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Tulagi Hotel
World War II has given Jack McGuire the chance to escape the confines of the Midwest and the family farm. An ace U.S. Marine fighter pilot, he risks his life each day with his squadron in the South Pacific theatre. For him, there's calm and camaraderie up there in the cockpit. But when the war ends, Jack struggles to find his place in civilian society. Turning his back on his home, family and inheritance, he returns to the Solomon Islands. Here he builds a hotel on the same island paradise he flew over in his years of combat. But when Kay Wheeler, the widow of his wartime best friend and wingman, comes to visit the island, Jack's orderly world is disrupted. He is forced to consider whether there's room enough for two in his reinvented life.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
18 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
About the author
Heikki Hietala
6 books27 followersNEWS FLASH 9.9.2014:
Suomenkielinen painos, Hotelli Tulagi nimeltään, on nyt saatavana kaikista kirjakaupoista ja nettikaupoista.
The Finnish edition of Tulagi Hotel is now in all stores and net stores in Finland, published by Sitruuna Kustannus.
***
Heikki Hietala is a Senior Lecturer at HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences. He holds an M.A. in English Philology from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, and has worked in IT and localization for more than 20 years. Tulagi Hotel is his first novel.
Tulagi Hotel has its origins in the author's lifelong interest in military history and popular culture. Hietala has accumulated a large library of books on World War 2, and assisted in editing and translating of a pictorial history of the Finnish Air Force 1928-1945.
He began writing Tulagi Hotel in 1996, but research and background work -- not to mention everyday life -- meant slow progress for many years. The first complete version was ready in 2007, and in September 2008 a refined version was uploaded onto the HarperCollins website, Authonomy. Tulagi Hotel reached #15 among some seven thousand books.
Besides this novel, Hietala has written short stories, some of which have appeared in anthologies, ezines and literary websites, such as Emprise Review. He is a member of Year Zero Writers, an non-conventional convention of unconventional authors, and is currently discussing the publication of a collection of his short stories. A second book is being worked on, in the hope of not waiting another 14 years for it. Some of the short stories are available at his website.
Heikki Hietala is a keen fan of British comedy and an avid Monty Python aficionado. He also subscribed to MAD Magazine at the tender age of 11, which should explain quite a few things. He lives in Klaukkala, Finland, with his family. You can contact him at heikki dot hietala at sabulo dot com.
Suomenkielinen painos, Hotelli Tulagi nimeltään, on nyt saatavana kaikista kirjakaupoista ja nettikaupoista.
The Finnish edition of Tulagi Hotel is now in all stores and net stores in Finland, published by Sitruuna Kustannus.
***
Heikki Hietala is a Senior Lecturer at HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences. He holds an M.A. in English Philology from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, and has worked in IT and localization for more than 20 years. Tulagi Hotel is his first novel.
Tulagi Hotel has its origins in the author's lifelong interest in military history and popular culture. Hietala has accumulated a large library of books on World War 2, and assisted in editing and translating of a pictorial history of the Finnish Air Force 1928-1945.
He began writing Tulagi Hotel in 1996, but research and background work -- not to mention everyday life -- meant slow progress for many years. The first complete version was ready in 2007, and in September 2008 a refined version was uploaded onto the HarperCollins website, Authonomy. Tulagi Hotel reached #15 among some seven thousand books.
Besides this novel, Hietala has written short stories, some of which have appeared in anthologies, ezines and literary websites, such as Emprise Review. He is a member of Year Zero Writers, an non-conventional convention of unconventional authors, and is currently discussing the publication of a collection of his short stories. A second book is being worked on, in the hope of not waiting another 14 years for it. Some of the short stories are available at his website.
Heikki Hietala is a keen fan of British comedy and an avid Monty Python aficionado. He also subscribed to MAD Magazine at the tender age of 11, which should explain quite a few things. He lives in Klaukkala, Finland, with his family. You can contact him at heikki dot hietala at sabulo dot com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
February 9, 2015
I chose this book by intuition; and am I ever glad I did. I had a deja vu experience 1/4 into the book, I could have sworn I have read it before a very long time ago. However, the story is broken up into different times in the life of Jack McGuire and people close to him. These are not "flashbacks", and they don't confuse the reader. They add to the book (like pieces of a puzzle)..... so he is a child with a brother on a farm in Nebraska and they both get the flying bug from a neighbor. Jack goes to flight school and meets his best war buddy, Don. After the war, Jack is still on the island where he was stationed. A lovely lady comes for a few days, and Jack can't get her out of his mind...... but the chapters are broken up into different times of his life: to make the story so much more interesting that a straight, linear storyline. The book continues to get better and better to the very end. Heikki Hietala (from Finland), with the help of others, researched what it was like for REAL WWII veterans who shared their recollections. It took 12 years for him to write his first novel. He hit this one completely out of the park! I took forever reading it. Then I knew why....I loved the plot, the characters, the intrigue, and wanted to know what was going to happen next. I wanted to experience every little nuance, the ambiance of the island in the South Pacific, where the pilots had to constantly have dogfights with the Japanese planes in the air. Who wouldn't come back to base. It is so "human", if I may use that word. It is not a stale book. He has given tons of thought to put into his words. They flow so well. It transports you directly into Jack's world as it really would have happened. There is no macho, over the top characters or unbelievable action adventure. It doesn't need it. Real life is enough. The main theme of the story is that the only real thing you get out of life is memories, so make as many of them as you can. Nothing else matters as much as those. *NetGalley and Fingerpress Publishers gave me a copy of this book to read and give my honest review.
August 2, 2010
I'll start with the bad news and get that out of the way. In this first novel set in the South Pacific during and just after WWII, there are some passages in which the prose could have been streamlined. The dialog does not always sound entirely natural. And there are a few minor narrative hiccups, e.g., points at which I felt something had been skipped, with the result that this reader felt he had stumbled over something. The most noticeable example of the latter is the lack of a transition between chapters 23 and 24.
In short, there are little changes I at least would've wanted to make if I had written this book. On the other hand, I did not write it, and there is a vast difference between armchair critics who do not create fiction and those who do "carve from idea into word" (to lift a phrase from the text). Besides, the things that distracted me here did not detract from the story itself, which is engaging, authentic, and in several places quite moving. The many shifts in time and place (before, during, and after the war; and in Nebraska, Florida, and Boston as well as in the South Pacific) were potentially the greatest obstacle to making this work, and yet they are handled very smoothly.
I had a father-in-law who fought the Japanese in WWII, but aside from what little he was willing to say, my best exposure to the subject might've been Rodgers & Hammerstein. So I cannot comment on the accuracy of what's depicted. All I can say is that it feels right. The author acknowledges a retired pilot who provided technical support, but even given that help I'm surprised to find a young man writing today in Finland who seems so thoroughly in command of a setting half a world away and 65 years in the past. I can't imagine how he did it.
I hope Heikki Hietala has another novel soon. If so, I will want to read it.
In short, there are little changes I at least would've wanted to make if I had written this book. On the other hand, I did not write it, and there is a vast difference between armchair critics who do not create fiction and those who do "carve from idea into word" (to lift a phrase from the text). Besides, the things that distracted me here did not detract from the story itself, which is engaging, authentic, and in several places quite moving. The many shifts in time and place (before, during, and after the war; and in Nebraska, Florida, and Boston as well as in the South Pacific) were potentially the greatest obstacle to making this work, and yet they are handled very smoothly.
