Play Audiobook Sample
A Journal for Jordan (Abridged): A Story of Love and Honor Audiobook
Play Audiobook Sample
(3.08) - 443 listener ratings
Quick Stats About this Audiobook
Total Audiobook Chapters:
Longest Chapter Length:
Shortest Chapter Length:
Average Chapter Length:
Audiobooks by this Author:
Publisher Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A hauntingly beautiful account of a family fractured by war . . . filled with vivid and heartbreaking details.”—The New York Times Book Review “Full of wonderful treasures offered by a unique and spirited father . . . written with serene grace: part memoir, part love story, all heart.”—James McBride, author of The Color of Water In 2005, Dana Canedy’s fiancé, First Sergeant Charles Monroe King, began to write what would become a two-hundred-page journal for his son in case he did not make it home from the war in Iraq. He was killed by a roadside bomb on October 14, 2006. His son, Jordan, was seven months old. Inspired by his example, Dana was determined to preserve his memory for their son. A Journal for Jordan is a mother’s fiercely honest letter to her child about the parent he lost before he could even speak. It is also a father’s advice and prayers for the son he will never know. A father figure to the soldiers under his command, Charles moved naturally into writing to his son. In neat block letters, he counseled him on everything from how to withstand disappointment and deal with adversaries to how to behave on a date. And he also wrote, from his tent, of recovering a young soldier’s body, piece by piece, from a tank—and the importance of honoring that young man’s life. He finished the journal two months before his death while home on a two-week leave, so intoxicated with love for his infant son that he barely slept. This is also the story of Dana and Charles together—two seemingly mismatched souls who loved each other deeply and lost each other too soon. A Journal for Jordan is a tender introduction, a loving good-bye, a reporter’s inquiry into her soldier’s life, and a heartrending reminder of the human cost of war.
Download and start listening now!
"Beautifully written and very inspirational. My fiance was in the same company and thought of First Srg. King as a father and a guardian angel. He shared some of his funny memories he had with him and he was an amazing man. My fiance wouldnt read the book. He said he was there he didnt need to read it. I read it behind his back to see kind of what he went through and to try to understand. She makes you love this man. Hes truly amazing and the definition of a hero. You feel like his family too. By the end of the book i couldnt function. I cried.... a lot ..and I gave my fiance a long hug. She is an amazingly strong women. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family."
— Lindsie (5 out of 5 stars)
A Journal for Jordan Listener Reviews
-
" What a great lasting memory for a son to have of his father. Heartfelt and sweet throughout. I liked this book. "
— Stephanie, 2/12/2014 -
" As soon as I read the description of the book I was drawn in. Canedy did a wonderful job of the telling enough of the story from everyone's point of view and put excerpts from the journal in at just the right time. I like that it was not just the journal, but rather her telling the story of their lives. The voice in her writing is perfect. I could feel the sorrow and the happiness she went through and was unable to put it down until I finished the last word. "
— Elise, 2/11/2014 -
" Great book! I actually put it down for about 6 months because I didn't want to read the final chapters knowing how sad they would be, I'm so glad I finally did! Canedy did a great job honoring him but I was still able to read without stopping to wipe my eyes every paragraph (just about every third :)). A very good read. "
— Clare, 2/6/2014 -
" What a beautiful family they made spending what little time they had together and what a tragedy that Charles is no longer alive. The ravages of war are heartbreaking. Such a touching memoir of a couple that firmly believed in honor, respect and love. I'm glad that I got to know a little bit about the people who were and are Charles, Dana and Jordan through the pages of this book. "
— Ashley, 1/25/2014 -
" A book that truly makes one appreciate the sacrifices soldiers and their families make for our country. "
— Angela, 1/22/2014 -
" This was an ok book. Took a bit to keep going in it. It really makes you think about what the men and women who defend our country sacrifice to do that job well and ensure our safety. My heart breaks for all the children who will grow up without mothers or fathers. I am glad the mother and author of this book did not put the whole journal that Jordan's dad wrote for him into the book. That would have just taken away from the fact it was something from father to son. This was a book by a mother telling her son about his father. "
— Sammi, 1/21/2014 -
" Dana Caneday writes to her son Jordan about the father he lost to war before he could speak. It tells of their courtship and hardships they faced. Then America'a war on terrorism was declared and First Sergent King was deployed. While there, he wrote a journal for his son telling of his experiences and how to grow up to be a gentleman just in case he never made it home to tell Jordan these things himself. Definitely a tear-jerker. "
— Shannon, 1/17/2014 -
