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Pillage Trilogy #1
Two Loves Lost
Live with Delbert Pillage through the torment of a bullied youth, joy of teenage romance, satisfaction of adult successes and determination to persevere in the face of two great loves lost. Evoking a wide range of emotions, even heart-wrenching at times, Delbert and Sylvia will have you pulling for them to the very end.
And along the way, see life on a small Canadian island in the 1950’s and gain a semi-historical view of the Avro Arrow program, whose cancellation decimated a strong Canadian aviation industry.
And along the way, see life on a small Canadian island in the 1950’s and gain a semi-historical view of the Avro Arrow program, whose cancellation decimated a strong Canadian aviation industry.
- GenresRomance
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 2, 2012
About the author
Sandy Graham
17 books33 followersI have a passion for creating that ranges from invention and design of airplane systems to computer program development to design and building a house to writing vignettes, short stories, and novels. My novels are emotion packed, sometimes heart wrenching, often heartwarming, fast paced, hard to put down yet educational in a variety of ways.
I maintain a blog at https://www.sandyspen.net .
I maintain a blog at https://www.sandyspen.net .
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 8, 2014
Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this novel as part of a Goodreads Giveaway.
I do not often find books with characters I enjoy getting to know as much as I enjoyed Delbert Pillage. From the time the novel introduces him as a shy, harassed genius of a child - he touched my heart. I told the author that I had received the book but I would not be able to read it this month as I will be busy. But I made the mistake of reading the first chapter. I often read a chapter to decide if a book is worth keeping around, and then put the book aside for later. There was no setting it aside. Sandy Graham has a simple and direct voice. He often tells scenes of great trauma or emotion in a few short lines of print. But simple does not apply to the characters he creates. In simple language he introduces people of depth and complexity and reality.
Delbert Pillage is not only a bullied child, he is strong and brilliant and determined and caring. He does everything better and knows more than anyone else but he isn't simply a comic book hero with a superpower. He is vulnerable and insecure and wonderful. I can't think exactly why he reminds me of Forest Gump but there is a similar feeling.
The love of his life, the parents he must deal with, the mentor and the villain are less fully realized characters but provide believable interactions for the backdrop of this story that goes beyond love story into history and aviation and delight.
Highly reccomend this book. In fact I suspect I have to read the sequel. And I better not read the first chapter before I get to the essential jobs in my own life.
I do not often find books with characters I enjoy getting to know as much as I enjoyed Delbert Pillage. From the time the novel introduces him as a shy, harassed genius of a child - he touched my heart. I told the author that I had received the book but I would not be able to read it this month as I will be busy. But I made the mistake of reading the first chapter. I often read a chapter to decide if a book is worth keeping around, and then put the book aside for later. There was no setting it aside. Sandy Graham has a simple and direct voice. He often tells scenes of great trauma or emotion in a few short lines of print. But simple does not apply to the characters he creates. In simple language he introduces people of depth and complexity and reality.
Delbert Pillage is not only a bullied child, he is strong and brilliant and determined and caring. He does everything better and knows more than anyone else but he isn't simply a comic book hero with a superpower. He is vulnerable and insecure and wonderful. I can't think exactly why he reminds me of Forest Gump but there is a similar feeling.
The love of his life, the parents he must deal with, the mentor and the villain are less fully realized characters but provide believable interactions for the backdrop of this story that goes beyond love story into history and aviation and delight.
Highly reccomend this book. In fact I suspect I have to read the sequel. And I better not read the first chapter before I get to the essential jobs in my own life.
August 10, 2020
A good read!!
First of all, I would like to thank Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to win, enjoy and review this book.
The reason I gave it a 3 rather than a 4 was all of the technical and scientific information included. I had trouble understanding the physics and the logistics.
The story of a couple, seemingly in love forever, until life separates them. Delbert has a brilliant mind, breezes through college and the pilot training for the Air Force, and goes on to invent a special reading assistant for blind persons. He also studies and makes improvements on a military aircraft in Canada. He becomes a pilot instructor and tests new planes as they are introduced.
Sylvia has vowed to marry him and remain faithful forever. However, a rape and a pregnancy lead to botched abortion attempt, and she loses the will to continue her life with Delbert, choosing instead to become a nun, and live secluded within the walls of the convent.
A tragedy strikes, which brings the couple together again after several lonely and frustrating years apart.
First of all, I would like to thank Goodreads for giving me the opportunity to win, enjoy and review this book.
The reason I gave it a 3 rather than a 4 was all of the technical and scientific information included. I had trouble understanding the physics and the logistics.
The story of a couple, seemingly in love forever, until life separates them. Delbert has a brilliant mind, breezes through college and the pilot training for the Air Force, and goes on to invent a special reading assistant for blind persons. He also studies and makes improvements on a military aircraft in Canada. He becomes a pilot instructor and tests new planes as they are introduced.
Sylvia has vowed to marry him and remain faithful forever. However, a rape and a pregnancy lead to botched abortion attempt, and she loses the will to continue her life with Delbert, choosing instead to become a nun, and live secluded within the walls of the convent.
A tragedy strikes, which brings the couple together again after several lonely and frustrating years apart.
September 18, 2014
Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis for this book really caught my attention so I was thrilled to win a copy of this book. It sounded like a story that I would really enjoy reading. Unfortunately I was somewhat disappointed and here are the reasons why...
First, from reading the synopsis, I thought I was in for a really great love story. There is a love story but it was extremely under developed making it hard to connect with. In fact, I felt like it was a secondary story compared to the rest of it. I wanted to feel the emotion but I just didn't. Delbert's time in University, his research projects and how he became a test pilot are extremely detailed and I felt like this was more of the focal point of the plot. A lot of it was quite technical, showing the authors knowledge on the subjects, but I found myself getting a little bored at times. Although this may interest a great number of people it was a little too much for me. I wanted more of an equal balance between Delbert's time with and away from Sylvia.
