★
Benjamin Johncock
Reviews
Book bloggers
“Far and away the best debut novel of the year. It left me an emotional wreck. The writing stands head and shoulders above most other debut novels. The spare style is reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy, Hemingway, and especially Updike (The Last Pilot reminded me in spades of Rabbit Run). One of the most confident, assured debut novels I have ever read. Emotionally gripping, and absolutely compelling, I cannot recommend this highly enough.”
—Bookmunch
“Johncock has the Carveresque ability to pack feeling into and between and beneath a few words of dialogue; and the Salterish knack of constructing the tightest of sentences. There are moments of desert heat which recall Cormac McCarthy; dust bowl fences and silence Steinbeck.... How does one end up writing like Carver, Salter, and Yates without reading them? His sentences are taut, quivering units, vibrant under pressure like engine casing or the desert heat shimmer. Johncock’s novel of marriage and family and endeavour is a truly impressive achievement. Indeed, The Last Pilot is one of the best debuts I’ve read in a long time. Sentence by sentence, it’s one of my favourite books of the last few years.”
—Words of Mercury
“The transcendent beauty of the prose owes much to its restraint and rawness, absolutely symbiotic with the story it sets out to tell.”
—On the Literary Sofa, Summer Reads 2015
“Written in sparse, quick prose that balances sadness and action, The Last Pilot is a stunning debut that is as engrossing and profound as it is entertaining.”
—Shelf Awareness
“As near perfect as it’s possible to be when it comes to genius storytelling, emotionally resonant use of language and the ability to get you right in the heart.” —Liz Loves Books
“There are almost too many great things that could be said about The Last Pilot. It can take more than one and still less than a half dozen novels by one author before their writing is recognized. In Johncock’s debut, he only needs 300 pages. His writing is incredibly terse, but super efficient. The dialogue between characters is wholly believable and emotionally raw. Character exchanges are often very short worded, but the words used are incredibly effective, conveying loads of emotion and meaning. It’s very reminiscent of Hemingway. The journey that the reader makes is simply incredible. There is no doubt this novel will stand among the best of 2015.”
—As The Plot Thins
“The Last Pilot is simply wonderful – an extraordinary achievement. Its portrait of this little (and extremely unusual) part of America from the late 1940s until the 1960s feels completely authentic and real–quite a feat for a debut British author. Its prose is beautiful... blending history and fiction seamlessly...I loved every page.”
—For Winter Nights
“A stellar tale of loss and love - Johncock weaves an awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping, and sky-shattering account that holds the potential to break the sound barrier of the reader’s life.”
—Necessary Fiction
“Domestic and emotional - I loved it.”
—Just William’s Luck
“An epic family drama… a strong debut. You can sense the time Johncock has dedicated to honing his prose: this is a lean, evocative novel... deeply moving and well handled. The Last Pilot explores the conflict between loyalty to one’s country and one’s family, and a particular form of tight-lipped masculinity which prizes practical skills over emotional sensibility, creating an evocative atmosphere which runs through the text.”
—Workshy Fop
“An incredible novel. The prose is absolutely stunning. Highly recommended.”
—BookingMama
“Ten out of ten. Johncock manages to blend the facts with the fiction to give us something that is thrilling, so profoundly touching, you can’t help but be moved.” —Shiny New Books
“A novel of the year: sonorous, tender, brutal and haunting, Johncock creates a miasma of emotion in minimalized, taut dialogue and prose (one thinks of Carver and Hemingway) and the prose drives the fearless beauty of this intensely personal novel. Immobilizing – yup, it is that good.... A love story so tender that it swells with wonder. Don’t miss it. 5+/5” —The Review Broads
“One of the most beautiful novels I’ve ever read about the infinite capacity of the human heart to dream, love, grieve, survive and live despite the heart-breaking impact of adversity. Prepare to have your heart shot into the galaxy of human emotion. Pack plenty of tissues.” —PamReader
“I felt the same thrill reading The Last Pilot I felt as a kid watching Apollo 11. An expansive, joyous look at the possibility of humanity – even in the face of tragedy.”
—Raging Biblioholism
“This book hit me hard in the gut... one of the better books I’ve read this year. I’m a sucker for a rich story with beautiful writing. You should read it.”
—Jaclyn Day
“A painful portrayal of how grief and loss can test the most sturdy of relationships.”
—Still Not Fussed
“A powerful look at grief and loss, and the need to come to terms with one's feelings.”
—It’s Either Sadness or Euphoria
“A very comprehensive and tightly written first novel.” —Trip Fiction
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