'Cassada' is a compelling read of US Air Force fighter pilots stationedin Germany during the Cold War, 1955. Various reviews and the jacketblurb use terms such as 'spare', 'sparse', 'terse' to describe Slater'sstyle. Indeed it appears he set some standards for himself and stuck tothem with the book measuring only about 200 pages. As this is during the Cold War, combat is not an issue, but how pilotsbattle the European weather, interact with each other, how the rookies areaccepted, or not, how the competition keeps them at it even without a war. There's plenty of flying and Slater manages to do a great though curiousjob of describing it without ever mentioning the type of aircraft they areusing. It's not till halfway through the book it's confirmed theyare flying jets and that is only mentioned once. I think that not detailingthe model or type of plane was one goals Slater set for himself, a kindof"let's see if this can be written this way". It also adds a timelesseffect to the tale, along with making it more appealing to the less militaryminded. An extra interest for me was that when on the ground the pilots spendtime in the German cities of Trier and Munich. I've also visitedsome of the spots the pilots hangout at, gives one a little addedthrill feeling like you're sharing something with the characters.
Will start tonight if I don't go to "The Lego Movie". Started last night and I am enjoying this book. The dominant feeling is tension as Salter weaves in the back story with an ongoing crisis. Cassada is the new pilot and the book must be named after him for a reason. The style here is much the same as in "All That Is". Very sketchy and quick. Salter conveys plenty in his few, well-chosen words. The flying scenes are outstanding: gripping and exiting. I've had the outcome spoiled for me by a clueless G'reads reviewer but I'd already suspected what was coming. As I said, the title is what it is for a reason...Finished last night and indeed the title and cover photo pretty much give the gave away. This book is extremely well written in Salter's consistent style. Hard to decide between 4* and 5*. To me the ending was very moving though also matter of fact. I again refer to the ending of "Bring up the Bodies". Great writers can bring this off. I guess I give it a 5 for style and 4 for content. That makes it 4.5*, which rounds down to 4*.- Something about this story.... despite the conflicts and dysfunction of individual personalities it all fits neatly together and time moves along. Just like Fitzgerald says. We keep wanting to hold on.- I can't decide if the cover photo is of an old propeller or a radiator fan???
James Salter's style is so minimalist that it can be hard for me to tell whether something is going unsaid, or being implied, or if I'm being a less than astute reader. I really enjoyed Solo Faces, but I wasn't wild about this one. I was impressed with the way Salter managed to put me so thoroughly at an American air base during the Cold War in Germany, but the characters were so hard to like that my enjoyment didn't last. I don't think I'll give up on his writing, but it may be a while before I return to James Salter.
—Ben
I would give my left nut (if I had such) to be able to write like this. By far my favorite Salter book. Minimalist, in a way. Not overly long, not "padded" for page count like so many contemporary novels. The descriptions of flying in difficult weather set my heart racing. My father was a fighter pilot (both a WWII and Korean War vet) and during the 1950s was a squadron commander at various postings (stateside and other). As a kid I remember a plane going down near the base and my mama freaking out, until my father called to reassure her -- but that meant some other daddy was not going home to his waiting family that day, or ever.The lyrical descriptions of flying, of the landscape and the sky and the feeling of floating between them gave me a taste of what was to my father a joy compared to none other. Salter also excels at the complicated relationships between the squadron members, and between pilots and their wives. This was a reread for me, an exhilarating experience I plan to repeat in a few years.
—Mitchell
Salter knows his flying, and that shows throughout this slender volume about the interactions among Air Force pilots stationed in occupied France and Germany. Cassada, the main subject of the novel, is a flawed character, talented, though insecure and always seeking to advance within his company. Salter has widely been lionized for his writing style and his influence on other prominent authors. But I found his narrative flat and uninspired. I also didn't like its "protagonists" very much. Maybe it's generational, or maybe I need to read other works of his to gain perspective. Regardless, I got through this one, which was an accomplishment in itself.
—Christopher