People who have an interest in the air force and the aviation industry may find this book quite interesting because it is quite detailed but those looking for an epic love story will probably find that it falls short. This book was OK but not my cup of tea.
I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis for this book really caught my attention so I was thrilled to win a copy of this book. It sounded like a story that I would really enjoy reading. Unfortunately I was somewhat disappointed and here are the reasons why...
First, from reading the synopsis, I thought I was in for a really great love story. There is a love story but it was extremely under developed making it hard to connect with. In fact, I felt like it was a secondary story compared to the rest of it. I wanted to feel the emotion but I just didn't. Delbert's time in University, his research projects and how he became a test pilot are extremely detailed and I felt like this was more of the focal point of the plot. A lot of it was quite technical, showing the authors knowledge on the subjects, but I found myself getting a little bored at times. Although this may interest a great number of people it was a little too much for me. I wanted more of an equal balance between Delbert's time with and away from Sylvia.
People who have an interest in the air force and the aviation industry may find this book quite interesting because it is quite detailed but those looking for an epic love story will probably find that it falls short. This book was OK but not my cup of tea.
December 29, 2020
Really liked this book! This was a nicely paced story of the maturing of a quiet bullied Canadian boy into a kind, loyal and accomplished young man. I really didn't understand much of the word translation technology or the aviation information but it really didn't matter. What was conveyed was the genius and the passion that he had. Delbert was such a sympathetic character that I was devastated by his injury. All characters around him (but especially Sylvia and Bentwing) are engaging characters as well. It's an uplifting book that left me wanting to read more of his story.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway for this honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2022
I received an ebook copy for free through First reads on Goodreads in exchange for an honest review.
This was a new author for me. I liked the book but unfortunately did not live it. I found the writing to be very cold, almost as if it was a text book. This made it difficult to connect with any of the characters. The basic story was interesting and I did cry at the end. I will not spoil the reason I cried ( happy or sad ). Besides I am an equal opportunity crier...happy, sad, anger, you get the picture.
The main character, Delbert excels in school and has an opportunity to go to college in another part of the country. He learns to fly and falls in love with flying. He gets very close with the family that he stays with while going to college.
I think the target audience for this book would be middle aged and older men.
Thank you for allowing me a chance to read this book. This is a book I probably would not have read otherwise!
This was a new author for me. I liked the book but unfortunately did not live it. I found the writing to be very cold, almost as if it was a text book. This made it difficult to connect with any of the characters. The basic story was interesting and I did cry at the end. I will not spoil the reason I cried ( happy or sad ). Besides I am an equal opportunity crier...happy, sad, anger, you get the picture.
The main character, Delbert excels in school and has an opportunity to go to college in another part of the country. He learns to fly and falls in love with flying. He gets very close with the family that he stays with while going to college.
I think the target audience for this book would be middle aged and older men.
Thank you for allowing me a chance to read this book. This is a book I probably would not have read otherwise!
May 1, 2020
Enjoyed the storyline and read
May 21, 2020
Excellent work!!!
November 5, 2023
Don't most creative authors have a natural urge to write? I do. It languished for years while I gained an education, paying job, spouse and daughter. Couldn't afford the loss of time or income to satisfy that urge other than in the form of brief stories and vignettes for family consumption, sometimes indigestion.
Retirement at 57 changed all that though not at first. Intimidated by the prospect of writing a novel, I turned my creative juices to developing software for financial advisors. (The secondary motive was to help them manage my retirement funds effectively.) However, creative writing still left a burr under my saddle and the concept of this story was born.
To become totally committed to it, I announced to all relatives that the novel was in work. It was to be titled Delbert Pillage, the story of an unlikely boy who matures into an amazing adult. Along the way a girl entered the picture and the emphasis moved from character study to one of enduring love. As you can see from reviews and comments here and on my website, these two characters grab readers' hearts and most are engrossed to the end, often unable to put the book down. For me, that alone gives it five stars.
Retirement at 57 changed all that though not at first. Intimidated by the prospect of writing a novel, I turned my creative juices to developing software for financial advisors. (The secondary motive was to help them manage my retirement funds effectively.) However, creative writing still left a burr under my saddle and the concept of this story was born.
To become totally committed to it, I announced to all relatives that the novel was in work. It was to be titled Delbert Pillage, the story of an unlikely boy who matures into an amazing adult. Along the way a girl entered the picture and the emphasis moved from character study to one of enduring love. As you can see from reviews and comments here and on my website, these two characters grab readers' hearts and most are engrossed to the end, often unable to put the book down. For me, that alone gives it five stars.
July 8, 2014
I won this book on a Goodreads giveaway. First of all, the two main charachters in the story grabbed at my heart immediately. As one after another obstacle came in their way, I felt both would be robbed of their forever love and happiness. But it goes to show you, true love conquers all. Sandy Graham did a fantastic job of hooking you into the storyline. I highly recommend reading this book. And be prepared to drop everything you're doing as once you start this book, you'll not want to put it down.
August 25, 2014
I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway!
I really enjoyed this book!! I loved the characters they we're easy to like!! I rooted for them through the whole thing! There were a couple parts in the book that got complicated because I don't know much about science or planes but the story was great!
I really enjoyed this book!! I loved the characters they we're easy to like!! I rooted for them through the whole thing! There were a couple parts in the book that got complicated because I don't know much about science or planes but the story was great!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews