Aj Cambareri

Beneath The Swaying Willow”, the first novel by Amily D’Nas, is an amazing literary work. This is a must read, can’t put down story of the impact that PTSD has on veterans, their loved ones, and their community. Amily immediately develops the characters through her artful descriptions of their thoughts, interactions, situations, and the impact of their decisions. The reader becomes attuned to the character’s emotions, becoming a companion throughout their journey. Amily exposes in disturbing detail the debilitating toll endured by those afflicted with mental illness, especially as it relates to Veteran’s. We learn of the stigma associated with mental illness, the denial by those afflicted, and their hesitance to obtain treatment; this is all compounded by the severe lack of mental health resources for our Veterans. Amily allows us to feel the impact of the disrespect experienced by our Vietnam Veterans from Americans that opposed the war. This opposition criminalized our Vets, ignoring the fact that most soldiers were drafted, plucked from the prime of their life, had their dreams extinguished, and often returned home with missing limbs and severe injuries. By the end of the story, Amily skillfully turns this disturbing tale into one of hope, devotion, and commitment to action to affect change to create respect for our Vietnam Vets and campaign for more funding to treat Veterans experiencing mental health illness. I can relate to this story as I grew up watching my sister’s eyes glued to the TV with anxiety as they called the draft numbers, worried because their boyfriends had low numbers. At dinner, the family watched the national news, and I saw the horrors of war as well as the angry protests. I also saw the impact on our Vets as they returned from Vietnam. A neighbor’s 21-year-old son was mentally crippled by his wartime experience, unable to support himself, and lived with his parents. I found this puzzling as a pre-teen, as I did not understand mental illness. Unfortunately, I now do, as I have witnessed the debilitating impact that mental illness has had on friends and family. The detailed thoughts of the characters in the story are realistic, allowing you to experience their anxiety and feel empathy. I hope that future readers will gain an understanding of mental illness, support those that are afflicted, and encourage those that are experiencing anxieties to disregard the stigma and reach out for help as soon as possible. Also, I encourage you to salute ALL US veterans and thank them for their service and sacrifices. Please consider making a financial contribution to organizations that support our Vietnam Veterans. 21 Gun Salute to Amily D’Nas for her first novel, “Beneath the Swaying Willow”. I look forward to reading her next novel. Aj Cambareri