Official Review: How Lucky Can You Get by Ray Saunders

Nonso Samuelson · Post by **Nonso Samuelson** » 23 Sep 2020, 14:22

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "How Lucky Can You Get" by Ray Saunders.]

4 out of 4 stars

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We've all heard stories of the atrocities of war from war heroes and army veterans. But how many times have you read a story about the lives of ordinary people at the time trying to keep their heads down and make it through the war? The author, Ray Saunders, is a World War II survivor, and he penned this book to give us a glimpse into his personal life and the way things were back then.

Saunders grew up during the WWII era. Coming from a poor but close-knit family, Ray went through a lot from his formative years to young adulthood and beyond. How Lucky Can You Get gives access into Ray's experiences as a young boy who was equal parts hardworking and mischievous and as an adult fighting to make the most of the cards he'd been dealt. In this autobiography, you'll read a lot about Ray's nuclear and extended family, friends, his time in the army and beyond, the Second World War, and the many close calls with death and accidents that will leave you wondering how he ever survived these experiences. You will read about events in this book that will make you laugh and cry, get you angry, and leave you in shock.

This book was a rollercoaster ride for me. One of the things that impressed me the most was the author's memory and ability to recall specific details from his childhood many decades earlier. Growing up, Ray and his friends were a mischievous lot. Their pranks included tormenting an elderly woman with arthritis. They would also tie strings to people's door knockers and knock from concealed positions so that when those inside the house would come out, they would not see anybody. Besides his penchant for mischief, Ray was a good kid with a functioning moral compass and a conscience. This showed up in a few ways. For instance, after stealing a toy piece from a store for building his model crane, he couldn't bring himself to use it because he felt guilty for stealing it. The words of his maternal grandmother, fondly referred to by everyone in the family as Gran, kept ringing in his ears: "honesty is the best policy."

I was awed by the author's powers of description; how he described people and events seemed to grow in its potency as the book progressed. This also enabled me to appreciate the contrast between the spartan-like, war-torn 20th century and the more civilized 21st century. I also loved the personality traits of Ray's parents and grandparents. They demonstrated a formidable work and family ethic that saw them through domestic and broader social challenges.

I was intrigued by the war-related descriptions in the book. Despite the heavy and relentless German bombardment, it is a testimony to British grit, resilience, and efficiency that various institutions and services maintained their operations throughout the war. One of the most puzzling questions for me was why the British voted out the illustrious Winston Churchill after he so ably led them to victory against the Germans. Was he more of a reminder of the pains and sufferings of war than the brief rapture of victory? Or did voters perhaps read more meaning than they should have into his speech telling them that they may allow themselves only a brief moment of celebration due to the toil that lay ahead?

In those days, many jobs involved a lot of physical exertion. For instance, the author's grandfather, Dusty, worked a job that required him to travel 17 miles to work and back every day on a bicycle. At one time, Ray's father worked as a platelayer at the Southern Railway Company and was no stranger to work-related injuries. These situations made me appreciate how far we have come in terms of work and safety regulations and technological advancements that have boosted work efficiency.

I was also amazed at Ray's drive and motivation to work. At just 15 years old, Ray was in charge of addressing and transmitting complicated internal memos and letters for the railway's Signal and Telegraph Department, including responses to the head office. At 16, he left the railway and went to work in a building firm for the Smith brothers. This drive continued to be evident as he eventually joined the army and subsequently set up an office to become a commission agent. Throughout the book, I could see how Dusty, Gran, and Alice (his paternal grandmother) all influenced Ray's personality and outlook in terms of hard work and love for his family. I enjoyed the humor that was woven throughout this book, especially in the relationship between Dusty and Gran. Theirs was a committed relationship with some of the most hilarious experiences I've ever read about.

In all, I really enjoyed reading about Ray's life. I found a few grammatical and typographical issues, but they were not enough to dampen my enjoyment of this autobiography. Owing to the author's writing and experiences, his fantastic depiction of life in the 20th century, and the book's humor-laden nature, I rate it 4 out of 4 stars. The errors were not enough to deduct a star. There was nothing I disliked about this book. It appears to have been professionally edited. I would recommend this book to people who love to read memoirs and autobiographies with many inspiring moments.

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How Lucky Can You Get
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Johnrey enolpe · Post by **Johnrey enolpe** » 26 Sep 2020, 03:17

this is so nice book ilove it i will share it with my friend who love books too

Harty Muli · Post by **Harty Muli** » 26 Sep 2020, 03:49

I like the story's perspective told from the war victims. Thanks for an insightful review.

Chigo Nwagboso · Post by **Chigo Nwagboso** » 26 Sep 2020, 04:17

I enjoyed your review. I'm glad de that you enjoyed the book. I'll also love to read it.

patpatlove1 · Post by **patpatlove1** » 26 Sep 2020, 16:37

I like the story told you about what happened in the war with Germany.

Ada Ling · Post by **Ada Ling** » 26 Sep 2020, 16:54

This is a nice book to read. Thank you for the detailed review!

Tabbi+20 · Post by **Tabbi+20** » 27 Sep 2020, 13:16

Nice to hear from a survivor of WW2. Its a good ride into the past . Nice review ,thanks.

Aotane · Post by **Aotane** » 29 Sep 2020, 12:35

Usually I'm not big fan of biographies, but this book got my interest. I also like how it shows the lives of average people during the war. Thank you for your review!

Post by **Bertha Jackson** » 30 Sep 2020, 10:41

I love reading books about the past. After reading them, I stop and think about the difficulties I may be facing, which seem small compared to what others have lived through. Thank you for your review.