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A review by sagek
The Last Flight of Poxl West by Daniel Torday
4.0
*I received a free copy of this from a giveaway on Goodreads.
**This is also posted on my blog: Library of Books.
Elijah, a young Jewish teenager, adores and idolizes his “Uncle” Poxl, a long time family friend. Poxl makes time for him, usually taking him to museums and plays and every time Poxl divulges and discusses his life during the war. However, you should know that this is a story within a story, and saying much more on the plot or structure could possible ruin this book for other readers.
I will admit that the beginning was slightly boring, some parts intriguing me and most others leaving me to feel like this book just wasn't for me. It took me a while to actually get through the beginning, but when I did it was definitely worth it. The last half of the book I ate up, I was enjoying it so much. There is just something so tender and raw about the writing that really allowed me to immerse myself in the story. I saw a pattern in Poxl, the hurt in Elijah, and even the guidance from Elijah's Hebrew teacher.
The characters were all very likeable, each with flaws but the knowledge that they weren't perfect. And yeah, at first Elijah saw no fault in anything, not really, but you could tell as he grew and as certain situations happened that his mind and eyes were opening, that his perspective was growing. And as he grew, as he learned and saw more, you see how maybe at one time, someone you knew or even yourself felt as he did. But you grew. It made him a more connectable character, and I definitely loved his parts played. And then you look at Poxl and you learn of his faults, of his troubles and how he is a rough edged person, someone who can't let go of the past but can move forward even if only a little. You see how much passion he had, how his pattern continued even after the war, even after his first love, his second, his mother. And maybe you see yourself in him too, even if only a little. Because while Poxl's experiences were his own, memories and relationships and emotions are everywhere, in everyone. Regret plays a huge part in this book, as well as mistakes. We can all connect with that, and maybe that's why I enjoyed this book so much.
I don't know. It's hard for me to really say why I enjoyed this book as much as I did in proper words. So I'll just leave it at that. If you like stories of war, of male coming-of-age stories, or even just books that will make you think, then I recommend The Last Flight of Poxl West. It's a great read.
**This is also posted on my blog: Library of Books.
Elijah, a young Jewish teenager, adores and idolizes his “Uncle” Poxl, a long time family friend. Poxl makes time for him, usually taking him to museums and plays and every time Poxl divulges and discusses his life during the war. However, you should know that this is a story within a story, and saying much more on the plot or structure could possible ruin this book for other readers.
I will admit that the beginning was slightly boring, some parts intriguing me and most others leaving me to feel like this book just wasn't for me. It took me a while to actually get through the beginning, but when I did it was definitely worth it. The last half of the book I ate up, I was enjoying it so much. There is just something so tender and raw about the writing that really allowed me to immerse myself in the story. I saw a pattern in Poxl, the hurt in Elijah, and even the guidance from Elijah's Hebrew teacher.
The characters were all very likeable, each with flaws but the knowledge that they weren't perfect. And yeah, at first Elijah saw no fault in anything, not really, but you could tell as he grew and as certain situations happened that his mind and eyes were opening, that his perspective was growing. And as he grew, as he learned and saw more, you see how maybe at one time, someone you knew or even yourself felt as he did. But you grew. It made him a more connectable character, and I definitely loved his parts played. And then you look at Poxl and you learn of his faults, of his troubles and how he is a rough edged person, someone who can't let go of the past but can move forward even if only a little. You see how much passion he had, how his pattern continued even after the war, even after his first love, his second, his mother. And maybe you see yourself in him too, even if only a little. Because while Poxl's experiences were his own, memories and relationships and emotions are everywhere, in everyone. Regret plays a huge part in this book, as well as mistakes. We can all connect with that, and maybe that's why I enjoyed this book so much.
I don't know. It's hard for me to really say why I enjoyed this book as much as I did in proper words. So I'll just leave it at that. If you like stories of war, of male coming-of-age stories, or even just books that will make you think, then I recommend The Last Flight of Poxl West. It's a great read.