Review of Still Points
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Ngozi Onyibor
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Review of Still Points
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Still Points" by Barry Lee Swanson.]
Fresh out of college, Phillip wanted more out of life than his small hometown, Nebo, could give. He was a gifted pianist and dreamed of hitting it big as a musician, flying as a pilot and living a life filled with adventures. But he needed money to fund his dreams. So he got a job as a teacher in Payson, a neighbouring town. Some days before he was due to resume at Seymour High School, he met Elinor Robinson, a Payson resident, at a casino. They were drawn to each other, danced together, and had a good time. When he got to Payson, he fished for information about Elinor's family from his landlady. She told him about her family, and he realized she was still a student in the same high school he would be teaching. Though he was attracted to her and she, him, in compliance with the school's rules and his principles, he strived to keep their interactions impersonal. Despite their efforts, rumours soon started milling around, so he resigned. After her graduation, he sought her parents' consent to court her. Their courtship bloomed, but his dreams still tugged at him.
At the time, Britain was at war with Germany. As an ally, the British government was mounting pressure on the American president Franklin Delano Roosevelt to support the European troops. Phillip saw joining the military as an opportunity to fulfil his dream of being a pilot. So he enlisted as an aviation cadet instead of being drafted if America eventually capitulates. Elinor didn't take his decision calmly, but she tried to understand. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Phillip was posted overseas to defend his country. But he promised to come back to Elinor. Did he?
Part facts, part fiction, Still Points is a historical story of war, honour, duty, friendship, and familial bonds with love at its core. The story was partly dramatized for literary effect; however, it was inspired by the true-life story of Phillip Zumwalt.
Lovers of romance, war stories, and all things art—music, poetry, and literature—will have a swell time with the book. The story is set in the 1940s. The plethora of tummy fluttering, handwritten love letters, and beautiful, profound poems and music adds a refined old school allure that isn't found in similar stories of our time. The author, Barry Lee Swanson, truthfully acknowledged that some letters and poems were his handworks. Still, it doesn't take away from their charm.
One of the book's strengths is that it lays bare what it means to be human while shining a light on the brutality and futility of war. It highlights the hard choices we sometimes make and the personal convictions that drive such decisions. I agree with the war veterans of Nebo: "There is no good war." Regardless of who wins, war is not without scars on both sides, some physical, some internal, but one thing is sure: it taints everyone.
Barry assembled an impressive and lovable cast of characters with varied personalities. They were so good that it was hard to tell where reality and fiction merged. For the characters, his enthralling writing style, the authenticity of his story, the soul-lifting music and poetry that cushions the blues of some aspects of the book, and the clean editing, I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. I can't fault any part of it, even if I tried.
******
Still Points
View: on Bookshelves
Fresh out of college, Phillip wanted more out of life than his small hometown, Nebo, could give. He was a gifted pianist and dreamed of hitting it big as a musician, flying as a pilot and living a life filled with adventures. But he needed money to fund his dreams. So he got a job as a teacher in Payson, a neighbouring town. Some days before he was due to resume at Seymour High School, he met Elinor Robinson, a Payson resident, at a casino. They were drawn to each other, danced together, and had a good time. When he got to Payson, he fished for information about Elinor's family from his landlady. She told him about her family, and he realized she was still a student in the same high school he would be teaching. Though he was attracted to her and she, him, in compliance with the school's rules and his principles, he strived to keep their interactions impersonal. Despite their efforts, rumours soon started milling around, so he resigned. After her graduation, he sought her parents' consent to court her. Their courtship bloomed, but his dreams still tugged at him.
At the time, Britain was at war with Germany. As an ally, the British government was mounting pressure on the American president Franklin Delano Roosevelt to support the European troops. Phillip saw joining the military as an opportunity to fulfil his dream of being a pilot. So he enlisted as an aviation cadet instead of being drafted if America eventually capitulates. Elinor didn't take his decision calmly, but she tried to understand. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Phillip was posted overseas to defend his country. But he promised to come back to Elinor. Did he?
Part facts, part fiction, Still Points is a historical story of war, honour, duty, friendship, and familial bonds with love at its core. The story was partly dramatized for literary effect; however, it was inspired by the true-life story of Phillip Zumwalt.
Lovers of romance, war stories, and all things art—music, poetry, and literature—will have a swell time with the book. The story is set in the 1940s. The plethora of tummy fluttering, handwritten love letters, and beautiful, profound poems and music adds a refined old school allure that isn't found in similar stories of our time. The author, Barry Lee Swanson, truthfully acknowledged that some letters and poems were his handworks. Still, it doesn't take away from their charm.
One of the book's strengths is that it lays bare what it means to be human while shining a light on the brutality and futility of war. It highlights the hard choices we sometimes make and the personal convictions that drive such decisions. I agree with the war veterans of Nebo: "There is no good war." Regardless of who wins, war is not without scars on both sides, some physical, some internal, but one thing is sure: it taints everyone.
Barry assembled an impressive and lovable cast of characters with varied personalities. They were so good that it was hard to tell where reality and fiction merged. For the characters, his enthralling writing style, the authenticity of his story, the soul-lifting music and poetry that cushions the blues of some aspects of the book, and the clean editing, I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. I can't fault any part of it, even if I tried.
******
Still Points
View: on Bookshelves
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Afrochild7
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I love veteran stories, not many live to tell their stories. So I appreciate the few we get to hear
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Aisha Yakub
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It's always amazing to see how individuals abandon everything and risk their lives to fight for their countries. I hope Philip came back. Great review
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