After Dunkirk

by Milena McGraw

Book Overview

At the threshold of World War II, Wayne Luthie leads the Wonders, an inexperienced British flight squadron playing at war form a safe distance. But soon the fighting draws near. Grace Paley hailed as "memorable and remarkable" this extraordinary debut novel, resonant with the passion and themes of The English Patient and Saving Private Ryan.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0395977800
• ISBN13: 9780395977804
• Release Date: April 1999
• Publisher: Mariner Books
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

MOVE OVER, GEISHA!

It's surprising that nobody has commented on the fact that this is a book written by a woman from the point of view of a man (two men, actually), and about a very masculine environment. was written by a man from the point of view of a woman, and at least partly because of that it got much acclaim and hype.But this book does is so much better! Unlike in , where I could VERY easily believe that this was a man writing about a woman, in this book I really felt that I was inside a man's head and his thoughts. How come this novel hasn't been promoted more?And the language is beautiful--truly poetic! An impressive debut.

EVERYBODY SHOULD OWN THIS BOOK

...I LOVED the book! ...There are so many wonderful thingsabout this book, but one of the best is the language! And the factthat English is not the author's native language makes it all the more amazing.This is not an "easy" book. It requires some attention from the reader. Although Wayne Luthie (the main character) "pulled me in" right in the first few paragraphs, it then took me a little while to get used to the author's unusual style--but not very long. Suddenly, it just hit me: Hey, this is how people really think! This is how my thoughts go inside my own head! And from then on I was completely inside all these people's minds. And they are interesting, flesh-and-blood, and likeable people, facing incredible emotional and physical odds.Yes, there is a story. It's emotionally involving and moving.I will not say that this is "the best book I have ever read" ...But I will say that this is one of the most unusual and interesting literary novels I've read in a long time. I hope Ms. McGraw writes many more books, and receives many more grants to help her write them. I'll be waiting.

An unusual and beautiful book

I have never written a reader review before, but I feel I simply must write to contest the assessment of After Dunkirk, as put forth by the "reader from Brooklyn NYC." After Dunkirk is a treat for those who like to read about people of interesting minds. The writing is "different"--unusual--but beautifully done. It is "elegant"--but in the best sense of the word. It makes the book's characters come alive not just on the page, but in the reader's heart, too. I got to know these people's innermost feelings and thoughts the way I know my own thoughts and emotions. The love story is haunting. After I got into it, I couldn't put this book down. But, as I neared the end, I found that I was "pacing myself"--slowing down--because I didn't want the story to end. I look forward with great anticipation to the next book by this author.

Different strokes for different folks

The "Reader from Brooklyn" (see below) is entitled to his opinion. But he is a puzzle within an enigma: He likes the work of Michael Ondaatje ("The English Patient," presumably), but not "After Dunkirk"? For my money, "After Dunkirk" is better by far than "The English Patient"! It's a wonderful book: beautifully written and deeply moving. It is not for everybody: Those who are looking for a "beach read"--or those who like their characters and writing simple and simplistic--please pass by. But as for me, the book's style grabbed me and pulled me right in and took me to the very depths of the characters' minds and souls. "After Dunkirk" would never induce "zzzz's" in this reader!

A remarkable story of young British fighter pilots in 1940.

This beautiful book explores both the actions and thoughts of a small squadron of British fighter pilots at the beginning of WWII. It is written in such a way that the reader in brought completely into the character's lives and shares their experiences and feelings. The author is simply great and I hope her book receives the recognition it justly deserves.