" This came highly recommended, and I would agree with that. These wars are wreaking such havoc in so many lives. The author shows why one should grab wonderful opportunities in the toughest of times. "
— Ellie, 1/15/2014 -
" This was an amazing book. It was a real tear jerker. "
— Allison, 1/10/2014 -
" I swore I wouldn't cry, but I did. This is a very good story about a very brave man. "
— Macy, 1/4/2014 -
" A tear jerker about a woman's jouney through joy and grief, loving a soldier who was sent to Iraq and was killed. They had a child together who was a joy to all. His father wrote advice for life in a journal for him. A true story. Very nice. "
— Jeralyn, 12/21/2013 -
" Beautiful and Poignant story of a father's journal to his son before he died in Iraq. Very touching. "
— Sandra, 12/16/2013 -
" Keep your Kleenex nearby. Read this on Jim's kindle. "
— Jim, 12/5/2013 -
" Very moving and captivating story. "
— Christine, 10/17/2013 -
" I am glad I read this book! I liked it, but it was hard to read knowing the outcome. "
— Valerie, 7/9/2013 -
" It may be a few years before Jordan will want to read about his mothers more intimate recollections. "
— Shana, 4/27/2013 -
" A heart-wrenching account of a man and a woman's journey and the tragic end. A tear jerker. I highly recommend, but caution anyone who has military family. It may be too difficult to read. It is honest, painful, joyful, and most of all . . . real. I am glad I read this book. "
— Jen, 12/20/2012 -
" OMG, I just finished this book at lunch and was straight up crying in the conference room. Truly a beautiful love story. It made me want to be a better person, a better girlfriend, a better Christian, a better everything. Wow. Wonderfully well-written. "
— Vix, 6/11/2012 -
" one of the best books i have ever read! you will need a whole box of kleenex when you read this. "
— Cariann, 4/18/2012 -
" I did not cry until the end. It gave me a look at life as a military wife. And let me tell you I had no idea if the father is not present at the time of birth his name can not be on the birth certificate. So what happens to all these mothers who give birth when a father is deployed??? "
— Tami, 3/20/2012 -
" bawled my eyes out reading this, it was so good and heart breaking though. "
— Deirdre, 2/18/2012 -
" I really liked this book although I'm not quite sure why. Knowing the ending should have been reason enough for me to dislike this book :) I think what I liked best was her writing style. Maybe it was so much like my own? "
— Cindy, 10/19/2011 -
" Bring several boxes of tissues. Very touching and very good. "
— Barb, 8/16/2011 -
" Sweet and sad story of love, loss, and new life. "
— Alicia, 1/11/2011 -
" I am glad I read this book! I liked it, but it was hard to read knowing the outcome. "
— Valerie, 8/16/2010 -
" I read this book in 2 days, such a beautiful heartbreaking story. A must read. "
— Gabriela, 8/6/2010 -
" one of the best books i have ever read! you will need a whole box of kleenex when you read this. "
— Cariann, 5/18/2010 -
" Man wrote a journal for his newborn son while he was stationed in Iraq - in case he didn't make it home. Husband died when baby was six months old. Wife took the journal and wrote this book. Just started it but it is very sweet. <br/>Read the last few chapters with a box of kleenex! "
— Theresa, 5/7/2010 -
" Keep your Kleenex nearby. Read this on Jim's kindle. "
— Jim, 4/1/2010 -
" I only gave this 3 stars because I would have liked to have seen more from the dad to his son. She included more stories about her and her husbands past and then meeting. I can understand though, if she wanted to keep most of the journal entries private for her son. "
— Jill, 3/12/2010 -
" A tear jerker about a woman's jouney through joy and grief, loving a soldier who was sent to Iraq and was killed. They had a child together who was a joy to all. His father wrote advice for life in a journal for him. A true story. Very nice. "
— Jeralyn, 1/7/2010 -
" A book that truly makes one appreciate the sacrifices soldiers and their families make for our country. "
— Angela, 12/10/2009 -
" I loved this book. I think it would be a great idea for all soldiers to keep a journal for their families. "
— Steph, 12/1/2009 -
" I think every mom should read this book. It made me so thankful to have a good man in my life and here for my son to grow up with. We shouldn't take such men for granted. This story almost made me cry in a couple places, which says a lot because I don't cry easily. "
— Lauren, 11/20/2009 -
" I thought the introduction and last two or three chapters of this book were touching and heartbreaking. In between was solid, but slow going and did not hold anything for me. Having lost a family friend in Iraq, I'd hoped for more from this book. "
— Mgrother, 11/20/2009 -
" Everyone that has or knows a soldier fighting now or ever or even for someone that has lost someone should read this book. <br/> <br/>It was very easy to read. I read it in one sitting. "
— Amber, 11/4/2009 -
" prepare to cry. but so worth the tears. beautiful. i loved it. and not just cause my name is jordan. "
— Jordan, 11/2/2009
About Dana Canedy
Dana Canedy is a senior editor at the New York Times, where she has been a journalist for twelve years. In 2001, she was part of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize for national reporting for “How Race Is Lived in America,” a series on race relations in the United States. Raised near Fort Knox, she lives in New York City with her son, Jordan.