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Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet

By: Ryan McDermott
Publisher: Koehler Books
Publication Date: May 20, 2025
ISBN: 979-8888247082
Reviewed by: Ephantus Muriuki
Review Date: April 21, 2025

In Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet, Ryan McDermott recounts his life and quest for purpose and an elusive feeling of belonging prior to, during, and following war. It also depicts his aching need for love, a family, and redemption from his traumatic background.

Following a teacher-recommended IQ test, Ryan was deemed intelligent and placed in the gifted program at a young age. He was raised by a single mother who did her best to compensate for the absence of his biological father, which left a gap in his life that he would struggle with for years. In his junior year, he acquired a strong desire to enroll in the US Military Academy. He went on to receive a nomination to train as a cadet at West Point, which he considered as a much-needed diversion from his past. It also provided a quiet setting for him to examine his identity, spirituality, and aspirations of the love he desired, as well as to make sense of the internal and external struggles he was going through.

The difficulties he faced on his way to become an officer would put his willpower to the test and profoundly alter his character. He completed the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course before returning to the regular Army, where he was assigned to head a platoon. During this time, he fell in love, prompting a fast proposal in the hopes that the love would provide stability and fill the gaps left by the past.

Later events depict him serving in Iraq, where he experienced severe despair due to separation from his family. His nights were plagued by nightmares in the most terrible way possible as the volatility of the war increased. His motivation nevertheless remained heavily centered on serving diligently and safely bringing his soldiers home. He had no idea, however, how hard this would be, how complex it would be to return to civilian life, or how his choices in the future would fundamentally change his understanding of the American dream.

This tale emerges as more than a single man's ordeal; rather, it is a truthful ode to the tenacity and will of troops as well as the unspoken consequences of war. It depicts the author's entanglement in its jaws, the trauma's progression into a cycle, and the impact this had on him. The narrative skillfully demonstrates how he viewed the military as a means of achieving his goal of becoming successful, how the occupation affected his fragility, and how, as a mama's boy, it impacted his masculinity. It is noteworthy for its deep themes of pain relief by engaging in worthy exercises which not only helped him survive but also shaped a completely new him.

The metaphor "Downriver" has been used consistently in this narrative to convey a profound meaning to everyday life. It emphasizes a critical principle that is sure to assist any reader caught up in dismal circumstances. It also serves as a mirror through which one may look at their own challenges in a new light, with searing honesty through which the seemingly impossible will become possible.

Quill says: What sets Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet apart is McDermott's use of poetry and creative writing as a fantastic healing tool. He has made remarkable use of the art to accurately but simply convey his poignant experiences, both by himself and with other soldiers who share his bravery. He has also expertly presented his experiences in an eloquent and reflective manner, using analogies to enhance them all while demonstrating his ingenuity. This is not a book to pass up; rather, it is a tool for re-channeling one's pain and grief for a greater benefit.

For more information about Downriver: Memoir of a Warrior Poet, please visit the author's website at: downrivermemoir.com

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