Talking about a honest and at times uncomfortable take on the war in Afghanistan, this book is it. It's interesting that it's not written from a combat soldier perspective but from a combat photographer. How the author sees the wars is through his lens and subjects.
I was enthralled at first with his journey and his perspective of what this war is and to him what is really is. I enjoyed some of his fellow soldiers that he captures, they are all an interesting cast of characters and you wonders what are the motivation of those who are fighting the war.
But I think as this book was wrapping up, I got lost is what the author was writing about. I just decided to glance over it because I felt it was confusing to me.
I think this is a good book from a different perspective of the war in Afghanistan and war in general.

Fascinating memoir about a Marine struggling to understand everything about his youth, the war, the Marines, Afghanistan.
A great point of view on how we (the US) epically screwed up Afghanistan war and wasted so many precious lives and resources. I did not agree with all his view points but he makes valid statements.

Thank you to NetGally and Atria Books for allowing me to read this book. I found this book to be a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the war, and it was definitely a different book than I was expecting. It wasn't your typical take on the Afghanistan war, it was very informative. Not the typical genre I'd reach for, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I have a few friends I know I'll be recommending this book too!

Whistles from the Graveyard: My Time Behind the Camera on War, Rage, and Restless Youth in Afghanistan by Miles Lagoze provides an unfiltered glimpse into the visceral realities of the Afghanistan War. Lagoze, an eighteen-year-old Marine Corps recruit turned Combat Cameraman, offers a poignant perspective that transcends the sanitized images of heroism typically presented to the public.

Lagoze's firsthand account pierces through the facade of military glory, exposing the raw underbelly of a conflict that has endured for over a decade. His lens captures not only the physical landscape of Afghanistan but also the mental and emotional terrain traversed by young soldiers, disoriented in a foreign land haunted by the specter of war.

The book explores the lives of these servicemen and women, grappling with the dissonance between the chaotic reality on the ground and the polished imagery crafted for public consumption. Lagoze unveils the toll exacted on these individuals, caught in the crossfire of a war that often seems inscrutable and an enemy that remains elusive.

Lagoze provides an unflinching exploration of the moral and psychological consequences of warfare. He confronts the desensitization bred by the constant exposure to violence, exacerbated by the desolation of a war-torn Afghanistan. The book also exposes the intricate dynamics between American troops and Afghan locals, bound together by shared fears in the relentless face of the Taliban.

Whistles from the Graveyard verbalizes the internal struggles faced by these young soldiers. He sheds light on the detachment cultivated through exposure to the darkest corners of the internet and the blurring of lines between the digital and the real. He captures moments of dark resignation, punctuated by bursts of adrenaline-fueled violence and nights of drug-induced escape.

Lagoze's use of vivid language and poignant imagery paints a haunting picture of a generation marred by war, illustrating the corrosive impact on their psyches and the profound challenge of reintegration into a society that sent them into the abyss. Whistles from the Graveyard is a stark and unapologetic examination of the Afghanistan War, leaving a remarkable impression on readers and challenging conventional narratives about the costs of conflict.

"A searing and unfiltered odyssey into the heart of the Afghanistan War."

"Miles Lagoze's raw lens exposes the hidden scars of a lost generation."

"A vivid portrayal of restless youth caught in the crossfire of history."

"An unapologetic exploration of the psychological toll of modern warfare."

"Lagoze's lens captures the haunting beauty amidst the chaos of conflict."

"A visceral and unflinching account of the Afghanistan War's true cost."

"Intricate storytelling that unveils the human side of America's longest war."

"A profound narrative that transcends the sanitized veneer of military heroism."

"Lagoze's lens pierces through the fog of war, revealing untold stories."

"Whistles from the Graveyard is a tribute to the resilience and despair of those sent to the desert's edge."

Whistles from the Graveyard by Miles Lagoze

A big thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the eARC. Pub day is today! 🎉

I was not expecting this book to be as unfiltered as it was. This was not your typical “war hero” story. Instead, this was a raw, unflinching look at the war in Afghanistan in none of its glory and all of its gory truth.

As far as structure, this book was linear - it followed the author from boot camp to Afghanistan to out of service struggling with PTSD. In terms of content, this was tough to read in many places. I skipped over some animal incidents and skimmed some other gory incidents that were the byproducts of war. I also cringed with the “locker room talk”, racism, and misogyny that was portrayed as “normal” for the military.

While the above paragraph may seem negative, I’m simply sharing to make others aware that this book was littered with potential triggers. However, I don’t believe the story would have been as enlightening without any of these things no matter how cringy.

If you are a fan of political books, this sheds a light on the politics of the war in Afghanistan and the soldiers that leave that war.

Whistles From The Graveyard is a interesting book by Miles Lagoze, who joined the Marine Corp as a combat cameraman. You get the inside scoop about boot camp and deployment in Afghanistan. He survived, while others had not. As his unit's official videographer, tasked with shooting and editing footage for the Corps’ recruiting purposes and historical archives. But upon discharging, Lagoze took all the footage he and his fellow cameramen shot, and he assembled a documentary called Combat Obscura.
If you enjoy reading about historical wars and the politics behind them, you’ll enjoy this book. I'd like to thank Atria Books, Atria/One Signal Publishers, and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.

Whistles From The Graveyard is a raw and powerful memoir following Miles Lagoze’s career as a Marine combat cameraman. It takes us behind the scenes and paints a grisly picture of the war in Afghanistan. It was an eye opener to learn how the US government tasked Lagoze with portraying images that fit their “hero” agenda and only told part of the narrative. If ever you wanted to have boots on the ground, this is your book! Miles Lagoze does not hold back as he writes about the good, the bad and the ugly. If you enjoy reading about politics and historical wars, you’ll enjoy this book!

memoir, war, war-is-hellish, politics, filming, PTSD****

From high school angst to USMC boot camp to the gritty reality of serving in the longest war: Afghanistan. This war was devastating to everyone there and it didn't help that those in charge were all about propaganda. While in country and afterward life was too hard to handle without self-medicating and the suicide hotlines. And then there was the mob mentality of January 6. A tough read, but enlightening.
I requested and received an EARC from Atria Books, Atria/One Signal Publishers via NetGalley. Thank you.

There is no doubt the author is a talented writer and "knows how" to tell a story. However, I never fully found my way into this book and ultimately, I chose not to finish it. In spite of that, I think the book is an "important" one and I am quite impressed, too, by the author's skills as a writer.

This was a great book. I really enjoyed reading these behind-the-scenes types of books about the military. Very informative.

Whistles From The Graveyard is a raw and powerful memoir following Miles Lagoze’s career as a Marine combat cameraman. It takes us behind the scenes and paints a grisly picture of the war in Afghanistan. It was an eye opener to learn how the US government tasked Lagoze with portraying images that fit their “hero” agenda and only told part of the narrative. If ever you wanted to have boots on the ground, this is your book! Miles Lagoze does not hold back as he writes about the good, the bad and the ugly. If you enjoy reading about politics and historical wars, you’ll enjoy this book!

Thank you to Atria books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.