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Tom Benson

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A Life of Choice: Part One Kindle Edition

by Tom Benson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.3 188 ratings

Book 1 of 5: A Life of Choice

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Revised - November 2018. (Please note, A Life of Choice: The Trilogy Edition is the same story, reduced to three paperback books for those who for whatever reason, do not use digital reading devices). Jim Faulkner feels there must be more to life than a dead-end job and no social life. How far might the teenager go if he joins the British Army? Jim completes training and joins his first working unit in the UK. The entire outfit moves to West Germany. Jim's adventures see him discovering a social lifestyle he'd never envisaged. The teenager learns about his job, alcohol abuse, sex, relationships, and much more. How will Jim cope when under pressure?

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01ADZ4WT6
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tom Benson; 30221st edition (January 8, 2016)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 8, 2016
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 934 KB
Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 391 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #3,943,074 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #6,910 in Biographical Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #17,144 in War Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #18,802 in Biographical Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.3 188 ratings

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Tom Benson

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In 1969 at the age of 17, Tom left his native Glasgow to join the British Army. Tom’s military career spanned from 1969 to 1992. He followed this with a career in Retail Management, in which he was employed from 1992 to 2012.

Tom has been writing since 2007.

He has published novels, anthologies of short stories, a five-part novel, a variety of erotica books, and a series of genre-based poetry.

Tom is presently working on more novels.

www.tombensonauthor.com

www.tombensoncreative.com

www.tombensonerotica.wordpress.com

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4.3 out of 5

188 global ratings

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Robert Lalonde

Jim Faulkner Joins the British Army

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2021

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In a familiar conversational tone, Tom Benson narrates the tale of a young man who leaves his family to join the military. He’s in search of a career, and the last thing young Jim Faulkner wants to do is to follow in the footsteps of his alcoholic father.

Faulkner develops some strong and positive friendships, and some not-so-positive ones when he is let down and betrayed by some of his mates. He also shares his first experience at lovemaking, and the first love of his life. But, just as young Faulkner was hearing wedding bells, the relationship ended.

The storytelling comes across as frank and in character for a young man who is always eager to learn something new. Life of Choice is a genuine and engaging autobiography that should resonate with you even if you weren’t in the military.

Helpful

Sarah Stuart

Innocence and Inebriation

Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2021

The subtitle, innocence and inebriation, is accurate. The story opens when Jim Faulkner is only fifteen and follows the "coming of age" stage of his life. It's both a captivating glimpse into the heart and mind of a young male from a background of comparative poverty, and an intriguing insider view of life in the British army up to the preparation for a tour of Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

Helpful

M. Slavidou

Very engaging, a most enjoyable read

Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2016

Verified Purchase

This is a marvellous insight into the mind of a naive and sheltered teen who joins the army and gets an education in many more things than military training.

You may be thinking that military tales are not really for you, but this is more than just the story of a soldier. It is about how a young man makes his way in the world, starts to understand it and have his eyes opened. The main character, Jim Faulkner, is very well-drawn. He is a fully believable, likeable character; a human being, warts and all. We follow him through his first foray into drinking, into smoking and of course sex, an area in which he is woefully ignorant. I could easily imagine him, with all the self-assurance of a teenager, discovering sex with his more experienced girlfriend.

I found the tale very human, very down to earth and extremely engaging. The writing style is appealing and the story flows well, with realistic dialogues. I fully intend to recommend this to a number of family members who served in the armed forces and may enjoy reminiscing with it.

3 people found this helpful

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reader2010

Interesting and informative

Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2020

Verified Purchase

I enjoyed the book for a couple of reasons. First, I've never read a clearer view of how a soldier becomes one and the mindset involved. Second, I learned some interesting things about the British armed forces. Good read.

Helpful

Rudders' Reviews

A trip down memory lane that will have you rooting for the young would-be soldier... loved it!

Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2016

From what I understand this is the first of several parts to an ongoing saga of the life of a young serviceman. When Jim Falkner joins the Royal Corps of Signals he does so as a shy and quiet teenager with little experience of the world beyond his native Glasgow. Through this story the reader is immersed in the young would-be soldier’s training and those first tentative friendships formed, many of which would last a lifetime. It’s often claimed by those who served that joining the army is what made a man of them, and for many that’s true but what the author shows with equal emphasis is that it can just as easily lead to ruination; just as the young Jim Falkner grows in confidence and into the man and soldier he wants to be, we also see the him being drawn into the services drinking culture and hints at the problems that might bring with it in later years. There is also an excellent preface and first chapter that proceeds the start of our young character’s military career portraying a family background and life that might well have played a part in Jim Falkner’s decision to join the British Army, a background that was indeed shared at least in parts my many of the young recruits of the day.

