The Last Pilot: A Novel
by Benjamin Johncock | Literature & Fiction | This book has not been rated.
ISBN: 1250066646 Global Overview for this book
ISBN: 1250066646 Global Overview for this book
3 journalers for this copy...
A wish list book received as a birthday gift!
This is an emotionally searing story of love and loss set against the exciting background of the record setting experimental flight programs in the California desert in the early days of the Cold War and the race to the moon. Jim Harrison is an Air Force test pilot, pushing the boundaries of flight as one of the brave cadre striving to go higher and faster than anyone has gone before. When his infertile wife suddenly, miraculously finds herself pregnant, he passes up an opportunity to be one of America’s first astronauts for the challenges of fatherhood. But then tragedy strikes and the aftermath will haunt him as he pushes himself mercilessly in his career, eventually joining the astronaut corps, seeking escape in space.
This story is filled with glimpses inside the world of experimental aircraft testing and the early days of the space program, but is, at its core, fundamentally a story about relationships. These are flawed characters struggling to come to terms with events that they have little control over, and the reader is drawn into the emotional complexity along with the characters. The writing is sparse but compelling, and at one point I had to set the book down when I started crying. The central tragedy here touched me close to my own heart, and I physically felt Harrison’s pain.
This is an incredibly well written book that explores the power of love and loss in life, and the various ways people find to cope with these emotions in their lives. An absolutely beautiful story, well told and conveying a wealth of emotion.
This story is filled with glimpses inside the world of experimental aircraft testing and the early days of the space program, but is, at its core, fundamentally a story about relationships. These are flawed characters struggling to come to terms with events that they have little control over, and the reader is drawn into the emotional complexity along with the characters. The writing is sparse but compelling, and at one point I had to set the book down when I started crying. The central tragedy here touched me close to my own heart, and I physically felt Harrison’s pain.
This is an incredibly well written book that explores the power of love and loss in life, and the various ways people find to cope with these emotions in their lives. An absolutely beautiful story, well told and conveying a wealth of emotion.
Available at today's local BC meeting
I selected this book today at the BCinDC meet-up at Soho Tea & Coffee (not too far from Dupont Circle) in Washington, DC. Thank you so much for this book!
I think my husband would like this book so I'm tossing it into his TBR pile now.
I think my husband would like this book so I'm tossing it into his TBR pile now.
My husband just started reading this book and is not enjoying it so far. We'll see what happens.
My husband is not going to read this book. He says, "I don't like the way it's written."
Journal Entry 7 by SqueakyChu at LFL - Vandegrift Ave (5811) (#7720) in Rockville, Maryland USA on Thursday, October 26, 2017
Released 6 yrs ago (10/26/2017 UTC) at LFL - Vandegrift Ave (5811) (#7720) in Rockville, Maryland USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I'm releasing this book for the following BookCrossing challenge:
***The October 2017 TICK TOCK Release Challenge hosted by DragonGoddess. This book has the word LAST in the title.
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Enjoy the book!
***The October 2017 TICK TOCK Release Challenge hosted by DragonGoddess. This book has the word LAST in the title.
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Enjoy the book!
I selected this book from the Little Free Library of Twinbrook (#7720) to travel elsewhere...
Journal Entry 9 by SqueakyChu at Birdie's Cafe - 233 E. Main St. in Westminster, Maryland USA on Saturday, November 4, 2017
Released 6 yrs ago (11/4/2017 UTC) at Birdie's Cafe - 233 E. Main St. in Westminster, Maryland USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I'm releasing this book at a meeting of BCinDC, my local BookCrossing group, in memory of Mary Zee who founded the OBCZ (official BookCrossing Zone) at Birdie's Cafe. Rest in peace, dear friend.
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I'm releasing this book for the following BookCrossing challenge:
***The November 2017 The Release Challenge hosted by RockDg9.
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Hello and welcome to BookCrossing ... where we make the whole world a library!
Now that you've "caught" this book, it is yours to do with as you like. Read it, keep it, or give it away. It's your choice!
I'd love if you'd enter a note here on BookCrossing about this book -- where you found it, how you like it, and/or where you release it. If you join BookCrossing (free and fun), kindly list me, SqueakyChu , or any other journaler on this thread as your referring person. Thank you so much.
Enjoy the book!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm releasing this book for the following BookCrossing challenge:
***The November 2017 The Release Challenge hosted by RockDg9.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello and welcome to BookCrossing ... where we make the whole world a library!
Now that you've "caught" this book, it is yours to do with as you like. Read it, keep it, or give it away. It's your choice!
I'd love if you'd enter a note here on BookCrossing about this book -- where you found it, how you like it, and/or where you release it. If you join BookCrossing (free and fun), kindly list me, SqueakyChu , or any other journaler on this thread as your referring person. Thank you so much.
Enjoy the book!
We swapped out the books on the OBCZ shelf at Birdie's, and this was one that I registered, so I took it to release elsewhere.
Journal Entry 11 by Knox9thFloor at US Patent & Trademark Office - Knox Building in Alexandria, Virginia USA on Sunday, November 18, 2018
Released 5 yrs ago (11/18/2018 UTC) at US Patent & Trademark Office - Knox Building in Alexandria, Virginia USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
This book is available on the Book Exchange shelf in the pantry in room 9C68 of the Knox Building (USPTO employees and authorized visitors only - this area is not open to the general public).