Amazon.com Review Elizabeth Gilbert on Dear American Airlines Elizabeth Gilbert's first three books, Pilgrims, Stern Men, and the National Book Award nominee The Last American Man, received awards and acclaim, but her fourth, Eat, Pray, Love, a chronicle of her spiritual search and redemption following a difficult divorce, has put her on the bedside tables of millions of readers across the world. Her next book, Weddings and Evictions, a memoir about her unexpected journey into second marriage, will be published in 2009.
I'm one of those readers who can't get enough of Martin Amis novels, since Amis--a savage misanthrope who sometimes writes, it seems, with a drill bit--is a guilty pleasure of mine from way back. So it's no wonder that I fell so hard for the bitter, hilarious, dark, twisted, and wonderfully written delights of Dear American Airlines--the most Amis-like novel I've ever read. Jonathan Miles is a first-time novelist (and--full disclosure--friend of mine) whose journalism I've long admired for its clear, humane prose. I never suspected that he had a book like this in him, and--frankly--now that I do know, I'm a little worried for his mental state (even as I'm totally impressed with his writing.)
The novel relays the tale of Bennie Ford, a man who is marinating like a cocktail olive in the sour middle-aged juices of his own mistakes, but who has decided to redeem himself completely by attending the wedding of his estranged daughter. Now, as some of us have learned from painful personal experience, it's not always easy to redeem a lifetime of screw-ups in one weekend, but that doesn't deter Bennie from heading to the airport to fly off to what he has decided is the most important event in his life. (The fact that he doesn't seem to notice that the wedding should actually be the most important event in his DAUGHTER'S life, not his, is an early clue of his particular breed of hilarious narcissism.) But at the airport is where his troubles begin, as American Airlines cancels his flight and thus--as far as he is concerned--destroys his life. What follows is a complaint letter raised to the level of high narrative art. I have never before encountered a novel written in the form of a complaint letter, and we can safely assume there will never be another such after this one, just because Miles has created an inimitable story here--one which, despite all the dark wit of its narrator--leaves room in the sad margins for real heartbreak, real feeling, real life. (This is something Amis himself wasn't able to do until many years into his career.) This is the most entertaining first novel I've read in a long while, as well as a searing cautionary tale. Bring it to the airport with you next time you fly somewhere to change your life...
Product Description
Sometimes the planes don-t fly on time.
Bennie Ford, a fifty-three-year-old failed poet turned translator, is traveling to his estranged daughter-s wedding when his flight is canceled. Stuck with thousands of fuming passengers in the purgatory of O-Hare airport, he watches the clock tick and realizes that he will miss the ceremony. Frustrated, irate, and helpless, Bennie does the only thing he can: he starts to write a letter. But what begins as a hilariously excoriating demand for a refund soon becomes a lament for a life gone awry, for years misspent, talent wasted, and happiness lost. A man both sinned against and sinning, Bennie writes in a voice that is a marvel of lacerating wit, heart-on-sleeve emotion, and wide-ranging erudition, underlined by a consistent groundnote of regret for the actions of a lifetime -- and made all the more urgent by the fading hope that if he can just make it to the wedding, he might have a chance to do something right. A margarita blend of outrage, wicked humor, vulnerability, intelligence, and regret, Dear American Airlines gives new meaning to the term -airport novel- and announces the emergence of major new talent in American fiction.
A Great BookDecember 1, 2008 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The storyline of Dear American Airlines has been well documented here and elsewhere so I'll stick to offering a simple statement as to why you should read the book : The writing is brilliant.
As narrator Bennie Ford opens his life to the reader there is more depth in these tight 180 pages than in any other book you will read anytime soon. The story flows incredibly well and is interspersed with points of recognition that hit home on both personal and general levels. There is humor and sadness, there are human foibles exposed and there is an unexpected subtle tenderness throughout the entire unfolding (one example that got me: the image of a young caretaker combing a stroke victim's hair while turning Foghat's Slow Ride into a soothing lullaby).
At one point, we learn why Bennie quit writing poetry: 'it finally struck him as a futile weapon against the world'. That thought made me contemplate the elusive (but hopefully not lost) sentiment of fighting back against something bigger. Maybe that 'fight' is one reason I still enjoy great fiction. Thus, I am thankful that Jonathan Miles has provided one more piece of ammo in the battle against interminable flight delays, but more importantly in matters much more permanent.
A Great book. Read it.
charmingly hilarious and sadOctober 21, 2008 When I picked up this book for the first time, my initial thought was skeptical. "How entertaining can a book about a guy who hates the airport be" I asked myself. However, fortunately I was bored this particular day, and decided to sit down in the store to try reading the first few pages. What I discovered was that it was very difficult just to get past the first page... I could not stop laughing.
The opening of this book is an assualt on your senses as it relishes in the perfect mix of profanity, comical analogies, and even a twist of humility that is quickly overshadowed by bitter frustration. "This is f**cking serious."
The best part about this book is it offers the reader an outside perspective on what they could be thinking if they are ever sitting in an airport becoming more and more aggrivated by jet lag. Each of us who have ever sat in an airport gate waiting over 2 hours for a flight that will inevitably be delayed will understand the protagonist's frustration. During the course of his letter to American Airlines, he continuously cuts away to give detailed description of what is happening around him as he remains stranded for days in the airport. As I ead these parts, between my fits of laughter I could not help but reminisce about my days of being stranded in an airport, or even simple day-to-day events that happen.
I have to say that this book offers more than just raw comedy. This is not simply a book filled with gratuitous profanity. Ultimately, it is a tragedy; a story about a man who has lost his way, and is seeking to set things right in his life. As the letter (the book) moves on the tone moves from rage, to frustration, and leads ultimately to acceptance and forgiveness.
My finaly comments on this book are that while the tone does become rather dark towards the end, it does leave you with a happy feeling.
Funny and original self examination from a talented writerOctober 18, 2008 Bennie Ford is halfway through his life, halfway through translating a Polish novel, and halfway across the country stuck in O'Hare airport courtesy of American Airlines. He is going to miss his estranged daughter's wedding - possibly the only mishap in his life that isn't his own fault. In the guise of an angry letter to American Airlines, Bennie relates the story of his youth, his marriage/divorce and child, and his life with his mentally ill mother. Also, Bennie is translating a novel about a soldier who is making his own anguished journey.
Miles' use of humor and language is fresh and effective. I loved the originality of his writing. His character felt real to me. I enjoyed his moves from sarcasm and self-deprecating humor to heartbreak. While Bennie is the cause of his own problems, he is conscious of it and discovering why and how.
My only concern with this novel was the device of the angry letter to American Airlines. After awhile it just felt unnecessary and gimmicky. Perhaps a little too "James Frey" for me. Still, I really enjoyed Miles' writing and I look forward to reading more from him.
One part was better than another ...October 9, 2008 I view this book as two separate stories. One is the more or less present tense story of the narrator being stranded at O'Hare Airport on the way from New York to LA. The other is kind of a memoir of his life, some of which ties in to his being stranded at O'Hare, but most of which doesn't. Indeed, even if his layover in O'Hare was not one minute longer than scheduled (which theoretically would have taken away the raison d'etre of the book), roughly 80% of the book could still stand on its own--his relationship with the two Stella's, his relationship with his mother, his work life, his childhood and relationship with his Dad, the translations of the Polish novel, etc. etc. Therefore, I asked myself: if the book were confined solely to that 80%, how much would I have enjoyed the book. The answer for me was: not that much. It would have been OK but nothing to rave about. One of the problems is that there was no need to present any sort of a coherent narrative with respect to that 80%--alot of it was just stream-of-conciousness rambling that meandered here and there. In fact, I would wonder if the book would have been written at all if it were confined to that 80%. One might argue that it is unfair to divorce that portion of the book from the remaining 20% but I don't think so, because, as noted, the 80% could easily stand on its own, flight delays or no. The reason I gave it (as many as) 4 stars is because I thought that the 20% was fabulous. Very funny in parts and brilliantly written--by far the best portions of the book. In fact, after awhile, I kept waiting for the past tense memoir portions to end so we could get back to the present-tense flight delay situation.
FantasticOctober 4, 2008 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I listened to this wonderful book on audiobook format and it is fantastic. I rarely rate a book, but this one is so special and enjoyable. The narrator was absoultely fabulous and brought the story to life! Give it a try, you won't regret it!
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I'm one of those readers who can't get enough of Martin Amis novels, since Amis--a savage misanthrope who sometimes writes, it seems, with a drill bit--is a guilty pleasure of mine from way back. So it's no wonder that I fell so hard for the bitter, hilarious, dark, twisted, and wonderfully written delights of Dear American Airlines--the most Amis-like novel I've ever read. Jonathan Miles is a first-time novelist (and--full disclosure--friend of mine) whose journalism I've long admired for its clear, humane prose. I never suspected that he had a book like this in him, and--frankly--now that I do know, I'm a little worried for his mental state (even as I'm totally impressed with his writing.)
