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Fallen Hero
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- Fallen Hero
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Top positive review
A difficult story is pursued to a convincing conclusion
19 February 2016
"Fallen Hero takes a number of storylines and handles them well. There is the question of Patton: did he die accidentally or was he murdered by his own side? There is also, in respect of Patton, the question: was he the hero that many of his men saw him as? Or was he not a nice person at all? To be frank, the Patton story is only there to get into the other storylines that are more important to the author. The protagonist is adopted, though he finds that out accidentally. Who was his father? Why did his mother abandon him (as he sees it)? These questions become more important to him as he becomes older, marries and has children of his own.
"There are aspects of the story (not excluding the adoption) that are told in a way that makes one wonder how much is autobiographical. By the end of the book, the reader knows as much as she or he might ever have hoped to know about old cameras and about the camera business and how it has suffered from the spread of trading on the Internet. At the centre, however, is the protagonist’s determination to track down his father and get to the root of the story. This is told exhaustively and step-by-step.
"If I had a problem with Fallen Hero, it was that (although the hero himself behaves in a way that is difficult to approve of) every one of the many characters is generous, goodhearted and kind. That does not reflect the world most of us live in. Nevertheless, a difficult story is pursued to a convincing conclusion."
"There are aspects of the story (not excluding the adoption) that are told in a way that makes one wonder how much is autobiographical. By the end of the book, the reader knows as much as she or he might ever have hoped to know about old cameras and about the camera business and how it has suffered from the spread of trading on the Internet. At the centre, however, is the protagonist’s determination to track down his father and get to the root of the story. This is told exhaustively and step-by-step.
"If I had a problem with Fallen Hero, it was that (although the hero himself behaves in a way that is difficult to approve of) every one of the many characters is generous, goodhearted and kind. That does not reflect the world most of us live in. Nevertheless, a difficult story is pursued to a convincing conclusion."
One person found this helpful
Top critical review
Two stories sit uncomfortably together.
7 April 2016
This is really two stories in one and I am not sure the two sit very comfortably together.
On the one hand we have the quite engaging story of Chris, from his childhood through adolescence, adulthood and into retirement. There was much to enjoy here. The writer describes progress in terms of culture and technology with a light hand, even speculating as to what gadgets might be available in the 2020s and beyond. These things informed the story rather than being allowed to drag it down. The exception to this was the rather detailed descriptions of camera equipment, clearly rather a hobby horse with the author; here less would have been much more.
The central conceit of the book is Chris’ search for his biological parents, particularly his father. Discovering at an early age and by accident that he is adopted, Chris struggles to come to terms with what this means in terms of his own place in the family and his relationship with his adoptive parents Irene and Ted. Naturally the time comes when he decides to seek out his biological parents. I’d have liked Chris to invest far more in his need for an alternative father figure to Ted. Ted is a reasonably nice though not fully developed character; greater antipathy between the two, perhaps, or some decidedly unpleasant traits might have helped build Jimmy up as a desirable alternative. But as the title suggests, the man Chris eventually tracks down turns out not to be the man he had imagined. Because the build-up of his ‘hero’ role model and Chris’ deep-seated need for him had not been thoroughly developed, the disappointment failed to have much impact.
In the middle of this story sits a mini historical investigation into the life and reputation of General Patton, seemingly the most respected US military leader as well as the most reviled man of the second world war. Another obvious enthusiasm of the writer (the bibliography reveals extensive reading on the topic), it is shoe-horned in like the glass slipper onto the foot of the ugly sister, sitting very uncomfortably, tenuously connected and not really resolved.
In the end I found that neither Jimmy, General Patton or even Chris himself had really been convincingly cast as any kind of heroes and therefore their fall didn’t entirely resonate.
On the one hand we have the quite engaging story of Chris, from his childhood through adolescence, adulthood and into retirement. There was much to enjoy here. The writer describes progress in terms of culture and technology with a light hand, even speculating as to what gadgets might be available in the 2020s and beyond. These things informed the story rather than being allowed to drag it down. The exception to this was the rather detailed descriptions of camera equipment, clearly rather a hobby horse with the author; here less would have been much more.
The central conceit of the book is Chris’ search for his biological parents, particularly his father. Discovering at an early age and by accident that he is adopted, Chris struggles to come to terms with what this means in terms of his own place in the family and his relationship with his adoptive parents Irene and Ted. Naturally the time comes when he decides to seek out his biological parents. I’d have liked Chris to invest far more in his need for an alternative father figure to Ted. Ted is a reasonably nice though not fully developed character; greater antipathy between the two, perhaps, or some decidedly unpleasant traits might have helped build Jimmy up as a desirable alternative. But as the title suggests, the man Chris eventually tracks down turns out not to be the man he had imagined. Because the build-up of his ‘hero’ role model and Chris’ deep-seated need for him had not been thoroughly developed, the disappointment failed to have much impact.
In the middle of this story sits a mini historical investigation into the life and reputation of General Patton, seemingly the most respected US military leader as well as the most reviled man of the second world war. Another obvious enthusiasm of the writer (the bibliography reveals extensive reading on the topic), it is shoe-horned in like the glass slipper onto the foot of the ugly sister, sitting very uncomfortably, tenuously connected and not really resolved.
