Title: God’s Home, My Heart: And Tribute to Our Vietnam Veterans
Author: Walter A. Wheat, M.A.
Publisher: Authors’ Tranquility Press
ISBN: 978-1489739018
Pages: 564
Genre: Poetry Themes
Reviewed by: Jack Chambers
Pacific Book Review
Something most people in this world will have to understand or come to terms with is how a soldier will learn to live with the things they’ve witnessed, or been a part of, during a major war or conflict. Whether it is a soldier who has survived a deployment overseas or a civilian thrust into the role of soldier during a time of revolution or invasion, there is nothing more profound and heartfelt to see a soldier overcome their trauma and hardships in a time of war.
In author Walter A. Wheat, M.A.’s God’s Home, My Heart: And Tribute to Our Vietnam Veterans, the author uses his years of experience as a poet and writer to showcase how one can come to terms with and face the experiences of the Vietnam War through faith and poetry. The book is a collection of poetry written by the author in which he hopes to showcase to readers the raw emotions and impact he feels daily in the presence of God. Using religion and his beliefs to inspire hope in others, the Vietnam Veteran hopes to shine a light not only on his experiences but on how a person’s faith can help them overcome any tragedy in life.
The author did a spectacular job of immediately finding a harmony in the poems between the creative imagery, the hopeful tone of his poems, and the faith behind the inspiration each poem is meant to bring to life. The comprehensive collection showcases a lifetime of experience and passion from the author which speaks to his profound sense of hope in the face of adversity. What immediately struck me about the collection was not only the inspirational messages of the poems, but the writing style that made it feel like a blend of poetry and memoir style writing; allowing me to get a glimpse into his life both with his faith and with his life in general.
This is a memorable read for those who enjoy non-fiction books, especially those that utilize poetry as a means of non-fiction communication and memoir style writing with a focus on faith and the Vietnam War. As a fan of poetry and memoirs, I was immediately drawn into the author’s narrative, and felt the raw wave of emotions pouring off of the pages as the author relayed his memories and the moments in his life both spiritually and physically which defined himself.
Awe-inspiring, heartfelt, and creatively written, author Walter A. Wheat, M.A.’s God’s Home, My Heart: And Tribute to Our Vietnam Veterans is a must-read non-fiction book of poetry. The depth of emotions and wealth of life experiences the author was able to relay in this book, as well as the inspiring imagery and tone of each poem and its writing style, kept me as a reader invested in the book and gave a wonderful picture of who the author and poet truly is.