I had a father-in-law who fought the Japanese in WWII, but aside from what little he was willing to say, my best exposure to the subject might've been Rodgers & Hammerstein. So I cannot comment on the accuracy of what's depicted. All I can say is that it feels right. The author acknowledges a retired pilot who provided technical support, but even given that help I'm surprised to find a young man writing today in Finland who seems so thoroughly in command of a setting half a world away and 65 years in the past. I can't imagine how he did it.
I hope Heikki Hietala has another novel soon. If so, I will want to read it.
July 5, 2025
Romaan, mis püüab haarata mitut huvigruppi korraga. Siin on Teise maailmasõjaaegne lennundus ühe hävituslenduri mälestuste/kirjelduste kaudu, eksootilised Saalomoni saared, sõjajärgne toimetulek ja sekka ka näpuotsaga vastassugupoole sümpaatiat. Fookus on autoril ilmselt algusest peale olnud selge - kirjutada rahvusvaheline menuk. Algselt ilmuski see ju inglise keeles.
Aga mul on tunne, et ka siin kehtib vana tõde - vähem on rohkem. Võib-olla liiga laialt haarates lahjenes tulemus. Rahvusvahelisele turule kirjutades on kahtlemata hea mõte võtta peategelaseks Nebraskast pärit lennuhull poisike, ent palju eksootilisem oleks olnud hoopis üks põhjamaalane panna hävituslenduriks Vaikse ookeani piirkonnas. Sõjakogemus ja sellega toimetulek oli huvitav, kahtlustan, et autor on selle materjaliga tubli tüki tööd teinud, või on see üldse tema suur kirg. Samas hajus raamatu edenedes eksootiline ümbrus ja... isegi see hotelli-värk jäi kuidagi veidrale positsioonile. Või oli asi eelhäälestuses, sest raamatu pealkiri ja kaanepilt andsid nagu teise rajaotsa kätte. Igatahes mingi lühis mu jaoks tekkis.
Raamat on mu peas paraja segaduse tekitanud, mõte hajub, aga lühidalt tahan öelda, et see oleks väga tugev nö meestekas. Praegu aga tõmbavad kohati ebausutavalt käituv naistegelane Kay ja paljulubav hotellielu hoogu maha. Soovides istuda kahel pingil korraga, ei istu sa tegelikult kummalgi.
Klassikalise ajaviitekirjanduse sõbrale on see romaan kindlasti kena maiuspala. Lihtne, selge, loetav.
Aga mul on tunne, et ka siin kehtib vana tõde - vähem on rohkem. Võib-olla liiga laialt haarates lahjenes tulemus. Rahvusvahelisele turule kirjutades on kahtlemata hea mõte võtta peategelaseks Nebraskast pärit lennuhull poisike, ent palju eksootilisem oleks olnud hoopis üks põhjamaalane panna hävituslenduriks Vaikse ookeani piirkonnas. Sõjakogemus ja sellega toimetulek oli huvitav, kahtlustan, et autor on selle materjaliga tubli tüki tööd teinud, või on see üldse tema suur kirg. Samas hajus raamatu edenedes eksootiline ümbrus ja... isegi see hotelli-värk jäi kuidagi veidrale positsioonile. Või oli asi eelhäälestuses, sest raamatu pealkiri ja kaanepilt andsid nagu teise rajaotsa kätte. Igatahes mingi lühis mu jaoks tekkis.
Raamat on mu peas paraja segaduse tekitanud, mõte hajub, aga lühidalt tahan öelda, et see oleks väga tugev nö meestekas. Praegu aga tõmbavad kohati ebausutavalt käituv naistegelane Kay ja paljulubav hotellielu hoogu maha. Soovides istuda kahel pingil korraga, ei istu sa tegelikult kummalgi.
Klassikalise ajaviitekirjanduse sõbrale on see romaan kindlasti kena maiuspala. Lihtne, selge, loetav.
July 15, 2010
I first encountered this book on HarperCollins' website, Authonomy. At that time it was 'raw' but as it dealt with military aviation I had to dip into it; I was not disappointed. Heikki Hietala's sense of time and ability to create authentic action wefted with an intriguing and enjoyable 'love story' makes for a compelling read. Now refined and recently published by Diiarts, it is a rewarding read for anyone interested in WWII, The Pacific Islands, military aviation, quirky hotels and quirky pilots! Here are well-drawn characters with excellent narration and a real sense of place. A fabulous read and highly commended.
Read
September 9, 2014This book is now available again, and you can get it on Amazon as Kindle for now, soon also in paperback.
I wrote this book, so I will not add stars, but I have reviews on Amazon and all are four or five stars. New ones would be very much appreciated, and I will send out review copies for a limited time - contact me for one.
I wrote this book, so I will not add stars, but I have reviews on Amazon and all are four or five stars. New ones would be very much appreciated, and I will send out review copies for a limited time - contact me for one.
April 18, 2022
Kylläpä oli leppoisa kirja. Sinänsä mielenkiintoinen ettei sotakirjat ole koskaan olleet minun juttu mutta siitä huolimatta että kirjan keskeisessä osassa oli Tyynenmeren taistelulentäjien arki, koulutus ja elämä nautin tästä tarinasta. Ajatuksia herättävä.
February 8, 2011
I first discovered Tulagi Hotel a couple of years ago when I was on the Authonomy.com website, and I befriended the author - Heikki Hietala - in the process of reading the original draft there. I remember that manuscript with fondness, and reading the revised/re-edited version was a pleasure even on the second time around.
However, having become accustomed to a more modern style of writing - the "hook 'em quick and keep 'em turning pages!" school of thought - Tulagi Hotel may take some mental readjusting to be properly enjoyed.
And I mean that in a good way.
The story moves at its own pace, never rushes and yet, never quite dallies. The timeline jumps about a bit, going from post-war to wartime to pre-war settings almost at random. But it works, and that can take the reader by surprise if they weren't expecting such transitions.
Something else which might prove troubling for modern readers is that there are occasional switches in POV, from the main character, Jack Maguire, to those of the people he is dealing with in a given scene. It's arguable that this is an intentional echo of the overall structure of the novel - it's jarring at first, but once one has read such asides a time or two, it becomes less so.
My only argument in this respect is that I would have liked to linger in those alternate points of view a little longer. For example, I would liked to have heard more about Don or Kay Wheeler's thoughts or experiences once I'd seen their takes on a scene. I came away with a slight sense of frustration afterwards, after having been given a glimpse into another perspective which only lasted for a paragraph or a page more.
Still, as a fan of stories involving World War Two aviation - planes and pilots have long been sources of fascination for me - there was much in Tulagi Hotel to hold my interest. Hietala's descriptions of aerial combat and the psychology of the pilots who fly inherently dangerous missions are both well-researched and well-written. I've known several pilots in my life, and Hietala captures their sometimes morbid and emotional mix of fatalism and irreverence well.
There is an acceptance of the supernatural as a commonplace element in life, which I found most intriguing. Hietala writes this in a very matter-of-fact way, acknowledging that not everyone would accept it, but that for many of the characters it's simply a part of their lives.
