When Heaven Was Falling (Book) - 2/25/2018 4:05:21 PM
What a wonderful adventure of First World War aviators! The action is well-described and makes for exciting reading. The varied characters illuminate American and European military history for the early twentieth century: horses, brand new tanks, various airplanes, the French Foreign Legion, the Lafayette Escadrille, pursuit planes and observer balloons. There are truly historic characters (Billy Mitchell, for one) folded into the story.
The characters had fascinating stories and incredible skills. There are people of different ages and social classes included. However, the emotional plots are described rather baldly and felt a bit contrived as even the poet is described by actions, not feelings.
Recently I have been reading about air warfare in Europe, especially during the second World War, so feel confident in saying that the author has incorporated accurate historical details. And also appreciate the interplay between the ground crew, commanders, reporters and pilots. The confusion of firefights and the futility of war are presented realistically. I loved the detail about the white scarfs (and what happened to the Red Baron).
When Heaven Was Falling (Book) - 12/15/2017 7:58:52 AM
I'll start with saying if you love war action, especially WW1 pilots in dogfights with the Germans, you will love this. Along with flying there is a love triangle. The characters were interesting, although I felt no desire to have the story end one way or the other. As with most historical fiction there is always some new aspect of that particular time in history uncovered. Overall, a decent read.
Above and Beyond (Book) - 12/12/2017 7:10:40 AM
This is an excellent book. Frank Luke was one of our greatest heroes. It is good to see him remembered and honored, instead of just buried and forgotten. His story is something that anyone who still believes in American values would appreciate, and the book does a great job of telling his story. All recipients of our country's greatest honor should be remembered this way.
William Sweeney
Cape Hatteras (Book) - 11/9/2017 6:13:12 AM
This book also looks to be movie material. Although my name is English, I'm about 90% German heritage. My great-grandfather, Nelson Wenzel, came from Germany and homesteaded in north-central Wisconsin where I was born.
After I got my master's degree, I signed on with GTE Lenkurt in San Carlos California doing quality control under a soft-spoken German, Wilhelm Hemminghaus. When he was still in his teens he joined the German Navy and became a communication specialist running the radio on a ship in the Mediterranean that was destroyed and he floated in the water for hours before being picked up. He was strafed in the water by American planes. Later, near the end of the war, he and his father were traveling on the highway with a car that ran on grass and sticks that they burned in its gas chamber on the engine when they were strafed again by American planes.
Bill came to Canada after the war and then joined Honeywell Minneapolis for a while before coming to California. He was responsible for in process quality control with about 30 female inspectors who were mostly divorcees. He hired me to computerize their inspection process and record-keeping. The system I designed was used for about five years after I left.
While there, a coworker engineer, Jack Swanson, befriended me. He told me he was on an intelligence gathering submarine in the South Pacific. I also wrote about him here. Shortly after he retired from Lenkurt he died from an arthritic spine at about 67. His wife Lois, remarried and moved to Lake Havasu. After the management died she remarried again and I attended the wedding three years ago. Her three sons were there.
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewshortstory.asp?id=41960&authorid=3918
http://ronhullauthor.com/streams/Lois-Harold-WeddingOct14.m4v
Ron
Above and Beyond (Book) - 11/8/2017 5:47:23 AM
So well written, you made me believe that you visited Verdun in your research. You are also writing in a style (from the very brief intro) of the viewpoint of the characters, in this case, Jerry Vasconcelles in a way that is very engaging. Still, unless they were in his autobiography, when you write his thoughts, you are writing fiction. But I guess it's fiction that brings history to life.
Ron