In the end I found that neither Jimmy, General Patton or even Chris himself had really been convincingly cast as any kind of heroes and therefore their fall didn’t entirely resonate.
One person found this helpful
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Showing 1-10 of 20 reviews
19 February 2016
"Fallen Hero takes a number of storylines and handles them well. There is the question of Patton: did he die accidentally or was he murdered by his own side? There is also, in respect of Patton, the question: was he the hero that many of his men saw him as? Or was he not a nice person at all? To be frank, the Patton story is only there to get into the other storylines that are more important to the author. The protagonist is adopted, though he finds that out accidentally. Who was his father? Why did his mother abandon him (as he sees it)? These questions become more important to him as he becomes older, marries and has children of his own.
"There are aspects of the story (not excluding the adoption) that are told in a way that makes one wonder how much is autobiographical. By the end of the book, the reader knows as much as she or he might ever have hoped to know about old cameras and about the camera business and how it has suffered from the spread of trading on the Internet. At the centre, however, is the protagonist’s determination to track down his father and get to the root of the story. This is told exhaustively and step-by-step.
"If I had a problem with Fallen Hero, it was that (although the hero himself behaves in a way that is difficult to approve of) every one of the many characters is generous, goodhearted and kind. That does not reflect the world most of us live in. Nevertheless, a difficult story is pursued to a convincing conclusion."
"There are aspects of the story (not excluding the adoption) that are told in a way that makes one wonder how much is autobiographical. By the end of the book, the reader knows as much as she or he might ever have hoped to know about old cameras and about the camera business and how it has suffered from the spread of trading on the Internet. At the centre, however, is the protagonist’s determination to track down his father and get to the root of the story. This is told exhaustively and step-by-step.
"If I had a problem with Fallen Hero, it was that (although the hero himself behaves in a way that is difficult to approve of) every one of the many characters is generous, goodhearted and kind. That does not reflect the world most of us live in. Nevertheless, a difficult story is pursued to a convincing conclusion."
7 May 2015
A wonderful story what I got out of it one boy that grow to man looking for a father and hero at the same time. Well thought out and the aray of characters and there colourful lives. My heart felt thanks to the author G.J.Griffiths for the privilege and pleasure of reading this wonderful book and hope to read more in the future. This book will be a delight to recommend to my friends so to all happy reading from wee me. xxxx
19 November 2012
Fallen Hero
The overview on the rear cover of "Fallen Hero" by GJ Griffiths tells the reader that 'Chris Squires is a confused man constantly seeking a hero father-figure'... well, he is, but he does succeed in his quest in a book which flows seamlessly through time, developing the principle character from a buoyant, inquisitive youngster via a mischief-ridden adolescence to a well-qualified business man with an affectionate, highly-balanced family.
Well researched, for some early chapters will evoke memories of the near poverty-stricken post-war society, for others they will make us realise `that we never had it so good'. Griffiths uses his technical know-how to good effect illustrating the technological world of photography in which Squires is professionally immersed, then his imagination, to project into the developing communication systems of the late 2010s.
Something intrigues me about a novel where fiction and historical fact meet - a la Jack Higgins, perhaps - the two are certainly intertwined here, enabling the author to create a sense of uncertainty as to how the great American leader, General Patton met his final demise. Unlike Higgins there is little `rough and tumble' or thuggery to establish as to who is top dog, nor, blessingly so, is the plot `moved on' by the intervention of the ringing tone of a mobile phone.
Variety of scene - the rough seas encountered on the ferry journey across the Irish Sea as Squires travels back to Liverpool from holidaying in the Isle of Man to the peaceful reverence of the Hamm War Memorial in Luxembourg - and essential changes of location - downtown San Francisco with its hustle and bustle to a peaceful day trip in the rolling hills of North Wales - all blend together to make this, the author's debut novel, highly readable.
I certainly recommend this book, indeed, I trust the author does not rest on his laurels and is now working on his next novel......in his heyday, Jack Higgins managed to write at least gripping tale a year!!
Graham Bean
The overview on the rear cover of "Fallen Hero" by GJ Griffiths tells the reader that 'Chris Squires is a confused man constantly seeking a hero father-figure'... well, he is, but he does succeed in his quest in a book which flows seamlessly through time, developing the principle character from a buoyant, inquisitive youngster via a mischief-ridden adolescence to a well-qualified business man with an affectionate, highly-balanced family.
Well researched, for some early chapters will evoke memories of the near poverty-stricken post-war society, for others they will make us realise `that we never had it so good'. Griffiths uses his technical know-how to good effect illustrating the technological world of photography in which Squires is professionally immersed, then his imagination, to project into the developing communication systems of the late 2010s.
Something intrigues me about a novel where fiction and historical fact meet - a la Jack Higgins, perhaps - the two are certainly intertwined here, enabling the author to create a sense of uncertainty as to how the great American leader, General Patton met his final demise. Unlike Higgins there is little `rough and tumble' or thuggery to establish as to who is top dog, nor, blessingly so, is the plot `moved on' by the intervention of the ringing tone of a mobile phone.
