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violainend's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
kidclamp's review against another edition
4.0
Although I am not a huge fan of non-fiction, I always seem to enjoy Saint-Exupery. I have read Night Flight and Wind Sand Stars in the past, and reading this one reminded me how much I enjoyed those books
The book covers the author's thoughts during a reconnaissance run during World War II. As he flies over the countryside he reflects on the war, the usefulness/futility of his mission, the disruption of the lives of civilians, and the role of man in society and his Nation.
The stream of consciousness writing wrapped in one event reminded me a lot of the Mezzanine, though considering timing this one should get preference in the similarity. Either way, the description of the citizenry, war administration, and effects of war itself were gripping and managed to have a sense of lightness.
Reading these memoirs I always wonder why the author is mainly remembered for Little Prince and not his adult gems.
The book covers the author's thoughts during a reconnaissance run during World War II. As he flies over the countryside he reflects on the war, the usefulness/futility of his mission, the disruption of the lives of civilians, and the role of man in society and his Nation.
The stream of consciousness writing wrapped in one event reminded me a lot of the Mezzanine, though considering timing this one should get preference in the similarity. Either way, the description of the citizenry, war administration, and effects of war itself were gripping and managed to have a sense of lightness.
Reading these memoirs I always wonder why the author is mainly remembered for Little Prince and not his adult gems.
iamjudgedredd's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. What a Staggering book. I honestly wasn't sure what I was getting myself into because I don't know anyone that's read this.
It's an autobiographical novel about dSE's experiences in the French armed forces in France 1940. He basically condenses all of his experiences down into a single flight, with pre- and post-sortie thoughts. The military aspects of it are of course interesting, tense, and an excellent insight into some of the minutiae of concerns flight crews have. However Flight to Arras is so much more than that.
It's an exploration of a number of philosophical topics including sacrifice, civilization, duty, love, death, war, ignorance, brotherhood, and religion. Honestly, chapter XI was one of the greatest essays I've ever read. Philosophy is often very dry, academic, and hard to approach, but not here.
I read somewhere that this book was a wonderful window into a part of the journey that lead to dSE's most popular book; The Little Prince. His survival gave him a few more years in which he wrote that and as such it was a valuable work. However, this novel easily stands on it's own and straddles two of my areas of interest: History and Philosophy. It may well not be for everyone, but that doesn't mean that I don't think everyone shouldn't read it.
This is the kind of book to put you into a reading slump, because how can the next book be as good?
It's an autobiographical novel about dSE's experiences in the French armed forces in France 1940. He basically condenses all of his experiences down into a single flight, with pre- and post-sortie thoughts. The military aspects of it are of course interesting, tense, and an excellent insight into some of the minutiae of concerns flight crews have. However Flight to Arras is so much more than that.
It's an exploration of a number of philosophical topics including sacrifice, civilization, duty, love, death, war, ignorance, brotherhood, and religion. Honestly, chapter XI was one of the greatest essays I've ever read. Philosophy is often very dry, academic, and hard to approach, but not here.
I read somewhere that this book was a wonderful window into a part of the journey that lead to dSE's most popular book; The Little Prince. His survival gave him a few more years in which he wrote that and as such it was a valuable work. However, this novel easily stands on it's own and straddles two of my areas of interest: History and Philosophy. It may well not be for everyone, but that doesn't mean that I don't think everyone shouldn't read it.
This is the kind of book to put you into a reading slump, because how can the next book be as good?
giancarlo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
tovakthenovak's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
nogayourbroga's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
rocknevermelts's review against another edition
2.0
You know what you are getting with the author, which can be brilliant, insightful, and beautiful at times. In Arras, it was uneven, at times racist, and way too self-indulgent. In between scenes of his experiences he veered off into extended monologues about such things, as being a participant in what was going on or the virtues of Christianity, which made the ending feel a little intolerable. I found myself asking where this was going and how loosely related it was to the narrative of his flying group and his billet in a farmer's house. This book felt too much like a mediocre rough draft of better books such as Wind, Sand, and Stars. Even the more thrilling parts, such as his flight over Arras, dealing with anti-aircraft fire were distracted by too much pontification about his body and the body of the aircraft and his comparison of the two. Unless you REALLY like S-E and have to read all his stuff, I would suggest skipping this one.
laleluzz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Un peu trop dense a mon goût. Mais saint exupery écrit tellement bien, décrivant les malheurs de la guerre de façon déchirante