Author Daniel Torday draws praise for his debut novel 'The Last Flight of Poxl West'
'Poxl' is being published on March 17 and centers on teenager Eli, who loves to hear stories of his uncle's World War II bravery. However, he soon discovers all may not be what it seems.
'The Last Flight of Poxl West' is by Daniel Torday.
Debut author Daniel Torday is receiving positive attention for his upcoming novel 鈥淭he Last Flight of Poxl West.鈥�
鈥淧oxl,鈥� which is being released on March 17, tells the story of teenager Eli Goldstein, who loves the stories of his uncle Poxl and his daring World War II exploits. After Poxl publishes his memoir, Eli begins to explore his uncle鈥檚 life more and realizes that all is not what it seems.聽
The book was named as one of Amazon鈥檚 10 best books of March and Amazon editorial director Sara Nelson called it 鈥渟urprising.鈥� 鈥淭he boy [Eli] has this really charming voice,鈥� she said.
In addition, Michiko Kakutani of the wrote that the book marks Torday鈥檚 鈥渆mergence as a writer deserving of attention.鈥澛�
鈥淲hat keeps this story from devolving into sentimental or predictable melodrama is Mr. Torday鈥檚 instinctive understanding of Eli, his ability to convey both Eli鈥檚 childhood craving for a hero and role model, and his grown-up apprehension of the complexities of truth,鈥� Kakutani wrote. She noted that 鈥淸Poxl鈥檚] fall鈥� seems apparent to the reader nearly from the novel鈥檚 start, though it comes as a terrible shock to young Eli鈥� and that 鈥渙ften does seem informed by earlier controversies like James Frey鈥檚 admission that he鈥檇 made up details of his life.鈥� However, Kakutani wrote that 鈥溾�橳he Last Flight鈥� provides both a touching, old-fashioned drama about war and love and a more modern framing tale that makes us rethink the impulses behind storytelling, and the toll that self-dramatization can take not only on practitioners but also on those who believe and cherish their fictions鈥� Mr. Torday [has the] ability to shift gears between sweeping historical vistas and more intimate family dramas, and between old-school theatrics and more contemporary meditations on the nature of storytelling.鈥澛�
Meanwhile, found the book to be 鈥渞iveting.鈥澛�
鈥淭orday鈥檚 descriptive and powerful prose stands as the book鈥檚 highlight,鈥� PW staff wrote. 鈥淭he book-within-a-book memoir is a page-turner鈥� His fixation and guilt over the love he left behind in Rotterdam, though, nearly devolves into navel gazing. The author recalibrates his character鈥檚 self-indulgence in time for Skylock to end on a poignant note. Elijah鈥檚 chapters culminate with him looking at his uncle through more mature eyes. Torday鈥檚 restraint as this story line takes on new importance shows mastery of his craft, culminating with a tender ending to Elijah鈥檚 narrative.鈥