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athompson10
Sep 23, 2015athompson10 rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
Interesting idea for a book. Poxl West is a Czech Jewish war hero who emigrated to England and was a bomber pilot for the RAF. Eli Goldstein is his nephew-by-friendship who worships the exploits of the old man, which have been published as a memoir. Most of the book is Poxl's "memoir" with brief chapters of Eli's doings and reactions. The "memoir" is heavy on sex, longing and regrets with one compelling section of the terror and exhilaration of flying a bomber into enemy Europe. For me, Eli was a distraction. I think this could have been a beautiful book about Poxl alone. The "memoir" is lyrically written and Eli's clunky sections are an abrupt crash back to earth. Eli offers little insight into Poxl, only reaction, and for me what's going on in Eli's life doesn't add anything to the narrative.