Official Review: Avenging Angel: A Pilot's Story

[Ayindelaw]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Avenging Angel: A Pilot's Story" by Spencer Anderson.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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“The violence of war is an insult to the soul. Fortunately for Carl he had an anchor that kept him centered on something greater than the ravages of battle ... Annie.” (p. 257)

When Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor, Carl Bridger knew that getting drafted was inevitable—especially after what happened to his brother. So, instead of waiting to be drafted, Carl enlisted in the Army Air Corps because of his passion for flying planes. Having had prior experience flying planes, he breezed through most of the Air Corps’ pilot training program and got himself a crew to command. However, it didn’t take long for the war to start taking its toll on Carl’s mental health. Regardless, his desire to come home to Annie Petersen, his childhood sweetheart, in one piece kept him safe and sensible until one tricky mission where Carl and his crew ran out of luck.

They lost their starboard engine during combat and started back to base as a result. In a moment of shortsightedness, however, they also ignorantly declined an escort when their flight leader asked whether they needed one. Twenty minutes later, however, the walls came crashing down, as they lost the port engine and radio in succession. With only twelve minutes to act before dropping out of the sky, what will Carl and his crew do? Will they survive?

Avenging Angel: A Pilot's Story by Spencer Anderson is a gripping tale inspired by a dark period of man's history. It is a fictional account of the events of the Pacific Theatre of the Second World War. From the near misses to the calculated risks taken, this book captures the very essence of aerial combat. Avenging Angel does not just tell its story. It also projects the emotions to the reader and keeps you engaged till the end.

I was impressed by the detailed description and vivid imagery of this narrative. The author did well to take the reader through all the processes related to the flying of bombers. The book includes everything—even the removal of chocks and the opening of bomb bay doors. It was almost as if I was there personally. I also liked the multidimensionality of this piece. Despite being filled with so much action, the emotional scenes affected me so much that I actually cried. The events of Carl’s life concerned me so much that I truly feared for his safety. I also loved the author’s accurate portrayal of WWII’s effect on interpersonal relationships. The correspondence between Carl and his family was an accurate representation of how most people stayed in touch with their sons, siblings, and lovers during the war. Finally, I applaud Mr. Anderson for his vivid portrayal of the war. Unlike some movies, he managed to keep the humor and upbeat tone without romanticizing the war.

In my opinion, the only aspect of this book that could have used some improvement is the length. I felt that the author could have told this story in fewer pages. Nevertheless, it did not subtract from my enjoyment. Therefore, I rate Avenging Angel: A Pilot's Story 4 out of 4 stars because of its detailed narration and the relative absence of gory scenes. The editing was not perfect, but it seemed professional enough to keep me from reducing my rating. Hence, I recommend this book to people who love war-themed books with little to no gore. Even those who are passionate about flying planes will love this piece of literature. Avenging Angel: A Pilot's Story is definitely up there among the best WWII-themed books.

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Avenging Angel: A Pilot's Story
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