WEBmikey: Going Solo / Roald Dahl : 4 of 5

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Going Solo / Roald Dahl : 4 of 5
6.11.2005 5:26 PM \| Link	I truly loved this book, which is the second part of Roald Dahl's selective autobiography (I also loved Boy, the first part!). The first half of the book talks about Dahl's experiences working for Shell in East Africa. There are tales about encounters with snakes, a lion attack, and his involvement with rounding up Germans once World War II was declared. Each story is an adventure, which Roald tells in such simple, yet vivid terms - I loved reading about his different friends, how they would have evening "sundowners" (drinks), and so on. In the second half, he tells about his life as an RAF fighter pilot! After describing his training (on a Tiger Moth), he goes into detail about crashing in a forced landing, flying his Hurricane into battle against German bombers, his participation in the Battle of Athens, and finally ending up in Syria before going home to England. Excerpts of letters to his mom are included throughout, which keeps reminding you of the strong relationship he talked about in Boy. When he finally makes it home and rides the bus to find his mother standing outside their cottage, the moment is spectacular and touching (and also a great end to the book). I haven't read many autobiographies, but I can't imagine a better one than this!


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