2 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
To Fly, To Fight And To Save by Richard Bemand is a genre fiction war novel set during World War II, narrated by the protagonist John Wilkins, a pastor who decides to join the RAF as a fighter pilot when he learns that there is a shortage of experienced fliers available for air defence. In his novel, Bemand suggests that a devoted Christian might make the difficult decision to engage in warfare to defend his country, his family and his way of life, even if it means taking the lives of his enemies.
In the 1930s, young John Wilkins has just completed his theological studies and returns to his home village in the Midlands to become an assistant pastor at the parish church, and to marry Ruth, a girl he has known all his life. As well as having had a religious upbringing, John also has some flight hours under his belt: his father, who used to be a fighter pilot in the Great War, had taught John to fly in the old RE8 biplane he purchased for use as a delivery vehicle. When war with Germany becomes a certainty, John joins the RAF because he knows his experience on the wing would be an asset to the army, and although his religious values complicate his decision, he believes that he must help defend Britain’s Christian freedom from Hitler’s regime of terror.
In this short book, John’s narration flies through the war years. Despite the very fast pace, I could not seem to finish the novel. The elements most important to John – his religion, his flying, and his family – were somehow disconnected from each other. The author added facts and Bible verses to the exposition, but did not weave historical fact and biblical quote into an authentic narrative. This tacked-together quality and safe writing turned To Fly, To Fight And To Save into a slow read. I also missed John’s conflicted decision to join the RAF because the novel lacked tension.
What I found most interesting to read about were the views from a flying ace’s cockpit, especially in the beginning of the novel when John recalled his father’s stories about the dogfights he had during the First World War. Here, there were personal touches which I thought the author could have used further in the story to fully engage the reader. If the story had been more concentrated to suit its length, the novel would have kept my attention all the way to the end. The writing is fine, but just that – a story about a person’s religious views coming into conflict with his sense of patriotic duty needs bold writing.
There were few errors but they are not that noticeable. I would recommend this book to readers interested in war fiction, historical fiction and aviation as well as a religious or Christian perspective. My rating is 2 out of 4 stars because I think the novel is fair enough, though it didn’t hold my attention long.
******
To Fly, To Fight and To Save
View: on Bookshelves
Like Lest92's review? Post a comment saying so!
