Publisher: Hawkeye Publishers, (April 14, 2020)
Category: Fiction: Coming of Age; War and Military; Family Saga
Tour dates: May & June, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-946005-34-2
Available in Print and ebook, 400 pages
Description As Good As Can Be by William A. Glass
‘As Good As Can Be’ is a novel about the wayward son of an alcoholic army officer. As his dysfunctional family moves from one military base to the next, Dave Knight develops a give-a-damn attitude that goes well with his ironic sense of humor. In high school he joins other delinquents in a series of escapades, some dangerous, others funny, and a few that would be worthy of jail time should the troublemakers be caught.
After barely graduating Dave gets drafted into the army and sent to guard a nuclear weapons depot in Korea. There he runs afoul of his sergeant and must scramble to avoid dishonorable discharge.
‘As Good As Can Be’ draws on the author’s experiences growing up in an out-of-control military family during the 1950’s and his own military experience.
My Thoughts As Good As Can Be by William A. Glass
Guest Review by Sol A.
As Good As Can Be’ by William A. Glass is not only a novel, but a snapshot of mid-century America through the eyes of a young man. Dave Knight is the son of an Army officer who is brought back to America with his family after living in Iran for most of the first five years of his life. Little Dave comes from a big family, with a father, a mother and four siblings so getting attention as a child most often comes in the form of acting out. Becoming a bit of a problem child, Dave barely scrapes his way through high school and is just getting his life together when he is drafted into the Vietnam war.
There is nothing I love more than a period novel and there just don’t seem to be enough mid-20th century ones out there, so this was an exciting read for me. The look at the 1950’s and 1960’s was so nostalgic and warmhearted that I have to assume William A. Glass has as much love for that time period as I do. Of course, things take a slightly darker turn when Dave goes to Vietnam, but the juxtaposition of the country entering the war and ending it’s 1950’s hay-day as a metaphor for growing up was so well executed and brilliantly done.
This is a commendably written novel and one that I will be thinking about for a long time to come. Glass writes skillfully and with just enough emotion to keep you invested in the characters and desperate to see what happens next. When Dave finally began to settle down and become an adult I found myself saying ‘aww’ out loud because I almost felt that I’d watched him grow up throughout the book. Not too many books stir that type of emotion within me. I highly recommend this one for your next read! I give it 4.5 stars.
About William A. Glass
William A. Glass, formerly a VP at Gallup, now coaches soccer at a small college in South Carolina and writes. He lives with wife, Bettina, who is a high school German teacher. They have three sons who have all moved away to pursue careers.
Website: https://williamaglass.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/william.glass.50767?ref=bookmarks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/williamasaglass/
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Giveaway As Good As Can Be by William A. Glass
This giveaway is for the winner’s choice of print or ebook however, print is open to the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. There will be 3 winners. This giveaway ends July 1, 2020,midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.
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