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Flight to Landfall
"Flight to Landfall" is an adventurous story set in the Dutch East Indies, Singapore and the inhospitable desert region of western Australia.
However, it would be incorrect to call this book an adventure novel; in addition to the fascinating act and fascinating description of strange places, the reader will follow with increasing interest the character development of a number of people who, by chance circumstances, come together to fight for their existence and try to adapt to each other.
An impressive and moving book.
However, it would be incorrect to call this book an adventure novel; in addition to the fascinating act and fascinating description of strange places, the reader will follow with increasing interest the character development of a number of people who, by chance circumstances, come together to fight for their existence and try to adapt to each other.
An impressive and moving book.
394 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1965
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21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 26, 2020
1/26/2020 - Hoping again, some GR-Librarian will switch the default book description to the English language version.
Have long been curious why this book isn't more 'popular.' Searched for articles about book and found some answers in Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_...
***
In original review, I noted "Glaskin and Nevil Shute share a compartment in my mental bin of books."
***
This too little known Australian author's gem was a favorite of library staff for recommending for the many seekers of books set 'down under.
***'
It starts in WWII Southeast Asia, as the final refugees, those who have the funds or connections, struggle amidst the chaos to board one of the last flights out before Japanese arrive.
The wide ranging cast of characters are reduced in numbers during and in the aftermath of being attacked by Zeros and crashing in desolate, yet grand northwest Australia. Then the scenery and cast come center stage.
***
poached and pasted KIRKUS REVIEW - a "spoiler"
"First published in Australia in 1963, this is a rich novel about WW II survival in the Great Sandy Desert--as told years later to an Australian newspaperman. When the British garrison at Singapore is about to fall to the Japanese, the Air Officer Commander asks Dutch pilot Dirk Van Dooren (the tale's narrator) to take the Commander's spoiled 17-year-old daughter Fiona to stay with Dirk's wife in Soerabaya, Java. Dirk does so, but then Soerabaya itself comes under attack and he must evacuate his wife Marianne, their baby, and Fiona to Australia. But spiteful Fiona hides, not wanting to go, and Dirk sends his wife and child ahead in one plane while searching for the missing girl. They wind up in another plane which crashes in the great Australian desert. Seven survive: Dirk, Fiona, a Dutch boy of 15 named Henkie, Jacob Salomonson, the enormously fat Dutch-Armenian diamond king (who has a bag of stones with him), a pitiable Dutch woman, and two thuggish Dutch men. After great hardships on the desert they find themselves in an uninhabited but Eden-like oasis valley (they call it Landfall) where, as the months pass, they learn to do without civilized comforts, build, fish, and hunt for themselves. In a cave Henkie finds aboriginal paintings of great beauty and decides to build a house nearby for Fiona--he completes a fantastic garden first. Meanwhile the two Dutch boors rob Jacob of his diamonds (actually they have only his much less valuable industrial stones), but then kill themselves in a fight over the jewels while their woman friend goes mad. And finally, when some English-speaking natives show up, Dirk goes off with their leader to get help, the madwoman leaves with the other departing savages; Jacob suicides because of vast infection; and Henkie dies of appendicitis. Only Fiona is left, sitting on the rim of a vast gorge while watching Death walk toward her in the twilight. But that's not the end! . . . Lots of ripe, hot description, even more satisfying character development (Fiona is slowly transformed)--a sweet, scary, earthy saga."
Have long been curious why this book isn't more 'popular.' Searched for articles about book and found some answers in Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_...
***
In original review, I noted "Glaskin and Nevil Shute share a compartment in my mental bin of books."
***
This too little known Australian author's gem was a favorite of library staff for recommending for the many seekers of books set 'down under.
***'
It starts in WWII Southeast Asia, as the final refugees, those who have the funds or connections, struggle amidst the chaos to board one of the last flights out before Japanese arrive.
The wide ranging cast of characters are reduced in numbers during and in the aftermath of being attacked by Zeros and crashing in desolate, yet grand northwest Australia. Then the scenery and cast come center stage.
***
poached and pasted KIRKUS REVIEW - a "spoiler"
"First published in Australia in 1963, this is a rich novel about WW II survival in the Great Sandy Desert--as told years later to an Australian newspaperman. When the British garrison at Singapore is about to fall to the Japanese, the Air Officer Commander asks Dutch pilot Dirk Van Dooren (the tale's narrator) to take the Commander's spoiled 17-year-old daughter Fiona to stay with Dirk's wife in Soerabaya, Java. Dirk does so, but then Soerabaya itself comes under attack and he must evacuate his wife Marianne, their baby, and Fiona to Australia. But spiteful Fiona hides, not wanting to go, and Dirk sends his wife and child ahead in one plane while searching for the missing girl. They wind up in another plane which crashes in the great Australian desert. Seven survive: Dirk, Fiona, a Dutch boy of 15 named Henkie, Jacob Salomonson, the enormously fat Dutch-Armenian diamond king (who has a bag of stones with him), a pitiable Dutch woman, and two thuggish Dutch men. After great hardships on the desert they find themselves in an uninhabited but Eden-like oasis valley (they call it Landfall) where, as the months pass, they learn to do without civilized comforts, build, fish, and hunt for themselves. In a cave Henkie finds aboriginal paintings of great beauty and decides to build a house nearby for Fiona--he completes a fantastic garden first. Meanwhile the two Dutch boors rob Jacob of his diamonds (actually they have only his much less valuable industrial stones), but then kill themselves in a fight over the jewels while their woman friend goes mad. And finally, when some English-speaking natives show up, Dirk goes off with their leader to get help, the madwoman leaves with the other departing savages; Jacob suicides because of vast infection; and Henkie dies of appendicitis. Only Fiona is left, sitting on the rim of a vast gorge while watching Death walk toward her in the twilight. But that's not the end! . . . Lots of ripe, hot description, even more satisfying character development (Fiona is slowly transformed)--a sweet, scary, earthy saga."
July 20, 2020
This can best be described as A Town Like Alice meets Walkabout, comparisons with Nevil Shute are inevitable given the format, setting and publication date.
The story mainly set in 1942 follows a group of people who fleeing first Singapore and then the Dutch East Indies survive a plane crash in the Australian outback.
For me the story didn't really pick up until the "flashback" sequence began in chapter 21! It was a bit of a slog to get there but then it did engage and maintain my attention until the end. I enjoyed it but to compare it once again to "A Town......" the characters weren't as finely drawn nor as sympathetic.
A good lockdown read but not quite the forgotten gem I was hoping for.
The story mainly set in 1942 follows a group of people who fleeing first Singapore and then the Dutch East Indies survive a plane crash in the Australian outback.
For me the story didn't really pick up until the "flashback" sequence began in chapter 21! It was a bit of a slog to get there but then it did engage and maintain my attention until the end. I enjoyed it but to compare it once again to "A Town......" the characters weren't as finely drawn nor as sympathetic.
A good lockdown read but not quite the forgotten gem I was hoping for.
November 4, 2022
I enjoyed the story very much, hints of Nevil Shute. However, Glaskin's problematic racial insensitivities go beyond Shute's occasional poor choice of words.
May 24, 2024
Read this is a kid, but even now I can recall specific landscapes and moments as if I experienced them firsthand. And just as with my childhood frame of mind, I'm still not sure if I entirely understand this book... I think I'm more fascinated with this book, rather than actually loving it
November 28, 2007
THIS BOOK IS SET IN AUSTRALIA- ABOUT A PLANE CRASH AND HOW THE PEOPLE SURVIVED
I READ IT AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR!
I READ IT AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews