Formation

A Woman's Memoir of Stepping Out of Line

By: Ryan Leigh Dostie

Narrated by: Ryan Leigh Dostie

Cheryl Strayed's Wild meets Anthony Swofford's Jarhead in this powerful literary memoir of a young Army recruit driven to prove herself in a man's world.

Raised by powerful women in a restrictive, sheltered Christian community in New England, Ryan Dostie never imagined herself on the front lines of a war halfway around the world. But then a conversation with an Army recruiter in her high-school cafeteria changes the course of her life. Hired as a linguist, she quickly has to find a space for herself in the testosterone-filled world of the Army barracks, and has been holding her own until the unthinkable happens: she is raped by a fellow soldier.

Struggling with PTSD and commanders who don't trust her story, Dostie finds herself fighting through the isolation of trauma amid the challenges of an unexpected war. What follows is a riveting story of one woman's extraordinary journey to prove her worth, physically and mentally, in a world where the odds are stacked against her.

"Vital, brutal and absolutely compelling...A significant standout." (Marilyn Dahl, Shelf Awareness)

©2019 Ryan Leigh Dostie (P)2019 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Raw, explosive...Dostie writes powerfully...In the sparse landscape of war memoirs by female soldiers, Dostie's resolute, literary account of her five years in the army sets a benchmark." (Publishers Weekly)

"An essential telling of one woman's account of training and combat: staggeringly beautiful, gutsy, and harrowing. Dostie has written the rare memoir that is destined to be a classic. I couldn't put this book down and I never wanted it to end." (Christa Parravani, best-selling author of Her: A Memoir)

"This is a fierce memoir of survival - a visceral and vital portrait of what it takes to thrive as a woman in a man's world. Time is long overdue for the world to hear Ryan Leigh Dostie's remarkable story of resilience in the face of the unspeakable." (Susannah Cahalan, number-one New York Times best-selling author of Brain on Fire)

"Here is the war memoir re-invented. Dostie offers a beautiful, soulful, and astonishingly fresh take on the war in Iraq, and a deeply original book. Formation should be a must read at West Point, the Iowa Writers' Workshop, and all points in between." (Jake Halpern, New York Times best-selling author of Bad Paper)

First Review Ever

I have never felt more compelled to write a review on a book before. But this book commands one. It is powerful. It is raw. It is so honestly written that I feel like I am right beside the author sharing in her pain. I stumbled across this book by chance. And it has changed me. As a veteran female, I can relate. Oh, how I can relate. The military, regardless of branch, treats females differently. And unless you have been in that situation, you don't know. But if you listen to this book you will know. You will have a glimpse behind the uniform...behind the barbed wire. The courageousness of the writer is astounding. To share such personal details is to open a wound for all to see. Ryan Leigh Dostie, you are courageous beyond your uniform. Thank you for taking us with you down that painful path as hard as it must have been. And best wishes on your journey of healing. May God bless you.

Wonderful story in her own voice

This story is so important and I feel very privileged to be able to hear it in her own voice. I felt like I was intruding into Dostie’s life and a part of something so private. I’m so glad she brought it into the light and wrote about the rape and how it has continued to affect her life. These stories need to be told and heard. It is hard and brave. Her story is wonderfully written and spoken.

Fantastic Book

One of the best books I have listened to in a long time. The story is compelling and raw, well written and the fact that it's recorded by the author made it that much more meaningful.

Chilling, uplifting, and humbling all at once

Narration by the author adds a feel that no other can bring to this story.

Great book

This was recommended to me from a friend. I probably would have missed it otherwise. I don’t usually read books about rape and it’s aftermath. This book was very different because it dealt with the treatment of women in the military good and bad. I can’t recommend it enough.

Women in the military

Great book! If your a female in the military please read! Highly recommend ! Especially if you are in a leadership position.