Written in the first person, the story has very personal feel to it, enabling the reader to get to know Jim as a real flesh and blood person rather simply as a well-constructed character. The dialogue is entirely natural and the chronological way in which it’s portrayed and divided into twelve easily digestible chapters makes the story fluid and easy to read. There are many good things about being in the army as the author clearly shows but he doesn’t shy away from the negatives and hardships along the way. Another thing that impressed me was the author’s honesty in the events he portrays; he doesn’t exaggerate or sensationalise in pursuit of a more exciting or gripping story or try to give the impression that Jim is on course to be another Andy McCabe or other such well known military figure.

Although this is a fictional portrayal of Jim Falkner’s early military training and experiences, the author has drawn heavily on both his own life and those of his immediate comrades of the time, making ‘A Life of Choice’ as authentic as any entirely factual biography. I was pleased to discover when reading this that it wasn’t just another ‘pull up a sandbag’ type account relying on the legendary squaddie humour and colourful language for it entertainment but actually a thoughtful and well-written account of those times; yes those elements are present but they are not exaggerated or over-emphasised, though when they are alluded to it’s done to perfection…

“… The creases in his green denim trousers were sharper than the razor I’d used only the day before for the first time…”

“… Where I came from a steam iron was used to settle domestic disagreements...”

Anyone who has served as a regular in the army, or even one of the other services will from the beginning see familiar elements of themselves and their own experiences and might well read this like a trip down memory lane, bringing back happy and sometimes not so happy times. For others, particularly those who may have had or have friends or family who served, this book provides an honest and, true to military life, humorous insight into army training and life and just a few of the many colourful characters. Beyond that though this is also a compelling coming of age story, of the journey from boy to man, accelerated by intense military training along with all the usual landmark experiences of a young man growing up fast – being away from home for the first time, the pain of first love and its loss, learning to drive (in a land rover as opposed to the usual little bubble type cars that most people learn to drive in), and trying to fit in with his peers and all the pitfalls that entails. The heart of this story commences from 1969 through to 1971 when the army then was a very different thing to what it is today, and again, Tom Benson portrays that here to perfection. By the end of this first instalment, Jim Falkner has long since completed his basic training and is now a fully-fledged Signalman en-route to his first overseas posting to Germany. I look forward to reading of his further training and adventures…

.

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Top reviews from other countries

Flame

Review coming soon

Reviewed in Australia on February 25, 2023

Verified Purchase

Great book !!Full review coming soon l!

Rudders' Reviews

A trip down memory lane that has you rooting for the young would-be soldier... loved it!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2016

Verified Purchase

From what I understand this is the first of several parts to an ongoing saga of the life of a young serviceman. When Jim Falkner joins the Royal Corps of Signals he does so as a shy and quiet teenager with little experience of the world beyond his native Glasgow. Through this story the reader is immersed in the young would-be soldier’s training and those first tentative friendships formed, many of which would last a lifetime. It’s often claimed by those who served that joining the army is what made a man of them, and for many that’s true but what the author shows with equal emphasis is that it can just as easily lead to ruination; just as the young Jim Falkner grows in confidence and into the man and soldier he wants to be, we also see him being drawn into the services drinking culture and hints at the problems that might bring with it in later years. There is also an excellent preface and first chapter that proceeds the start of our young character’s military career portraying a family background and life that might well have played a part in Jim Falkner’s decision to join the British Army, a background that was indeed shared at least in parts by many of the young recruits of the day.

Written in the first person, the story has a very personal feel to it, enabling the reader to get to know Jim as a real flesh and blood person rather simply as a well-constructed character. The dialogue is entirely natural and the chronological way in which it’s portrayed and divided into twelve easily digestible chapters makes the story fluid and easy to read. There are many good things about being in the army as the author clearly shows but he doesn’t shy away from the negatives and hardships along the way. Another thing that impressed me was the author’s honesty in the events he portrays; he doesn’t exaggerate or sensationalise in pursuit of a more exciting or gripping story or try to give the impression that Jim is on course to be another Andy McCabe or other such well known military figure.

