a prospective cadet can read through this and still say, "Yes, that's what I want to do," then God bless -- go for it.
When I was in the Army, I sponsored a West Point cadet who was between his cow and firstie years. From what he described, some things have not changed at all. Beast Barracks, the indoor obstacle course, the five responses, the class rings, and the mandatory football game attendance -- it's all there.
Gray Girl -- being a novel -- provides the required dramatic climax, but it is obviously contrived. West Point is a university where one day is much the same as the next, and time bleeds out at a slow, steady pace until graduation. It is only in looking back that you see how far you've actually traveled.
Nevertheless, Gray Girl is enjoyable for all the secret insights -- how a plebe really feels about the institution, how they imagine private sector universities, and how often they think of quitting. Those are the most relatable parts.
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