I was truly impressed with how Hietala handles the emotional twists and turns his characters are dealt. The loss of loved ones is expected in a war story, but there are some truly heartwrenching farewells which brought tears to my eyes more than once. Balancing such scenes out are moments of humor and delight. There are some genuinely funny moments in Tulagi Hotel, written in a realistic and sometimes endearing fashion.
The overall tone of the book harkens back to a simpler time and a simpler style of writing. At times, it genuinely feels like a story written in the era in which it takes place. I think this is remarkable and that it shows just how much research Hietala did, as well as just how ably he absorbed that knowledge and put it to work for him.
Aside from the POV shifts I mentioned before, the only other problem I perceived was that the dialogue sometimes seemed a little stiff, or formal - particularly in the scenes set in the rural Midwest. However, this is really a minor quibble and a very forgivable oversight.
If you're the kind of reader who would like a return to a kinder, more old-fashioned style of storytelling, Tulagi Hotel is a book you should pick up as soon as possible.
However, having become accustomed to a more modern style of writing - the "hook 'em quick and keep 'em turning pages!" school of thought - Tulagi Hotel may take some mental readjusting to be properly enjoyed.
And I mean that in a good way.
The story moves at its own pace, never rushes and yet, never quite dallies. The timeline jumps about a bit, going from post-war to wartime to pre-war settings almost at random. But it works, and that can take the reader by surprise if they weren't expecting such transitions.
Something else which might prove troubling for modern readers is that there are occasional switches in POV, from the main character, Jack Maguire, to those of the people he is dealing with in a given scene. It's arguable that this is an intentional echo of the overall structure of the novel - it's jarring at first, but once one has read such asides a time or two, it becomes less so.
My only argument in this respect is that I would have liked to linger in those alternate points of view a little longer. For example, I would liked to have heard more about Don or Kay Wheeler's thoughts or experiences once I'd seen their takes on a scene. I came away with a slight sense of frustration afterwards, after having been given a glimpse into another perspective which only lasted for a paragraph or a page more.
Still, as a fan of stories involving World War Two aviation - planes and pilots have long been sources of fascination for me - there was much in Tulagi Hotel to hold my interest. Hietala's descriptions of aerial combat and the psychology of the pilots who fly inherently dangerous missions are both well-researched and well-written. I've known several pilots in my life, and Hietala captures their sometimes morbid and emotional mix of fatalism and irreverence well.
There is an acceptance of the supernatural as a commonplace element in life, which I found most intriguing. Hietala writes this in a very matter-of-fact way, acknowledging that not everyone would accept it, but that for many of the characters it's simply a part of their lives.
I was truly impressed with how Hietala handles the emotional twists and turns his characters are dealt. The loss of loved ones is expected in a war story, but there are some truly heartwrenching farewells which brought tears to my eyes more than once. Balancing such scenes out are moments of humor and delight. There are some genuinely funny moments in Tulagi Hotel, written in a realistic and sometimes endearing fashion.
The overall tone of the book harkens back to a simpler time and a simpler style of writing. At times, it genuinely feels like a story written in the era in which it takes place. I think this is remarkable and that it shows just how much research Hietala did, as well as just how ably he absorbed that knowledge and put it to work for him.
Aside from the POV shifts I mentioned before, the only other problem I perceived was that the dialogue sometimes seemed a little stiff, or formal - particularly in the scenes set in the rural Midwest. However, this is really a minor quibble and a very forgivable oversight.
If you're the kind of reader who would like a return to a kinder, more old-fashioned style of storytelling, Tulagi Hotel is a book you should pick up as soon as possible.
December 20, 2012
In the interests of transparency, I have to declare that I know the author of this book, from the old days of authonomy. Ordinarily this might brace you for a glowing review, but I have to be honest, that's not going to be forthcoming here.
Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination and it has much of the quality that first impressed me when reading the opening sample chapters on the authonomy site. But among the problems preventing this full 'extended cut' novel from soaring to the heights the author is capable of is the fact that it scarcely stretches the imagination at all. There are splashes of brilliance but what you mostly end up with is an uneven flight over a broad and featureless expanse of blue.
The blue - i.e. mood - is where the book scores best and there are a number of potent moments in what is almost an anthology of wartime and post-war tales, centring around Marine pilot, Jack MacGuire, and his eponymous hotel. The author also demonstrates a masterful level of research, seasoning the mix with liberal helpings of factual authenticity. I have a very firm and comprehensive grasp of how a pilot might have gone about purchasing auctioned off surplus planes, post-WWII. But that research is then let down by some very dry delivery, which - during the scattered pieces of action - singularly fails to immerse. There's a sense of events being reported rather than lived by the characters.
It left me reading much of the novel at a safe remove and that detachment is reinforced by patches of dialogue that seem lifted from old fashioned war movies. It's tough, because there's precious little new comment that anyone can offer on war and when the author has some characters attempt it, the words emerge as rather trite and hackneyed.
Ultimately, it adds up to a not very fresh or compelling story in the hands of a skilled writer with evident enthusiasm for his subject. It's impossible not to be moved by some of the tales herein and, for example, a simple tale from Jack's childhood concerning a model plane is nicely observed and rings with enduring truth.
Some of the views are captivating, but lack that extra immersive quality to leave a lasting impression. Ultimately, the Tulagi Hotel gets three stars.
Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad book by any stretch of the imagination and it has much of the quality that first impressed me when reading the opening sample chapters on the authonomy site. But among the problems preventing this full 'extended cut' novel from soaring to the heights the author is capable of is the fact that it scarcely stretches the imagination at all. There are splashes of brilliance but what you mostly end up with is an uneven flight over a broad and featureless expanse of blue.
The blue - i.e. mood - is where the book scores best and there are a number of potent moments in what is almost an anthology of wartime and post-war tales, centring around Marine pilot, Jack MacGuire, and his eponymous hotel. The author also demonstrates a masterful level of research, seasoning the mix with liberal helpings of factual authenticity. I have a very firm and comprehensive grasp of how a pilot might have gone about purchasing auctioned off surplus planes, post-WWII. But that research is then let down by some very dry delivery, which - during the scattered pieces of action - singularly fails to immerse. There's a sense of events being reported rather than lived by the characters.
It left me reading much of the novel at a safe remove and that detachment is reinforced by patches of dialogue that seem lifted from old fashioned war movies. It's tough, because there's precious little new comment that anyone can offer on war and when the author has some characters attempt it, the words emerge as rather trite and hackneyed.
Ultimately, it adds up to a not very fresh or compelling story in the hands of a skilled writer with evident enthusiasm for his subject. It's impossible not to be moved by some of the tales herein and, for example, a simple tale from Jack's childhood concerning a model plane is nicely observed and rings with enduring truth.
Some of the views are captivating, but lack that extra immersive quality to leave a lasting impression. Ultimately, the Tulagi Hotel gets three stars.
June 18, 2018
I have never been interested in aircraft spotting and neither do I usually read books or watch movies about war history. So when I first started to read this book I feared it would not be for me. But I was wrong. Even though there are many parts about World War II aircraft and how to fly them, this book includes lots of other fascinating stories pre-WW2, during WW2 and post-WW2 about human relationships and even some philosophical ideas how to best live your life. Jack also has his very unique way of knowing who the Grim Reaper has next on his list, though he would have prefered not to have this talent.