Although this is a fictional portrayal of Jim Falkner’s early military training and experiences, the author has drawn heavily on both his own life and those of his immediate comrades of the time, making ‘A Life of Choice’ as authentic as any entirely factual biography. I was pleased to discover when reading this that it wasn’t just another ‘pull up a sandbag’ type account relying on the legendary squaddie humour and colourful language for it entertainment but actually a thoughtful and well-written account of those times; yes those elements are present but they are not exaggerated or over-emphasised, though when they are alluded to it’s done to perfection…

“… The creases in his green denim trousers were sharper than the razor I’d used only the day before for the first time…”

“… Where I came from a steam iron was used to settle domestic disagreements...”

Anyone who has served as a regular in the army, or even one of the other services will from the beginning see familiar elements of themselves and their own experiences and might well read this like a trip down memory lane, bringing back happy and sometimes not so happy times. For others, particularly those who may have had or have friends or family who served, this book provides an honest and, true to military life, humorous insight into army training and life and just a few of the many colourful characters. Beyond that though this is also a compelling coming of age story, of the journey from boy to man, accelerated by intense military training along with all the usual landmark experiences of a young man growing up fast – being away from home for the first time, the pain of first love and its loss, learning to drive (in a land rover as opposed to the usual little bubble type cars that most people learn to drive in), and trying to fit in with his peers and all the pitfalls that entails. The heart of this story commences from 1969 through to 1971 when the army then was a very different thing to what it is today, and again, Tom Benson portrays that here to perfection. By the end of this first instalment, Jim Falkner has long since completed his basic training and is now a fully-fledged Signalman en-route to his first overseas posting to Germany. I look forward to reading of his further training and adventures…

.

3 people found this helpful

Lacey

Enjoyable and enlightening

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 20, 2018

Verified Purchase

I'm a big fan of Mr Benson's erotic books. Knowing what a good writer he is, I decided to read this book too. Although it's very different from his errotic books, it is well written and a very enjoyable story. Reading about Jim's journey was enlightening. I got to learn about military life. I enjoyed reading about Jim and seeing him develope and grow in his army career.

Moonboy

Absolutely loved it!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 21, 2017

Verified Purchase

Of course this is Tom Benson’s very own autobiography, and it is immediately apparent that there is very little fictional content, if any. But he chooses to give the narrator a fictional name instead of his own. Maybe he thought it would be appropriate, given the fact that he needed to (out of necessity) give the other characters fictional names. But this isn’t a criticism, it is simply a matter of choice. For instance, I would have taken the risk of using my own name.

I liked the style. It was informal and chatty, and showed the narrator to possess both tenderness and toughness without any unnecessary sentimentality. It takes a real man to cry, but most men cry a lot more on the inside than they do on the outside, and it was easy to feel the tears in the voice of the narrator – – and this is as it should be in any well-written autobiography such as this one.

I don’t know why, I’m still trying to figure it out; for some reason I felt a big lump in my throat, more so than at any other stage of my reading this book, when he describes saying goodbye to his mum, who is standing alone on her own on the platform as the train is pulling away. She was only 33 years old, with four children and a less than happy marriage. She must have felt so utterly desolate on her journey back home.

I absolutely loved the tongue in cheek humour, and to have left out any of the swear words would have done this very readable book a big injustice. Benson – – sorry, Faulkner, came across as a remarkably sensitive soul which, for reasons that baffle me, people usually do not associate with an “army- type.”

The depiction of his rites of passage came across as genuine and thoughtful. The reader is made very aware of the changes taking place in the development of the narrator’s character – – again, this is the sign of a good autobiography, one that is written straight from the heart. I have to say I enjoyed it thoroughly.

One person found this helpful

Mr. F. Parker

Comiing of Age in the British Army

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 2, 2018

Verified Purchase

This is a fascinating account of the experience of a British Army recruit in the early 1970s. It reads like a memoir, which is, as explained by the author's note at the end, how it began. It has, however, been fictionalised and, we are told, not all of the events recounted happened to the author. They did, however, happen to someone he knew. It is a story imbued with a strong sense of authenticity and it is that which keeps you reading.
At this stage in his army career, the first nine months of training, there is not much by way of military exercises and certainly no engagement with an enemy more deadly than the threat of alcoholism resulting from weekends of binge drinking in the pubs of an English seaside resort which also happens to be host to an army barracks.
It is the easy style of this accomplished writer that makes this book such a joy to read. He provides anecdotes around the youthful protagonist's first experience of love, and of the development of close friendships among colleagues, including older soldiers who try their level best to impart the wisdom of experience.
There are, too, accounts of bullying, and other less pleasant aspects of army life. By the end of this first part of “A Life of Choice”, the naive teenager is already maturing into a young man about to embark on his first overseas assignment, the subject of part 2, which I am looking forward to reading next.

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