War Comes Home is an initiative sponsored by Cal Humanities focused on the veteran experience, aiming to increase public understanding and empathy for those who have served, as well as to spark a public conversation on how best we can support the process of reincorporating our veterans into the fabric of civilian life.

To anchor the read, on the recommendation of an advisory group of librarians, scholars, book professionals, journalists, and veterans advocates, we have selected Karl Marlantes' What It Is Like to Go to War. Marlantes is a Vietnam veteran, a Rhodes Scholar, and the author of the New York Times best-selling novel Matterhorn. His newest book has received much reader and critical acclaim since publication in 2011, and has frequently been cited by veterans as the work that best expresses their experience. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, it “ought to be mandatory reading by potential infantry recruits and by residents of any nation that sends its kids—Marlantes’s word—into combat.”

The Tulare County Library will have several events in conjunction with this program. The events include collecting of oral histories from local veterans, book discussions of Marlantes’ book and a talk by the Author, an expert panel about veterans’ issues, a fun day for military personnel and veterans and their families, a film series and job searching computer classes for veterans.

Book Discussion

Visalia Branch Library's First Tuesday Book Club will be discussing "What It Is Like to go to War" by Karl Marlantes on October 7, 2014 at 6:30pm. 

http://hip1.sjvls.org/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=1408X43U75O18.141088&menu=search&aspect=subtab255&npp=20&ipp=20&spp=100&profile=thq&ri=&term=&index=.GW&x=11&y=13&aspect=subtab255&term=What+it+is+like+to+go+to+war&index=.TW&term=Karl+Marlantes&index=.AW&term=&index=.SW&term=&index=.NW&term=&index=.SE&term=&index=.STW&term=&index=.EW&sort=3100014 

In his memoir, Marlantes relates his combat experiences in Vietnam and discusses the daily contradictions warriors face in the grind of war, where each battle requires them to take life or spare life. He also underscores the need for returning veterans to be counseled properly. 

Copies of the book will be available at the reference desk beginning September 2.  
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