I often felt that I knew what will happen next, only to be surprised that the story took a different turn. When it was about 80 pages left to read I cursed that my travel through time and space with Jack would soon be over, and I that would never know what had happend to all the characters which I had been introduced to in Jack's life.
English is not my mother tounge and some of the vocabulary, especially when it came to aircraft and combat terminology demanded a dictionary at hand, so that's the reason I only give this 4 out of 5 stars.
Highly recommended!
I often felt that I knew what will happen next, only to be surprised that the story took a different turn. When it was about 80 pages left to read I cursed that my travel through time and space with Jack would soon be over, and I that would never know what had happend to all the characters which I had been introduced to in Jack's life.
English is not my mother tounge and some of the vocabulary, especially when it came to aircraft and combat terminology demanded a dictionary at hand, so that's the reason I only give this 4 out of 5 stars.
Highly recommended!
November 22, 2014
The book is extremely multidimensional. It contains great sense of humor, wisdom of life, excitement, romance and mysteriousness.
I’m wordless about, how touching and deep this book is. My inner world was so deeply touched when reading this book, that it takes a while to recover.
I felt a bit ambivalent while reading this. On the other side I wanted to read it right away through from cover to cover, and on the other hand I didn’t want to finish reading it as I wanted the story to go on and on.
I wish I could’ve absorbed even more good spirit, wisdom of life and sense more of that great goodness, beauty and sensibility with which the author touched me.
I just LOVE this book!!!
I’m wordless about, how touching and deep this book is. My inner world was so deeply touched when reading this book, that it takes a while to recover.
I felt a bit ambivalent while reading this. On the other side I wanted to read it right away through from cover to cover, and on the other hand I didn’t want to finish reading it as I wanted the story to go on and on.
I wish I could’ve absorbed even more good spirit, wisdom of life and sense more of that great goodness, beauty and sensibility with which the author touched me.
I just LOVE this book!!!
August 29, 2022
This is a story of a man who has good and kind heart. The whole story is written so beautifully, it is filled with little details but not lost on to them. And it all so human. Joyful moments and desperate times all describe as they were and still in all of it was something beautiful. Pain of war and times to follow sounded so very real, how could anyone survive and stay so kind. Book was filled with good nature characters that you could only hope to be part of your family. And in a centre of it all is the hotel at the magnificent remote island, the real dream come true. Such a beautiful story and readers voice (in Finnish) was so soothing.
March 28, 2013
Hietala's Tulagi Hotel was an immensely positive surprise to me. Tulagi Hotel reminds me of Hollywood films and Top Gun and would probably work on the silver screen too. The story is not so special in itself but Hietala writes well and the character's became familiar during the read. Great leisure read.
October 25, 2022
En muista milloin olisin lukenut Heikki Hietalan Hotelli Tulagi- teosta vastaavaa kirjaa. Luulen, että vastaus on helppo ja selkeä - en koskaan. Siinä mielessä jonkintasoisen analyysin kirjoittaminen Hietalan teoksesta itselläni ontuu - minulta puuttuu verrokit, joihin verrata teosta mutta analyysin ajatus, että teos tuo itselleni jotain uutta ymmärrystä maailmasta tai itsestäni, ajatus analyysistä toimii hyvin. Kirja on monella tasolla ainutkertainen.
Hotelli Tulagi on kuin silmien edessä jouheasti kulkeva valkokankaan täyteinen Hollywood-värielokuva. Olkoonkin, että teoksen tietomäärä riittäisi tietokirjaan, Hoteli Tulagi on (mielestäni) viihteellinen rakkaustarina, hyvin maskuliininen sellainen !, tarina taistelulentäjä Jack McGuiren elämästä, ehkä kasvutarinakin mutta ainakin tämän yhden miehen elämäntapahtumien ympärille, ehkä todellistenkin, Hietala on kirjoittanut taistelulentäjän elämää, ennen ja jälkeen toisen maailmansodan.
Teoksessa seikkaillaan niin maalla (enemmänkin Jackin henkilökohtaisessa elämässä) ja merellä, tai pikemminkin taivaalla Tyynenmenren yläpuolella väistellen japanilaiskoneita koettaen löytää liikkuvalle lentotukialaukselle, takaisin maskuliiniseen moottoriöljyn ja testoteronin tuoksuun ja lopulta, sydänsurujakin kokeneena, elämä asettuu löytyy Halavonlahden kupeesta plantasilta ja elanto Hotelli Tulagista, kuten nimestä voi päätellä.
Se, mikä tämän teoksen tekee ainutkertaiseksi on sen läpitunkeva valtava tietomäärä toisesta maailmansodasta, ilmataisteluista ja lentokoneista. Mutta näiden lisäksi teos tarjoilee upeaa aikalaiskuvaa, kiinnostavan elämäkaaren juonen,hyvin sujuvan, taidokkaasti eri aikatasoissa liikkuvan tarinan ja erinomaisen tekstin, kirjoittamisen tavan. Hietala onnistuu hienosti erilaisten ja monimuotoisten elementtien yhteensovittelemisessa siten, että lopputulemana on hyvin kirjoitettu melko suoraviivaisen ohuehkon henkilögallerian ja päähenkilön elämän valintoja seuraileva romaani, joka taitavuudessaan ei ole millään muotoa sekava tai epäselvä vaan lukija voi ikäänkuin vain antautua ja nauttia tarinan etenemisestä.
Tarina on kuvitteellinen mutta välillä lukiessa sota vyöryi päälle. Ehkä tämä aika, jota elämme ei ole kovin eduksi (itselleni sopiva) sotakirjallisuudelle, taistelukuvauksille ja aika kevyenoloisesti ohitetuille kuolemille ja suruille elämässä. Hietala kuljettaa tarinaa jouhevasti eikä kovin pitkiä tunteissavellomisia tässä kirjassa tapaa. Toisaalta sopii hyvin periodin kuvastoon.
Jos jotain mikä mietitytti niin, naiskuva! Tiedän, että ajankuvaan toisen maailmansodan molemmin puolin naiskuva ja tosielämässäkin naisen rooli oli tiukemmin paketoitu kuin nykyisin (ja eritoten Amerikan tekopyhyydessä) (ja parissakymmeneesä vuodessa kirjallisuudenkin maailmassa naiskuvaus ja henkilökuvaus on laajentunut ja monipuolistunut) ja taistelulentäjien ja miehisten miesten maailmassa nainen on se, jonka elämän täyttymys tulee avioliitosta ja lapsista, mutta naisen rooli tässä kirjassa on melkoisen ohut ja aika yksipuolinen.
Mielenkiintoinen ja helppolukuinen, taitava romaani.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2024
Ennen kirjan aloittamista en oikein tiennyt, mitä on odotettavissa. Tarina vei kuitenkin mennessään heti alkusivuilta lähtien. Kerronta oli sujuvaa ja tarina itsessään tapahtumarikas ja samalla tunteikas. Erilaiset elämää nähneet henkilöhahmot oli sovitettu juoneen taitavasti. Loppuosassa kaikki juonenkäänteet olivat jo viemässä ihmisiä turmioon, mutta onneksi kuitenkin toivon ja uuden huomisen pilkahduksiakin oli näkyvissä.
Joukkoon mahtui myös huumorin siemeniä, joista mieleen jäi ainakin tämä: ”Sinun pitää meloa kanoottia aika lujaa, jos meinaat harrastaa vesihiihtoa.”
Oli kiinnostavaa lukea kirja, jossa suomalainen kirjailija on luonut kertomuksen, joka on täysin erillään suomalaisesta kulttuurista ja luontomaisemasta. Arvostan hyvin tehtyä taustatyötä aiheen parissa!
Joukkoon mahtui myös huumorin siemeniä, joista mieleen jäi ainakin tämä: ”Sinun pitää meloa kanoottia aika lujaa, jos meinaat harrastaa vesihiihtoa.”
Oli kiinnostavaa lukea kirja, jossa suomalainen kirjailija on luonut kertomuksen, joka on täysin erillään suomalaisesta kulttuurista ja luontomaisemasta. Arvostan hyvin tehtyä taustatyötä aiheen parissa!
May 27, 2025
Jack on toisen maailmansodan lentäjä. Sodan jälkeen hän etsii paikkaansa ja päätyy Salomon saarille. Elämää kerrotaan lapsuudesta tähän päivään eikä aina ole helppoa. Jack kuitenkin löytää, sen paikan missä tuntee olonsa kotoisaksi kaikkien murheiden keskellä
Juoni vie hyvin mukaansa, tuntuu että taustatyö on hyvin tehty
Juoni vie hyvin mukaansa, tuntuu että taustatyö on hyvin tehty
November 13, 2020
Ihan ok. Varmaan sellainen joka pitää sotakirjoista niin saa tästä enemmän irti kun minä. Halusin kovasti tykätä kirjasta, mutta ei vaan napannut :/.
September 30, 2022
Jos pitää Korkeajännityksestä, joka muuttuu elämäntarinaksi, niin tässä on sellainen kirja.
Read
September 10, 2025Liiast lihtsakoeline, imalmagus lugu, mis mind kaasa ei tõmmanud. Jäi pooleli.
March 16, 2017
I have had this book on the bookshelf for a couple years now and finally decided to finish reading. Glad I made the choice to read this book cause it sure is one heck of a page turner. At first I wasn't too sure since I am not a big fan reading about war but this book caught my attention and held it right too the end and when I did pick up the book after a day at work, I just couldn't put it down for long periods of time due to the fact I wanted to read more. Thanks for this amazing read and it has a permanent spot on my shelf.
June 26, 2015
Lainasin kirjan sen houkuttelevan ulkonäön perusteella (miulehan voi myydä vaikka kakkaa paketissa kun käärii sen kauniiseen pakettiin). Aluksi vaikutti, että näinköhän jaksan lukea loppuun, mutta jokin kuitenkin piti kiinni kirjassa ja loppuun päästiin. Kirja oli hidasta luettavaa, ja ehkä joillain tavalla työlästäkin. Loppu oli sinänsä onnellinen, mutta itse olisin kaivannut toisenlaisen lopun, vielä onnellisemman. Kuuluu sarjaan, tulipahan luettua, mutta ilmankin olisin pärjännyt. Ihan ok, moni saattaa tykätäkin.
Niin, ja kirjan päähenkilöllä Jackilla oli mielenkiintoinen lahja. Kun hän katsoi valokuvia, niin jos hän näki kuvassa olevalla henkilöllä varjon, hän tiesi, että kuolema kohtaisi piakkoin kuvassa olijan. Se oli ehkä yksi osa tarinan juonesta, joka sai minut lukemaan loppuun saakka.
"Hän todisti avuttomana tapahtumia sitä mukaa kun ne etenivät hänen mielessään, tunsi ylimalkaista kaipausta johonkin mitä hän ei osannut nimetä, oli vieraana vieraassa maassa, jossa hänellä ei ollut muita kiinnekohtia kuin itsensä. Useimmissa unissa hän ei toiminut lainkaan itse vaan oli osa kulisseja. Kun hän heräsi, hän ei tuntenut itseään levänneeksi vaan matkasta uupuneeksi, niin kuin hänen nukkumisaikansa olisi käyttänyt joku muu, joka tahtoi hänelle pahaa." s. 57
""Luulet, että haluat rakentaa elämääsi jonkun tärkeän ihmisen kanssa", hän aloitti hiljaa. "Joten hankit kiven, joka on sinun mielestäsi paras mahdollinen kivi teille molemmille, ja heität niin korkealle kuin pystyt. Mutta sillä toisella ihmisellä onkin oma kivensä, ja vaikka olisitte sitä mieltä, että ne ovat teidän yhteiset kivenne, niillä on erilaiset kaaret. Ne lentävät eri suuntiin, tai toisen kaari on matalampi, tai se lentää kauemmas. Oli miten oli, lopulta kivet tippuvat veteen kaukana toisistaan. Joten kohtaat sen toisen ihmisen kivestä oikeastaan vain aaltorenkaat...hetkeksi."" s. 98
""En. En minä voi suuttua siitä. Elämäsi on omasi, ja sinun pitää itse päättää, mitä haluat tehdä sillä." "Anna minulle anteeksi. Luulin että tämä on minulle oikea ratkaisu, se että tulen tänne asumaan sinun kanssasi...mutta olin väärässä. Tämä yhteinen aika on ollut ihanaa, ja sinä olet ihana, mutta minä välttelen täällä silti oman elämäni elämistä. Jos menisin kanssasi naimisiin - et arvaa, miten vaikea tätä on sanoa - mutta jos menisin, se olisi kerta kaikkiaan väärin." Kay kätki kasvot käsiinsä ja kumartui eteenpäin, kunnes kämmenselät koskettivat reisiä. "En tiedä yhtään, mitä pitäisi tehdä, mutta tiedän että minun täytyy lähteä. Petän sinua ja itseäni jos jään."" s. 322
""Kun niitä kiviä heittelee, toivoo että ne pomppisivat veden pinnalla ikuisesti eivätkä koskaan putoaisi pinnan alle. Ensimmäinen loikka on niin korkea ja pitkä, että tuntuu kuin kivi ei putoaisi ikinä, muttta vähän ajan päästä se osuu ensimmäisen kerran veteen. Seuraava loikka on niin pitkä, että edellisen kosketuksen unohtaa, mutta sitten on seuraava, ja sitä seuraava, ja jokainen on edellistä lyhyempi." Doc nojautui taaksepäin ja sulki silmänsä. "Joittenkin loikat uhmaavat painovoimaa, kuten minun isovanhempieni. He olivat rakastuneita kunnes kuolema heidät erotti, ja ainakin minusta näytti, etteivät he koskaan osuneet veteen. Vaimoni - no ensimmäiset pomput olivat niin pitkiä ja korkeita, että luulin päässeeni Sir Isaac Newtonia karkuun, mutta jälkikäteen täytyy myöntää, että matkalla oli monta kovaa kosketusta ja jokainen niistä vei lennosta vauhtia."" s. 345
"Niin, joskus kivi tuntuu täydelliseltä mutta vajoaa jo parin lyhyen loikan jälkeen. Mutta vaikka loikkia olisi kuinka monta, aina tulee se viimeinen kosketus, jonka jälkeen vauhti loppuu, kivi painuu pinnan alle ja jäljellä on enää hidas vajoaminen pohjaan. Niin se piru vie vain on." s. 346
Niin, ja kirjan päähenkilöllä Jackilla oli mielenkiintoinen lahja. Kun hän katsoi valokuvia, niin jos hän näki kuvassa olevalla henkilöllä varjon, hän tiesi, että kuolema kohtaisi piakkoin kuvassa olijan. Se oli ehkä yksi osa tarinan juonesta, joka sai minut lukemaan loppuun saakka.
