Review: Coincidence, You Say? by Patrick Hogan

The story of a determined and principled protector who consistently chose the hard road in his dynamic life, Coincidence, You Say? by Patrick Hogan is a heartfelt memoir and a revelatory snapshot of a different time.

A mischievous child growing up in a picturesque middle-class American life, Hogan offers brief vignettes and glimpses into his youth, as well as his first encounters with coincidences. In numerous instances -often when injury or even death was imminent – he explains a strange experience of time dilation, as though the world would cinematically slow down, leaving him time to react and leave miraculously unharmed. The titular question suggests another explanation for his impressive strokes of luck, one that likely comes from being brought up in a faith-based home, attending Catholic school, and developing his own unique philosophies regarding God and spirituality.

This “noble young warrior” attempts to live up to his namesake while being deployed by the U.S. Army to Vietnam at the height of that deadly conflict. He spent three years over multiple tours there, during which he was exposed to a range of weaponized toxins, a shameful and deadly crime perpetuated by the United States military against its own soldiers. After returning home, he transitioned into a lengthy career as a police officer, which generated countless stories, both hopeful and heartbreaking, which make up the bulk of these recollections.

This conversational memoir also touches on Hogan’s family life, how it was affected by his career choices, the medical issues that plagued his later years, and the evolution of his faith as his family swelled and grew up in a rapidly changing era. While many elements of Hogan’s life can be viewed through the lens of luck and fortuitous moments, the painful reality of lackluster veteran care in America ends the book on something of a sobering note. The very real and unforgivable failings of the VA that the author details throughout the book feel somewhat misaligned with the underlying explorations of coincidence, chance, divinity, and fate, which are positive in their outlook, so the narrative arc is a bit uneven. Furthermore, the author’s experiences naturally align with modern demands for disability justice and social justice, which could be tied together with the overall theme, but there is an occasional lack of nuance in these reflections.

From an editorial perspective, there is the spare misspelled word (e.g. “birth” vs “berth”), and Hogan will sometimes move forward in time during one anecdote, revealing new developments, but then jump back a handful of years on the very next page as he delves into a different yarn. There are also certain subjects that feel rapidly glossed over, such as the courtship period with the woman who would become his wife, while others get extensive detail, such as his professional maneuverings in the military and somewhat repetitive tales of his years in the police.

Despite the niche audience for personal memoirs, this is a raw and vulnerable portrait of a life deeply devoted to service, offering an inspiring exploration of the many small moments that can have big repercussions in our lives.