REVIEW - "What So Proudly We Hailed"

What So Proudly We Hailed by James Howard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

One family, one old boat, one test of faith to stay alive. Imagine what would happen if eighty percent of the United States were without power for three or four months. All banking and commercial transfers locked up; funds inaccessible. Wholesale and retail distribution shut down; no computers to manage sales. Passenger and freight lines grind to a halt; no electricity for the fuel pumps. No cell phone or landline service; systems down indefinitely. And the worst aspect of all; a total breakdown of law and order. This is the setting of James Howard's novel, What So Proudly We Hailed. The unthinkable has happened; a limited nuclear missile strike has destroyed the power grid beyond any immediate repair. The protagonist, Jason Ribault, sensing the societal breakdown to come, flees with his family in an old cabin cruiser to wait out the worst of the chaos behind the deserted barrier islands of the South Carolina coast. There they listen to unfolding events on a short-wave radio, not the least of which concerns a hostile political influence that seeks to seize control of a nation struggling to right itself once again. Pursued by their own immediate dangers, the family is pushed farther and farther into the desolate salt marshes where they find other families in hiding. Eventually, anxious to unite with a family member in danger, they turn back into the chaos, to see the full extent of what happened to the America they knew. Electric with page-turning suspense, What So Proudly We Hailed is an eye-opening book every American must read. Description from GoodReads.

My thoughts:

This is a story of the trial of faith, overcoming temptation,  and the choice to stand true to Jesus Christ.

Jason Ribault is out working on his boat when he is asked to take his son to the store to get supplies for a school project. On the way home he sees and sees an "unnatural yellow light that grew rapidly in intensity, as if an alien sun were rising in the North." Turns out it was a nuclear missile headed to take out a power plant. It was not the only bomb, but part of a series that was meant to take the electrical power from most of the United States.



Jason gathered his family and plans to leave the mainland and live in their small boat while the worst blew over. He knew that there would be lawlessness and looting and wanted to spare his family. One son chose to stay with the family of his girlfriend rather than join them.



This story is one of survival. Jason, his family, and his daughters friend live on the boat and listen to the events transpiring throughout the world on a short wave radio. They are protected from harm, that does come and seek them out, and meet friends who all have the same purpose. The purpose is survival and faith in Jesus Christ.



James Howard's book is one of the times prophesied in the Bible before Christ comes again to the Earth. He reminds his readers that we (the people of the United States) as a nation are loosing our faith, and that when we are no longer faithful we loose God's protection.



I found his book to be very thought provoking and well written. This is a great book for any who love to read and ponder the words found in Revelations.

I received a copy of this book to review from the James Howard.  This in no way influenced my opinion of this book.