"Hän todisti avuttomana tapahtumia sitä mukaa kun ne etenivät hänen mielessään, tunsi ylimalkaista kaipausta johonkin mitä hän ei osannut nimetä, oli vieraana vieraassa maassa, jossa hänellä ei ollut muita kiinnekohtia kuin itsensä. Useimmissa unissa hän ei toiminut lainkaan itse vaan oli osa kulisseja. Kun hän heräsi, hän ei tuntenut itseään levänneeksi vaan matkasta uupuneeksi, niin kuin hänen nukkumisaikansa olisi käyttänyt joku muu, joka tahtoi hänelle pahaa." s. 57
""Luulet, että haluat rakentaa elämääsi jonkun tärkeän ihmisen kanssa", hän aloitti hiljaa. "Joten hankit kiven, joka on sinun mielestäsi paras mahdollinen kivi teille molemmille, ja heität niin korkealle kuin pystyt. Mutta sillä toisella ihmisellä onkin oma kivensä, ja vaikka olisitte sitä mieltä, että ne ovat teidän yhteiset kivenne, niillä on erilaiset kaaret. Ne lentävät eri suuntiin, tai toisen kaari on matalampi, tai se lentää kauemmas. Oli miten oli, lopulta kivet tippuvat veteen kaukana toisistaan. Joten kohtaat sen toisen ihmisen kivestä oikeastaan vain aaltorenkaat...hetkeksi."" s. 98
""En. En minä voi suuttua siitä. Elämäsi on omasi, ja sinun pitää itse päättää, mitä haluat tehdä sillä." "Anna minulle anteeksi. Luulin että tämä on minulle oikea ratkaisu, se että tulen tänne asumaan sinun kanssasi...mutta olin väärässä. Tämä yhteinen aika on ollut ihanaa, ja sinä olet ihana, mutta minä välttelen täällä silti oman elämäni elämistä. Jos menisin kanssasi naimisiin - et arvaa, miten vaikea tätä on sanoa - mutta jos menisin, se olisi kerta kaikkiaan väärin." Kay kätki kasvot käsiinsä ja kumartui eteenpäin, kunnes kämmenselät koskettivat reisiä. "En tiedä yhtään, mitä pitäisi tehdä, mutta tiedän että minun täytyy lähteä. Petän sinua ja itseäni jos jään."" s. 322
""Kun niitä kiviä heittelee, toivoo että ne pomppisivat veden pinnalla ikuisesti eivätkä koskaan putoaisi pinnan alle. Ensimmäinen loikka on niin korkea ja pitkä, että tuntuu kuin kivi ei putoaisi ikinä, muttta vähän ajan päästä se osuu ensimmäisen kerran veteen. Seuraava loikka on niin pitkä, että edellisen kosketuksen unohtaa, mutta sitten on seuraava, ja sitä seuraava, ja jokainen on edellistä lyhyempi." Doc nojautui taaksepäin ja sulki silmänsä. "Joittenkin loikat uhmaavat painovoimaa, kuten minun isovanhempieni. He olivat rakastuneita kunnes kuolema heidät erotti, ja ainakin minusta näytti, etteivät he koskaan osuneet veteen. Vaimoni - no ensimmäiset pomput olivat niin pitkiä ja korkeita, että luulin päässeeni Sir Isaac Newtonia karkuun, mutta jälkikäteen täytyy myöntää, että matkalla oli monta kovaa kosketusta ja jokainen niistä vei lennosta vauhtia."" s. 345
"Niin, joskus kivi tuntuu täydelliseltä mutta vajoaa jo parin lyhyen loikan jälkeen. Mutta vaikka loikkia olisi kuinka monta, aina tulee se viimeinen kosketus, jonka jälkeen vauhti loppuu, kivi painuu pinnan alle ja jäljellä on enää hidas vajoaminen pohjaan. Niin se piru vie vain on." s. 346
May 21, 2014
I recently came across this little beauty and was immediately drawn back into the forties and the Pacific Theater. Yeah. Day of Infamy, Run Silent, Run Deep. And I thought, ummm, do I really want to be back fighting the Japanese and all that torture stuff? Eeeeuuu. No. I want to keep to my daisy-filled hillsides policy of head-in-the-sand reading.
But then it said 'romance, adventure'. OK, maybe I would give it a peek. Am I glad I did. And here's why.
It's about two guys, both with an obsession for flying from childhood, both really talented, both destined to be Aces. They meet at flight school, form a deep friendship, and are stationed together on a base in the Solomon Islands, Halavo Bay, where they alternate as wing man for each other.
A large part of the book is about the friendship and flying done during the war by the two friends, Don Wheeler and Jack McGuire. It is all so beautifully written, the dog fights in the air, the time on the ground, life during the war in the Pacific. We follow Jack as he submerges into a meltdown after Don's death, we follow him to Pensacola where he does some flight instructing which he hates, back to Halavo, and the end of the war.
After the war, he goes home to the family farm in Nebraska, to negotiate a division of the estate with his two sisters as both his parents have since died. He takes some college courses in agronomy, realizes that his heart is not in Nebraska, and makes a decision to go back to the Tulagi/Halavo area, buy some military surplus float planes, and an old rundown plantation on the island of Halavo where he intends to develop a hotel for what he hopes will be the coming tourist trade. His native friend from the war days has stowed away a bunch of quonset huts which they will use for cabins and the main buildings until he can renovate the plantation house, almost in ruins.
We first meet Jack when the widow of his friend Don appears at the hotel out of the blue in an attempt to get closure on his death, which she cannot get past. Nobody ever knew Don was married, and it was a real shocker to see this lady! And the romance part comes in when Jack, always a shy, timid kind of guy, falls for her. What comes of it? You have to read the book to find out.
It wasn't heavy and unbearably serious and heartwrenching. Which I found to be a wonderful thing. I have read enough WWII books which were all that. It was .... how can I put this .... just enough. Just enough war, just enough flying, just enough romance, just enough angst. I loved it.
But then it said 'romance, adventure'. OK, maybe I would give it a peek. Am I glad I did. And here's why.
It's about two guys, both with an obsession for flying from childhood, both really talented, both destined to be Aces. They meet at flight school, form a deep friendship, and are stationed together on a base in the Solomon Islands, Halavo Bay, where they alternate as wing man for each other.
A large part of the book is about the friendship and flying done during the war by the two friends, Don Wheeler and Jack McGuire. It is all so beautifully written, the dog fights in the air, the time on the ground, life during the war in the Pacific. We follow Jack as he submerges into a meltdown after Don's death, we follow him to Pensacola where he does some flight instructing which he hates, back to Halavo, and the end of the war.
After the war, he goes home to the family farm in Nebraska, to negotiate a division of the estate with his two sisters as both his parents have since died. He takes some college courses in agronomy, realizes that his heart is not in Nebraska, and makes a decision to go back to the Tulagi/Halavo area, buy some military surplus float planes, and an old rundown plantation on the island of Halavo where he intends to develop a hotel for what he hopes will be the coming tourist trade. His native friend from the war days has stowed away a bunch of quonset huts which they will use for cabins and the main buildings until he can renovate the plantation house, almost in ruins.
