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
Chapman & Kirby Launches Free Concert Series for Spring

Danny Ray and the Atlantic Street Band performs May 31 (photo from dannyrayatlanticstreetband.com)

CHAPMAN & KIRBY, THE premier event destination in Houston’s East Village, is thrilled to announce the launch of its Spring Music Series, kicking off on Friday, April 12. Chapman & Kirby has become synonymous with top-tier events and unforgettable experiences, many attended by celebrities both local and worldwide. With concert ticket prices soaring to hundreds and even thousands of dollars in the last year, this eight-week music series promises to be a welcomed opportunity to engage with live music for free, showcasing an eclectic lineup of talented acts.

Keep Reading Show less

Baber and Robart of The Well Pilates Studio

A NEW BOUTIQUE-fitness concept has sprung to life in West Houston. The Well Pilates Studio, founded by two Houstonians, opened this weekend on Memorial near Wilcrest, in the heart of a community noticeably lacking in studio-style gyms.

Keep Reading Show less
Style

JUN is hosting a special Lunar New Year dinner (photo by Luke Chang)

THE CHILLY WINTER months aren’t slowing Houston chefs down from hosting hot events. Grab some friends, your appetite and a calendar and plan on attending one of these fetes for foodies.

Keep Reading Show less
Food