Description
Gravel Soldiers is a compelling memoir about an energetic and adventurous protagonist and the distinctive individuals he connected with over the years. Terry Iwanski describes his path through a chaotic childhood influenced by an angry father who had a tumultuous relationship with a highly critical father in a situation of sins of the father passed through the next generation.
In Iwanski’s story, we see how an angry and relatively abandoned child transitions to adulthood while struggling with different issues along the way, including addiction, multiple love relationships, dangerous fights, and challenges with making a living. Fortunately, his story is filled with happy, heartwarming moments involving blissful bike rides on his Harley-Davidsons, experiencing the joy of passionate work in his auto body shop, finding love in Malaysia, traveling internationally multiple times, getting a university degree, and more.
The stories are told briskly, with each unique anecdote giving way to another without wasteful words or lengthy explanations. Nevertheless, they are quite evocative and deeply engaging. I felt my eyes widen in disbelief as I read some wild stories involving very odd characters, one of which is a veteran who recounts his violent actions and absurd guilty pleasures in Vietnam. Since there are several other unusual characters in the book, Gravel Soldiers is best for readers who enjoy books that don’t leave out the uncomfortable parts. I loved its transparent, unfiltered atmosphere, as it gave me a very close experience of the stories.
Iwanski displays great bravery and spirit by freely sharing his unflattering moments, including his lengthy battle with drug addiction and the time he knelt on the floor and asked for God’s help even as an atheist. I found it greatly inspiring that despite his troubling experiences, he never stopped seeking a positive and thrilling future, whether in love, travel, or career paths.
The book is a brilliant mix of various themes: travel, accidents, trauma, passion, love, culture, history, friendship, biking, dyslexia, education, tornadoes, fatherhood, and more. Prepare for the fascinating cultural perspective of an American in historical Asia and fragments of historical treasures, like a Bob Dylan concert in Omaha. Whether he’s learning not to waste food in India or finding out how things just “move slowly” in Malaysia while engaged in a business enterprise, Terry’s flexible, adaptable nature helps him blend in and get through diverse environments.
In essence, Gravel Soldiers offers an addictive and irresistible experience. Like with a delicious cinema popcorn pack, I couldn’t stop myself from digging in and getting more until I reached the very end. Thanks to Iwanski for showing me that no matter how imperfect your journey is, every story is worth telling and a testament to life’s varied, flavorful spices.