War Story

web1

Houston native Brian Van Reet dropped out of the University of Virginia a few months after Sept 11, 2001, to go to war. He drove tanks in Iraq, survived an IED blast, won a Bronze Star and then came home, taking several years to distill that experience into Spoils, a novel touted as one of the best of the year thus far.


“I didn’t join [the military] out of patriotic duty,” he confesses. “School wasn’t going so well and it was more like running away with the circus.” Van Reet, who today lives in Austin, where he graduated from UT’s prestigious Michener Center for Writers, has the searching intensity of a man who has witnessed some of the darker aspects of life firsthand. “Anyone who joins the military in war time and joins combat arms like I did wants to fight. It’s a macho thing — you want to prove yourself —  and no different than what you read about in Illiad and the Aeneid."

4c967a74c55fae7beb703b5216247c06

Spoils takes place in Iraq in 2004, at the height of the war, and opens with a firefight that leads to the capture of a trio of American soldiers. The book then delivers three competing perspectives of the aftermath: from the point of view of a soldier searching for the missing Americans; from one of the jihadi captors; and from one of the captives, Cassandra — a woman. It is by turns suspenseful and harrowing — and, acknowledges Van Reet, may draw fire for the way it humanizes those who were enemies of the United States.

But the book is, ultimately, intended as a cautionary tale. “Spoils is about how we screwed up Iraq — how we failed in that war. I don’t think of myself as a bad person, but I participated in something that was arguably evil. The book is a way to explore that.”

Uncategorized
Theresa Roemer Is an Entrepreneur and Podcaster with Great Audience Connection

I AM AN accomplished philanthropist, esteemed motivational speaker, renowned fitness expert, and host of an engaging podcast UNHINGED. Through my diversified endeavors, I have established several successful ventures, including TR Beauty and The Vault, a private community catering to like-minded people. Additionally, I am the founder of Houston Style Icons, a platform dedicated to honoring and acknowledging Houstonian style, and Fashion Woodlands, an annual fashion show that I have meticulously curated. Furthermore, I actively engage with my audience through my YouTube channel, providing valuable content and insights.

Keep Reading Show less

Lisa Rich, Jessica Givens, Coco Lu

BETWEEN AN EXCITING raffle and runway show, Homemade Hope's fash bash at Tootsies was a truly tasteful success! More than 160 well heeled attendees also enjoyed browsing the season's most stylish offerings and chatting with Homemade Hope's executive director, Blair Bentley Ozenbaugh, about its mission to support at-risk children via mentoring and culinary lessons.

Keep Reading Show less
Style

Symphony Springs to Life with Floral-Fabulous Fete

Jacob Power and Priscilla Dickson

Chairs Brady and Zane Carruth, Brittany and Adam Clark

IT ALREADY FEELS like spring in Houston and the spring social season is here with it! 375 guests donned in white-tie flocked to The Post Oak Hotel for the annual Houston Symphony Ball, one of the city’s most anticipated and A-list galas.

Keep Reading Show less
Parties