We first meet Jack when the widow of his friend Don appears at the hotel out of the blue in an attempt to get closure on his death, which she cannot get past. Nobody ever knew Don was married, and it was a real shocker to see this lady! And the romance part comes in when Jack, always a shy, timid kind of guy, falls for her. What comes of it? You have to read the book to find out.
It wasn't heavy and unbearably serious and heartwrenching. Which I found to be a wonderful thing. I have read enough WWII books which were all that. It was .... how can I put this .... just enough. Just enough war, just enough flying, just enough romance, just enough angst. I loved it.
April 9, 2013
The reasons why I gave 4 stars to this book (I wanted to give 3 and a half, but that's not possible :p)are very simple. First of all I think this story is very well written! Heikki Hietala painted a scenery in this book that you can imagine perfectly. A place you'd certainly visit if you had the chance to. Secondly I love the fact that this is a story with several "genres" woven into it. I believe this book can be appreciated by lots of readers, even though they normally don't read the same kind of books.
I can hear you think "why don't you give 5 stars if you liked this book that much?". Hmmm, maybe I'm difficult, but I believe a reader has the right to be difficult in some cases ;). Sometimes I found the book a little too long. I don't think it's possible to read this book in one sitting, but that's not necessary of course. Another reason why I couldn't give 5 stars, is the (in my opinion) hasty end. All of a sudden there are unsolvable problems solved and our main character feels happy again... Maybe that's possible... Jack (our main character) is a lucky man ;)
Despite this one lost star, I loved the story from the beginning on. Our main character, Jack McGuire, is an "easy" character to understand and sympathize with. Sometimes the other characters are important too (they make Jack the man he is) and the author spends just enough time on each of them. You understand them, they're 'touchable' and engaging. There's only one character I don't understand completely even though she turns out to be very important in Jack's life. Kay, the woman he falls in love with, is kind of a strange person and because of the things she said/did I couldn't connect with her.
Besides the characters, Heikki Hietala also described some beautiful moments and places in this book. It's not difficult at all to imagine these little pieces of paradise (and hell -> everything in this book begins with a world war). Sometimes it feels like you are a guest in Tulagi Hotel yourself and I loved this feeling.
One thing about these descriptions was a bit annoying sometimes... : they could be veeeery long from time to time. I think the author can delete quite a few sentences without losing the beautiful spirit of this book. Have to say that all my criticism doesn't mean much. After all this is a book I enjoyed reading and I recommend it to all kinds of readers! The language is very accessible and the book certainly reads smoothly :)
I can hear you think "why don't you give 5 stars if you liked this book that much?". Hmmm, maybe I'm difficult, but I believe a reader has the right to be difficult in some cases ;). Sometimes I found the book a little too long. I don't think it's possible to read this book in one sitting, but that's not necessary of course. Another reason why I couldn't give 5 stars, is the (in my opinion) hasty end. All of a sudden there are unsolvable problems solved and our main character feels happy again... Maybe that's possible... Jack (our main character) is a lucky man ;)
Despite this one lost star, I loved the story from the beginning on. Our main character, Jack McGuire, is an "easy" character to understand and sympathize with. Sometimes the other characters are important too (they make Jack the man he is) and the author spends just enough time on each of them. You understand them, they're 'touchable' and engaging. There's only one character I don't understand completely even though she turns out to be very important in Jack's life. Kay, the woman he falls in love with, is kind of a strange person and because of the things she said/did I couldn't connect with her.
Besides the characters, Heikki Hietala also described some beautiful moments and places in this book. It's not difficult at all to imagine these little pieces of paradise (and hell -> everything in this book begins with a world war). Sometimes it feels like you are a guest in Tulagi Hotel yourself and I loved this feeling.
One thing about these descriptions was a bit annoying sometimes... : they could be veeeery long from time to time. I think the author can delete quite a few sentences without losing the beautiful spirit of this book. Have to say that all my criticism doesn't mean much. After all this is a book I enjoyed reading and I recommend it to all kinds of readers! The language is very accessible and the book certainly reads smoothly :)
September 6, 2016
Jack McGuire has returned from World War II but instead of returning to the US, he has settled in the Solomon Islands and set up a hotel where he is trying to adjust to post-war life. The wife of his best friend and former wingman, Don Wheeler, who was shot down on one of their missions shows up and sets Jack reminiscing about his past.
Tulagi Hotel was a thoroughly enjoyable treat to the South Seas. You could almost feel the sunshine and smell the salty ocean breeze. The novel moved back and forth from present day Jack’s life to different eras of his life and the lives of the people he knew who wandered through his hotel. The story was not told in chronological order but as a series of remembrances. This in no way made the story confusing, but added to the charm.
It was evident that a lot of research went in to the writing of this book as the author was knowledgeable about the planes and events of the Second World War. The book almost reads as an autobiography since the author includes exact dates of personal activities. I found myself checking once or twice to see if this was a true story or work of fiction.
I enjoyed the characters in Tulagi Hotel. They seemed down to earth and very believable. I strongly sympathized with Jack at the losses he suffered both during the war and after. And I was truly touched at the show of support his friends gave him after his accident.
There was a lot in Tulagi Hotel. It’s part romance and part action-adventure. I think Mr. Hietala did a lovely job of balancing the two. There are plenty of air battles with descriptions that will make you feel like you are right there and just enough clean romance to keep things interesting. There is some swearing in the novel, but overall it is a fairly clean read.
Tulagi Hotel is a wonderful piece of historical fiction. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, especially those readers who enjoy works from around the era of World War II or who enjoy aviation. I gave this novel 5 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs...
Tulagi Hotel was a thoroughly enjoyable treat to the South Seas. You could almost feel the sunshine and smell the salty ocean breeze. The novel moved back and forth from present day Jack’s life to different eras of his life and the lives of the people he knew who wandered through his hotel. The story was not told in chronological order but as a series of remembrances. This in no way made the story confusing, but added to the charm.
It was evident that a lot of research went in to the writing of this book as the author was knowledgeable about the planes and events of the Second World War. The book almost reads as an autobiography since the author includes exact dates of personal activities. I found myself checking once or twice to see if this was a true story or work of fiction.
I enjoyed the characters in Tulagi Hotel. They seemed down to earth and very believable. I strongly sympathized with Jack at the losses he suffered both during the war and after. And I was truly touched at the show of support his friends gave him after his accident.
There was a lot in Tulagi Hotel. It’s part romance and part action-adventure. I think Mr. Hietala did a lovely job of balancing the two. There are plenty of air battles with descriptions that will make you feel like you are right there and just enough clean romance to keep things interesting. There is some swearing in the novel, but overall it is a fairly clean read.
Tulagi Hotel is a wonderful piece of historical fiction. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, especially those readers who enjoy works from around the era of World War II or who enjoy aviation. I gave this novel 5 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs...
May 20, 2013
This novel is evidently the result of diligent work and research, and well worth reading for the descriptions of air warfare in the Pacific. For purely stylistic reasons, I liked the short stories in Filtered Light better: they seemed to echo a kind of English tradition of understated ghost stories. When I began reading this novel, I had an impression that the dialogue was a little bit too correct and polite to be real, although it did not bother me later (and I cannot swear that this perception was not influenced by my knowledge that the author is not a native English speaker. I can't shake the feeling that his prose tends to feel restrained and prim comparedd to an American voice.
I was not entirely in love with the non-linear time-hoppimg structure; some chapters felt like isolated anecdotes that were not essential to the main plot; for instance the chapter about building balsa wood planes, which I liked, because it resonated with my own memories of similar activity, although I never competed with anyone, for due to circumstances this was more of a solitary hobby for me. (That chapter is referenced later in passing at a crucial moment, though, so ultimately it was not as isolated as I initially thought.) Also, some actions and motivtions seem a bit random and out of the blue. Like the mood wiplash between chapters 23 and 24.
There is also the matter of the shadows Jack sees in photographs (and his dreams). This is a nice paranormal touch, but the novel does not really do anything much with it; it almost seems to belong to a different novel, or maaybe this one is having bouts of genre identity crisis.
Random observations:
* Would "his brain flashed 'No Match'" be considered an anachronism in a novel set before the Internet and search engines?
* What is Porsanger? Wikipedia points to Norway...
* Aggregator? Is that word actually used for enngine generator? Doesn't feel right.
* The cover is a bit naff Photoshop job, but that's nitpicking.
I was not entirely in love with the non-linear time-hoppimg structure; some chapters felt like isolated anecdotes that were not essential to the main plot; for instance the chapter about building balsa wood planes, which I liked, because it resonated with my own memories of similar activity, although I never competed with anyone, for due to circumstances this was more of a solitary hobby for me. (That chapter is referenced later in passing at a crucial moment, though, so ultimately it was not as isolated as I initially thought.) Also, some actions and motivtions seem a bit random and out of the blue. Like the mood wiplash between chapters 23 and 24.
There is also the matter of the shadows Jack sees in photographs (and his dreams). This is a nice paranormal touch, but the novel does not really do anything much with it; it almost seems to belong to a different novel, or maaybe this one is having bouts of genre identity crisis.
Random observations:
* Would "his brain flashed 'No Match'" be considered an anachronism in a novel set before the Internet and search engines?
* What is Porsanger? Wikipedia points to Norway...
* Aggregator? Is that word actually used for enngine generator? Doesn't feel right.
* The cover is a bit naff Photoshop job, but that's nitpicking.
March 25, 2012
Tulagi Hotel is a book with something for readers of many different tastes. For those interested in military and aviation history, there is plenty, with tales of fighter planes in dogfights over the South Pacific. It is a coming of age story, which could prompt thoughts of how family expectations and desires can get in the way of living life on your own terms. It has romance, injecting all the emotions involved in that rollercoaster ride. Most important of all, it is a good story.
Although the author’s name appeared Scandinavian, I was surprised to discover that he still lives in Finland. Unlike some foreign authors where it is obvious English is a second language, Hietala’s command of English dodges most of the common mistakes. Also impressive is hitting the right tone in his depiction of small town life in the 1940s Midwest. The result was a story that rang true.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
Although the author’s name appeared Scandinavian, I was surprised to discover that he still lives in Finland. Unlike some foreign authors where it is obvious English is a second language, Hietala’s command of English dodges most of the common mistakes. Also impressive is hitting the right tone in his depiction of small town life in the 1940s Midwest. The result was a story that rang true.
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
June 13, 2017
Alunperin kiinnitin tähän kirjaan huomiota kauniin kansikuvansa takia, värit ovat aivan ihanat! Luettuani takakannen tekstin kiinnostuin kirjasta enemmän ja tämä tuli ostettua jossain vaiheessa.
Kokonaisuutena tämä oli hyvä lukuromaani, vaikkakin täytyy myöntää, että kirjan alun perusteella luulin, että olisin pitänyt tästä enemmänkin. Alku vaikutti tosi hyvältä, mutta jossain vaiheessa lukeminen tuntui hieman puuduttavalta.
Tässä kuvataan hyvin hävittäjälentäjän elämää; ei ole tullut luettua kyseisestä aihepiiristä ikinä ennen. Tosin en ole yleensä ottaenkaan kiinnostunut sotakirjoista, mutta tässä kirjassa oli paljon muutakin, ei pelkästään sotaa. Sota oli tässä enemmänkin taustalla, mutta vaikutti luonnollisesti kuitenkin hyvin paljon Jackin elämään loputtuaankin.
Kokonaisuutena tämä oli hyvä lukuromaani, vaikkakin täytyy myöntää, että kirjan alun perusteella luulin, että olisin pitänyt tästä enemmänkin. Alku vaikutti tosi hyvältä, mutta jossain vaiheessa lukeminen tuntui hieman puuduttavalta.
Tässä kuvataan hyvin hävittäjälentäjän elämää; ei ole tullut luettua kyseisestä aihepiiristä ikinä ennen. Tosin en ole yleensä ottaenkaan kiinnostunut sotakirjoista, mutta tässä kirjassa oli paljon muutakin, ei pelkästään sotaa. Sota oli tässä enemmänkin taustalla, mutta vaikutti luonnollisesti kuitenkin hyvin paljon Jackin elämään loputtuaankin.
February 23, 2016
Kirjan ulkoasuoli kaunis. se oli varmaan ensimmäinen asia johon kiinnitin huomion...hieman mietitytti "sotakirja" koska ainahan sitä tietää että osumia tulee. Tarinat Jackin menneisyydestä olivat mielenkiintoisia, sotajutut tyypillisiä tosin harvemmin käsitelty näin ilmasta käsin...Jackin yliluonnollinen kyky toi uutta näkökulmaa tarinaan mutta jotenkin masentavassa muodossa. Kirjan tarinat kulkivat monessa tasossa...ehkä hieman rasittavaa,myös ajallisesti hypättiin onnen hetkistä välittömästi allikkoon...selittyykö mieskirjailijalla tällainen "epäloogisuus"? Ja loppu ...olisin toivonut toisenlaista loppua siksipä tippui tähtiä pois! ✴✴✴
June 18, 2012
I was really interested in the story, but the writing is so... not good, I just couldn't make myself stick with it. It's not bad, but it's very amateurish. A lot of dialogue about things the characters already know-- the "My sister Lisa, who as you know is..." syndrome, and dialogue about things the reader doesn't really care about. Description of unimportant things, and no description of important things (scene setting, for instance). A lot of "telling" and not much "showing." I found my fingers itching for the editing pen. Sorry.
September 19, 2014
Toisen maailmansodan aikaisen hävittäjälentäjän tie lennokkeja rakentavasta nebraskalaispojasta Salomonsaarille hotellinomistajaksi. Yllättävää, että suomalainen opettaja on kirjoittanut näin viehättävän ja todentuntuisen kirjan hävittäjälaivueiden taisteluista ja sodan kauhuista.
Ne, jotka sodasta jäävät eloon, eivät selviä ilman fyysisiä tai henkisiä vammoja. Taistelut tulevat uniin vielä vuosikymmeniä sodan jälkeen, eivätkä kaikki enää niistä selviäkään hengissä. Kovasti tykkäsin.
Ne, jotka sodasta jäävät eloon, eivät selviä ilman fyysisiä tai henkisiä vammoja. Taistelut tulevat uniin vielä vuosikymmeniä sodan jälkeen, eivätkä kaikki enää niistä selviäkään hengissä. Kovasti tykkäsin.
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