Customer Reviews

Hot Times During the Cold War: An American Comes of Age in West Germany

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With "Hot Times During The Cold War" Hawley immediately establishes himself with the likes of Lowell, Bukowski, & Ginsberg as a modern American poet of the first order.

His work successfully intertwines themes & structures from a variety of 20th century movements - the Confessional, Beats, and San Francisco Renaissance.

The collection is a celebration of the individual - often at odds with the various groups (family, military, American) he remains loyal too. Hawley expertly crafts American specific imagery and idiomatic structures to capture the essence of the American experience abroad.

This is a must have for any bookshelf.

- Luke "Scooter" Libby

What a wonderful experience I had reading this book! As a 1986 graduate of Frankfurt American High School the pages of this book took me back to a time when my life changed forever! Whether or not you are a graduate of FAHS, life as an American teen in Germany is written within these pages. Those of us who experienced our teen life in Europe can relate to this book word for word! I cried, I laughed, and I cried and laughed again! What a wonderful trip down memory lane, the 'Frankfurt family' is going to love this one!

After graduating from Frankfurt American High School in 1978, I started college at the University of Florida. My entire freshman year was consumed by people asking me what it was like to spend high school in a foreign country on a US military base. And quite honestly, it was so many things, big and small, that I always gave them very simple answers. I didn't feel like I could do the experience justice, so I never articulated all the things that I wanted to say about it. The good times...the bad times...the fear...the joy...all the things Scott W. Hawley has put into Hot Times. This book is a revelation! It has brought back so many incredible memories for me. And now I also have my answer. The next time someone asks me what it was like to spend my high school years in Germany, I am going to hand them a copy of this book.

Mr. Hawley has managed to put into words, most cohesively, what many of us have never quite been able to. The experience of living abroad, during some very formative years, at a time when the Iron Curtain was a real and tangible thing, was simultaneously invigorating and frightening. As American military dependents, we tried to fit in with the varied cultures around us and maintain our American identity at the same time. Mr. Hawley captures these dual emotions so well. I believe any military brat would thoroughly enjoy reading this work... and those lucky enough to have experienced High School abroad are missing out on a real flash back treat if they don't!

As a member of the FAHS Class of 1990, I say thanks for so joyfully and poignantly describing our experience. (Although I left Frankfurt after my junior year, I happily claim my Eagle heritage!)
I flipped from poem to poem, alternating chuckling and tearing up in recognition of the people, places, and things described.
Now, as a mom of two happy, little Army brats of my own (the youngest of which has lived in three states and two countries in her six tender years!), I look forward to sharing this book with them as they get older.
It explicates and honors the brat experience with a spirit of which all brats can be proud!
Danke sehr, and tchuess!

received and read -Scott Hawley's - "HOT TIMES DURING THE COLD WAR"

I am not sure where to begin and I know for certain I cannot adequately or fairly write what I felt while reading Scott's book.

July 1989 one month after graduation from FrankfurtAmericanHigh Schoolmy family and I prepared to leave Rhein-Main Air Base (our second tour) after three, magical almost unexplainable, awesome years. The going away parties, the last days with all my friends, and the nights in Sachs that led up to our leaving was nothing compared to the day we actually had to say good-bye.

My dad was commander of the 435th Aerial Port Squadron - the Terminal at Rhein-Main - while we said our good-byes in the special room at the terminal I knew my life would NEVER be the same - as we stepped off onto the tarmac my dad's entire squadron lined up saluting my dad and our family as we prepared for the flight back to my dad's last duty station at Randolph AFB in San Antonio - while all of us attempted to hold back the tears and clear the lump from our throats we knew what we had experienced would never be repeated or easily explained -

Scott made me feel like I was back at Rhein-Main & back at FAHS. I laughed, I got that familiar lump in my throat and I was transported back 19 years, ago to Rhein-Main, Frankfurt, my dear friends and that VERY special time in life.

We were all family (all of us) and I like to think we all still are - Our circle will never be broken.

Thank you, Scott, you captured what I have been trying to "explain" all these years.

UBER ALLES!

Amy Shields
Class of 1989 FAHS!

The author did an awesome job putting great memories in poetry! Thank you for bringing back the memories of the good old days. I will definitely be sharing this book with the other Frankfurters!
Frankfurt Uber Alles
Woohoo Sue FAHS 88

HAWLEY DEFINITELY LIVED THE COLD WAR FROM AN AMERICAN YOUTH'S PERSPECTIVE LIVING IN GERMANY. VERY WELL DONE.

85-88 was some damn good times!! man, this book rocked!!! Thanks Scott for sharing the stoke.. I'll treasure it. FAHS 86

-acacio

I read this book and thought it was incredibly creative and a very touching and sweet story about the author. I loved it and highly recommend it!