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Solitary: The Crash, Captivity and Comeback of an Ace Fighter Pilot Paperback – June 3, 2014
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
MAJOR GENERAL GIORA ROMM (Israel Defense Forces, Ret.) served in the Israeli Air Force for thirty-three years as a pilot, senior commander and staff officer. His last two positions in the IDF were Deputy Commander of the Air Force and, thereafter, Israel's Military Attache to the United States.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By
Joe Tye
on June 29, 2014
Format: Paperback
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I made the mistake of starting this book late one evening and went to work seriously sleep-deprived the next day because I couldn't put it down until I'd finished. I bought this book because I'd recently read Steven Pressfield's book The Lion's Gate in which Romm played a significant role. It's a work of historical biography that reads more like a high-octane military thriller with a strong dose of personal inspiration (if Giora Romm can endure what he endured and go on to do what he did, how can I allow any obstacles I face to become excuses for not taking action?). I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the Arab-Israeli wars, to vicariously feel the emotional drama of flying a supersonic fighter plane in lethal combat, or to get lost for a few hours in a story that will grab you by the collar and pull you in. But I also recommend starting it on a weekend morning when you don't have other commitments, not late in the evening on the night before going to work.
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9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By
Netta Gurevitch
on June 6, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
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Giora Romm was a 25 year old fighter pilot in the Israeli Air Force when his plane was shot down over the Nile Delta, parachuting him into three and a half months of captivity in the hands of the Egyptian Army. Badly injured and adamant to withhold any information from his captures, this period turned into a trial that sent Romm to the edges of human endurance – mentally, emotionally and physically. But when the nightmare was over, Romm discovered that his real struggle was only just beginning. The battle to return to life, to reengage in active military flight and to fight again in the empty sky over Egyptian soil demanded that he clash with his worst demons, in a struggle to cease or to be.
Solitary is the story of a young man who suffered a deep and lasting trauma but emerged victorious to become one of the epitomes of the Israeli Air Force, a fighter and a commander of the highest order with a moral backbone honed by an unforgettable brush with death. In his clear, understated style, which shuns any melodrama, he tells of his one hundred days as a POW and of his subsequent ascendance in rank and in personal leadership. Set in the solitary confinement cell of an Egyptian prison and in the open sky that stretches as far as the eyes can see, this is a unique and uniquely-told story of the triumph of the human spirit over the worst possible adversity, a story to remind us that every cloud has indeed a silver lining, and that no battle is fought in vain.
Solitary is a memoir which stands out in its lucid, literary writing style, a book that will speak to anyone who believes that fact can be both more harrowing and more triumphant than fiction, and that literature can help us conquer out biggest ordeals.
Solitary is the story of a young man who suffered a deep and lasting trauma but emerged victorious to become one of the epitomes of the Israeli Air Force, a fighter and a commander of the highest order with a moral backbone honed by an unforgettable brush with death. In his clear, understated style, which shuns any melodrama, he tells of his one hundred days as a POW and of his subsequent ascendance in rank and in personal leadership. Set in the solitary confinement cell of an Egyptian prison and in the open sky that stretches as far as the eyes can see, this is a unique and uniquely-told story of the triumph of the human spirit over the worst possible adversity, a story to remind us that every cloud has indeed a silver lining, and that no battle is fought in vain.
Solitary is a memoir which stands out in its lucid, literary writing style, a book that will speak to anyone who believes that fact can be both more harrowing and more triumphant than fiction, and that literature can help us conquer out biggest ordeals.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By
David Dinour
on July 14, 2014
Format: Paperback
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I was hooked from the first page. An amazing story. Told so vividly that it gave me the feeling as if I am in the cockpit of the fighter jets and air combats described in the book. If you want to understand the Israeli spirit and what makes a nation of a few stand against an enemy of a multitude - this is the book. The author expresses his personal story of very tough times in a candid and open way. Highly recommended.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By
BillO
on June 26, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
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Read this book in two days. Giora Romm's book on his experience as a POW, describes a compelling journey between two cultures in a state of perpetual war. What is remarkable about this story is that even with the animosity between the two sides he discovers and meets many people who exhibit a high degree of humanity, even in the face of orders to commit brutal acts while living in a society that is deluged with propaganda. His journey, both physical and mental, to recovery from his internment is refreshing to read. He rebuilds his life and career and emerges from the hardships both stronger and wiser from the journey.
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By
Rick Turner
on July 19, 2014
Format: Paperback
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I had the privilege of meeting Giora Romm several years ago while in Israel. I was there helping with the signing of "One Mig Down," the Robert Taylor limited edition IAF Mirage art print... what an experience! Giora Romm was Israel's first jet ace and one of the 26 IAF Mirage Aces that signed the print. When I returned to the States, Giora was kind enough to email me a portion of what was to become "Solitary," the English translation of his book. I was riveted and even my wife, who does not share my interest in military aviation, was captivated by the story. I knew this was going to be a great book and anticipated its release for two years. Having just completed reading it, I can tell you that it lived up
to and exceeded my expectations. Giora Romm is not only a very gifted writer, but he has an amazing story to tell and he tells it well and honestly. This is one of the best books I have read in a long, long time; I couldn't put it down. A must read for any aviation fan, military history buff or lover of human interest biographies.
to and exceeded my expectations. Giora Romm is not only a very gifted writer, but he has an amazing story to tell and he tells it well and honestly. This is one of the best books I have read in a long, long time; I couldn't put it down. A must read for any aviation fan, military history buff or lover of human interest biographies.
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By
Mike Morgulis
on July 17, 2014
Format: Paperback
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Giora first shared a portion of this story with me when I met him in 2005; I ploughed through it and hoped for more. I was extremely pleased to read the conclusion of that story when I bought "Solitary" recently. Not only is Giora a superb story-teller, but the story itself is gripping and brutally honest. As a pilot, one of the harder things we have to do is try to explain to a non-pilot what it feels like to be a pilot, which is no easy task, but Giora does this successfully I believe. His daily narrative of captivity and how he endured his treatment at the hands of his captors is nothing short of riveting. He described the experience in so much detail that creating the mental picture was easy, and equally disturbing at the same time. I enjoy reading other pilot's stories when they share on a level which pulls the reader in, and Giora definitely does an excellent job of that. Stop reading reviews.... buy the book already!
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