“There are wounds that never show on the body that are deeper and more hurtful than anything that bleeds.” ― Laurell K. Hamilton
The year is 1919: Francis “Frank” Huddleston returns from the war in Europe to his grandparents’ home, recovering from a head injury. Frank suffers from a form of amnesia from his head injury and has no recollection of whom or what he was before he was wounded. Not to mention he needs notes from his grandfather upon waking to remind him on a daily basis as to who he is and what to do.The beginning actually reminded me of the movie 50 First Dates.
Frank’s grandparents realize that they could use some help with Frank, so they hire Jersey to help out, another man who has been wounded by the war. Jersey not only lost his leg but suffers from “shell shock”, but he needs a job, so he takes on Frank’s care, as well as helping around the farm with him. The two gradually start to become friends, and one day, Frank asks how Jersey lost his leg. Something clicks into place for Frank, something that makes it so he doesn’t need the notes anymore to help him remember who he currently is. So at this point, I’m beginning to believe that Frank also suffers from a form of “shell shock” too. PTSD, historically, was so misunderstood until it was studied back in the 80s and 90s.
While Frank still has problems remembering anything before the head injury, he pretty much becomes a fully functionally human again. He remembers he can drive a vehicle and speaks French, but he wants more, so he and Jersey travel to Philadelphia, a place where he lived with his now deceased parents before the war, in hope of discovering who he was.
And so the journey begins…
Strangely enough, for someone who doesn’t care much for historicals, I rather enjoyed this one. I found the time period very interesting, and I liked Frank and Jersey, even with their disabilities, and loved how they anchored each other. It was kind of fun watching them figure out they like each other, during a time period that it was a big no-no to come right out and say, “I’m gay!”
I’m giving The Door Behind Us 4 stars, and I would recommend it to my friends who enjoy historicals.
You can buy The Door Behind Us here:
