Rating:  Summary: HO HUM Review: The story of an 18 year old youth who joins the Danish resistance movement and aids the British after he learns of how the Germans are utilizing radar to track and destroy British planes. The "color by numbers" quality of the plot is not helped by the character's dialog which is, at times, almost laughable. Follet seems to be coasting on his reputation. How many authors could get away with having a plane explode when one of the characters on the ground throws a lit cigar at the fuselage? The book is probaly good for an airplane ride but if you are looking for something a little meatier go back and reread Follet's Eye Of A Needle ot The Pillars Of The Earth.
Rating:  Summary: It isn't Pillars of the Earth! Review: Having been a Follett fan since reading Pillars of the Earth, I always expect great things from Follett and hold him to Pillars of the Earth as a standard. Hornet is a great and fast read. The characters are developed well. The story moves along quickly. I wholeheartedly recommend this book although it is not Follett's best, but it's certainly not his worst either. I'm not sure he's written a "worst" yet. We'll keep reading, Ken.....you keep writing.....
Rating:  Summary: Hornet Flight Review: It's hard to believe Ken Follett could write a book this amateurish. It reads more like his first rather than his latest. The sentences are simple; basic statements are explained; the situations rather simplistic. The storyline is credible; the characters are not...much too naive. It's hard to believe this is the same author who wrote The Eye of the Needle; The Key to Rebecca; The Pillars of the Earth (which I loved) and many other really fine books. If you must read it, check it out at the library and save your money for his next book. Hopefully, he'll return to his former style.
Rating:  Summary: This is History! Review: This story is about a 18 year old kid who took a shortcut from the beach to his home across the German Military Base and he discovered a big machine he never seen before. after he discovered, he feels he must tell someone while MI6 is talking about Freya. this is more than just a story. It also tells about Wilston Churchell, the Prime Minster of England with is aide, Digby, Lulfwaffe, the Danish traitors, the Danish Military, and of course, the Hornet Flight, including love stories, and almost civil to the germans.
Rating:  Summary: Slow, Predictable, and Lackluster Review: This was dull throughout, with the only excitement at all coming at the very end, and even that was very easy to anticipate, and hardly novel. The premise was weak, the plot illogical, and the characters mostly uninteresting. The abrupt character change in Peter Fleming seems to have been designed to ensure that the reader not sympathize with anyone who cooperated at all with the occupying powers; earlier, Fleming had seemed a loyal and charming police officer with a strong sense of duty. I had hoped the book might go beyond the usual stereotypes and examine questions such as whether those British bomber pilots whose lives the hero wanted to save were doing the right thing in fire-bombing German cities. Incinerating women and children from the air might just possibly be viewed as evil, even if carried out by our British allies!
Rating:  Summary: Sadly, I cannot recommend this book Review: I am a passionate fan of Ken Follett's work, but this is the worst story he has ever written. I am so sad. I will hope for his great skill to reassert itself in the next offering.
Rating:  Summary: Hornet Flight Review: Very disappointing, but like many authors who write a few really good books and develop a following, Follett has now begun to turn out poorly written, simplistic penny dreadfuls. Sad, since the history of Denmark during WWII deserves better remembrance. What bothered me most was that the book was written for the average middle-schooler, both in language and content. Another author crossed off the list. sigh!
Rating:  Summary: Another diappointment from Kenny Review: After reading Eye of the Needle and Pillars of the Earth readers have the right to expect more from this author. However, he's either just cashing in on his past success (and name recognition) or just too lazy to write up to his abilities. These characters are paper thin, no plot development, and no surprises or plot twists at all. I wish Kenny would reread Pillars and see how good he used to be before he puts out any more of this trash. The only reason I'm giving it two stars is because I actually was interested enough to want to finish it. Don't buy this book, go to your library and check it out because that's what it's worth.
Rating:  Summary: This is small Danish but still filling Review: Reading current Ken Follett all the while still being a fan, I am reminded of Bernstein's "West Side Story" or even Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." The earlier works by these artists were so powerful that they set a standard the composers had a tough time living up to for the rest of their long careers. The early works cast a shadow on the later works because of the brilliance of earlier successes. Likewise Ken Follett gives us white knuckle espionage in "Eye of the Needle," a great intricate plot in "Night over Water," an extraordinary story in "A Dangerous Fortune," and my own favorite, "Pillars of the Earth." All early on. So in the last ten years we seem to be stuck in a rut. I thought the recent "Jackdaws" was just dreadful. If you want to say that Mr. Follett has been hitless for the last several innings, by that comparison "Hornet Flight" is a darn good read. It is not the Follett we stood in line for (...), but it's still pretty good. My report card: Telling a tale in a venue we know little or nothing about: A+ Character development: A Unpredictability of the conclusion: C Dialogue between the two teenage leads: D The Nazis as equal foes, skillful, cunning and scary: D Flying scenes in an old, old airplane: B+ All in all, I read it straight through and it kept me turning the pages. Recently, Mr. Follett has embraced a tendency to recite support for virtually every imaginable politically correct group, even though in 1939-40 and 41, there seems to be little evidence to support some of his observations. Frankly, this gets tedious and seems to be almost purposeless. In any event, Hornet Flight is a good tale, a little saccharine in parts but a quality read. Maybe there's another Pillars still out there. We can hope. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title
Rating:  Summary: Ken Follett has done much better Review: I am a great fan of Ken Follett and his many wonderful books. Unfortunately, Hornet Flight is not one of his better books. It is an ordinary and predictable spy vs. spy story set in World War II Denmark. The characters are one-dimensional people, with unlikely affiliations, and unlikely luck. They get into trouble because of their foolish decisions or bad luck. They rely too often on unlikely good luck to get them out of trouble. The story lacks the intensity, credibility, suspense, rich intrigue, and intricate interconnections between interesting people and events that make his books like Dangerous Fortune and The Pillars of the Earth so special.
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