Memoirs of Some Ex-Servicemen Part II Review: Real or Remembered?

Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4 out of 5)

I’ve read a lot of war books over the years. Some are loud, full of heroics and battlefield glory. Some are quiet reflections written years later. And then, once in a while, I come across something like Memoirs of Some Ex-Servicemen (Part II) by N. P. Janardanan.

This one feels different. Not because it tries to impress you. It doesn’t. It almost feels like you’re sitting in a room with a group of old men, listening to them talk. Stories overlap. Memories blur. Someone interrupts. Someone corrects. And somewhere in between, truth and imagination get tangled.

Honestly, I think that’s what stayed with me the most. Not a single story, but the feeling of listening.

What the Book Is About

At its core, Memoirs of Some Ex-Servicemen (Part II) is a continuation of collected recollections from retired military men, mostly from the Indian Air Force and Army. These are not clean, linear narratives. They come from conversations, chats, and shared memories within a fictional setting called Foujinagar.

The structure itself is interesting. Stories pass through multiple people before reaching the reader. One person hears something, another retells it, someone else records it, and finally the author presents it. By the time it reaches us, it has changed slightly, maybe more than slightly.

The author even acknowledges this layered storytelling in the introduction, where incidents pass from one person to another before becoming part of the final narrative

And I like that honesty. It prepares you. You’re not reading official history. You’re reading human memory.

There are stories of missions, misunderstandings, small injustices, friendships, and strange coincidences. Some revolve around real historical moments like the Goa Liberation. Others focus on everyday life inside training schools or units.

But what ties everything together is this sense that life in uniform was not always heroic. Sometimes it was unfair. Sometimes absurd. Sometimes deeply lonely.

What Stood Out to Me

There’s one story about Champak Lal that I kept thinking about. A man who served, did his duty, got caught in circumstances, and ended up dismissed from service. What struck me was not just the event itself, but what followed. His personal life collapsed. His dignity took a hit. And slowly, he became withdrawn.

It made me wonder how many such stories exist that we never hear.

In my years reviewing books, I’ve noticed that writers often simplify military life into bravery and sacrifice. N. P. Janardanan does something else. He shows the cracks. The misjudgments. The small decisions that change someone’s entire life.

Then there’s another story involving a near arrest during a military operation. It’s almost ironic. Two men doing their duty get mistaken for something else entirely. And suddenly, everything hangs by a thread.

I found myself thinking how fragile situations can be in high-pressure environments. One misunderstanding, and everything shifts.

The writing style also deserves a mention. It feels conversational, almost like someone speaking rather than writing. At times, it can feel repetitive. The author even admits that certain phrases are intentionally retained to preserve the original tone of the storytellers

Some readers might find that a bit tiring. I did, occasionally. But then I reminded myself, this is how people actually talk. Real conversations are repetitive. Memory circles back.

And maybe that’s the point.

The Emotional Core

What surprised me was how emotional this book felt without trying too hard.

There’s no dramatic buildup. No forced intensity. But there are moments that hit unexpectedly. A man carrying someone’s ashes during lockdown. A soldier losing both his career and his marriage in one blow. Young trainees feeling homesick and going to desperate lengths just to go home.

I think what the book captures really well is loneliness. Not the loud kind. The slow, lingering kind.

In 2026, when we talk so much about mental health, this book feels strangely relevant. These men didn’t have the language for what they were feeling. They just carried it. Or shared it in fragments, years later.

And those fragments become stories.

There’s also something deeply human about how memory works here. No one is completely reliable. Everyone remembers differently. But together, they create something that feels… true. Even if not entirely factual.

Who This Book Is For

This might not be for everyone.

If you’re looking for a fast, tightly plotted narrative, this may feel slow. The structure is loose. Stories wander. Sometimes they take time to settle.

But if you enjoy reflective writing, if you like listening to people talk about their lives, if you’re curious about the less glamorous side of military service, then this might connect with you.

I would especially recommend this to readers who appreciate oral storytelling traditions. It reminded me, in some ways, of how elders narrate stories at home. Not perfectly structured, but full of life.

Also, if you’ve read Part I, this continuation will feel like returning to familiar voices.

Final Thoughts

As Editor-in-Chief at Deified Publication, I come across many books that try very hard to leave an impression. This one doesn’t try. It just speaks.

And maybe that’s why it works.

I did feel that the pacing could have been tighter in parts. Some sections linger a bit too long. And yes, the repetition might not work for every reader.

But despite that, I kept going. Because I wanted to hear what came next.

And more than that, I felt like I was being trusted with something personal. Not polished stories, but lived experiences, slightly blurred by time.

It’s the kind of book that stays somewhere in the back of your mind. Not loudly. But persistently.

---

FAQ Section

Is Memoirs of Some Ex-Servicemen Part II worth reading?
Yes, especially if you enjoy reflective, character-driven narratives rather than fast-paced plots.

What is Memoirs of Some Ex-Servicemen Part II about?
It’s a collection of interconnected stories based on the memories of retired military personnel, blending fact and fiction.

Who should read this book?
Readers interested in military life, personal stories, and human experiences beyond official history.

Is this book factual or fictional?
It’s a mix. The stories are based on real experiences but are retold and partly fictionalized.