Variety of scene - the rough seas encountered on the ferry journey across the Irish Sea as Squires travels back to Liverpool from holidaying in the Isle of Man to the peaceful reverence of the Hamm War Memorial in Luxembourg - and essential changes of location - downtown San Francisco with its hustle and bustle to a peaceful day trip in the rolling hills of North Wales - all blend together to make this, the author's debut novel, highly readable.
I certainly recommend this book, indeed, I trust the author does not rest on his laurels and is now working on his next novel......in his heyday, Jack Higgins managed to write at least gripping tale a year!!
Graham Bean
26 September 2013
I finished this whilst on holiday and found it an interesting, thought provoking and engaging book. It has lots of detail, intrigue and emotion which makes you care about the characters involved.
The story is centred around the thoughts and experiences and of Chris and his journey past and present as he copes with the challenges of wanting to know more about his birth parents whilst being wary of the possible repercussions. His search takes him to San Francisco where events take an unexpected turn.
The difficulties Chris faces as he finds the reality of the situation clashing with his expectations is very poignant and written with great empathy.
I recommend this book and will definitely be reading it again.
The story is centred around the thoughts and experiences and of Chris and his journey past and present as he copes with the challenges of wanting to know more about his birth parents whilst being wary of the possible repercussions. His search takes him to San Francisco where events take an unexpected turn.
The difficulties Chris faces as he finds the reality of the situation clashing with his expectations is very poignant and written with great empathy.
I recommend this book and will definitely be reading it again.
18 February 2017
In 'Fallen Hero', we meet Christopher Squires and follow him from a reasonably happy, mischievous childhood to a happy, married life. G J Griffiths has given us some fine, detailed snapshots (pun) of this character, highlighting the many events that shape him and make him the person he becomes. Most of us, when we look back on ourselves, see things in a similar chain, some links brighter than the rest to be cherished in our memories, some that we wish we could undo and forget.
In between run the threads of Christopher's insecurity, which partially appears to arise from his having been adopted and partially from his constantly wanting to do the right thing or to please people and somehow falling short in his own estimation. Christopher is very hard on himself, occasionally with good reason. There is also a historic narrative related to General Patton and his accidental death in Germany; Christopher's biological father, Jimmy Lucas, was a soldier under Patton's command and his traumatic wartime experiences have colored much of his subsequent life.
The characters are normal, decent people, who try to do the best they can in their given situations. The Squires, who adopt Christopher, love him and if there are hiccups in their relationship, they are really bumps that any ordinary family faces in day to day dealings. He comes to realize this and appreciate them more, particularly his father, Ted, once he has had children of his own. I must say that reading about this made me feel very grateful for my own ever-supportive father.
Christopher's affection for and dependency on his wife, Wendy, is touching and sweet. Their children turn out well and have children and they all remain a close-knit family, even if spread around the globe; they keep in touch via the fantastic communication technologies of 2020. I would have liked to know though how Christopher's relationship with his brother and sister, a bit contentious in their childhood, panned out later. That seemed to get overlooked in the story.
Walt Sheppard, Jimmy Lucas's wartime buddy and close friend, is wise and comforting, just the type to shoo away your angst and give you strength. I've known such people and I'm grateful for their existence.
I really liked this book very much. It is well-written, with the little nuances and touches that most of us have experienced at one point or the other in life. And this made reading it a pleasurable, satisfying experience.
In between run the threads of Christopher's insecurity, which partially appears to arise from his having been adopted and partially from his constantly wanting to do the right thing or to please people and somehow falling short in his own estimation. Christopher is very hard on himself, occasionally with good reason. There is also a historic narrative related to General Patton and his accidental death in Germany; Christopher's biological father, Jimmy Lucas, was a soldier under Patton's command and his traumatic wartime experiences have colored much of his subsequent life.
The characters are normal, decent people, who try to do the best they can in their given situations. The Squires, who adopt Christopher, love him and if there are hiccups in their relationship, they are really bumps that any ordinary family faces in day to day dealings. He comes to realize this and appreciate them more, particularly his father, Ted, once he has had children of his own. I must say that reading about this made me feel very grateful for my own ever-supportive father.
Christopher's affection for and dependency on his wife, Wendy, is touching and sweet. Their children turn out well and have children and they all remain a close-knit family, even if spread around the globe; they keep in touch via the fantastic communication technologies of 2020. I would have liked to know though how Christopher's relationship with his brother and sister, a bit contentious in their childhood, panned out later. That seemed to get overlooked in the story.
Walt Sheppard, Jimmy Lucas's wartime buddy and close friend, is wise and comforting, just the type to shoo away your angst and give you strength. I've known such people and I'm grateful for their existence.
I really liked this book very much. It is well-written, with the little nuances and touches that most of us have experienced at one point or the other in life. And this made reading it a pleasurable, satisfying experience.
7 April 2016
This is really two stories in one and I am not sure the two sit very comfortably together.
On the one hand we have the quite engaging story of Chris, from his childhood through adolescence, adulthood and into retirement. There was much to enjoy here. The writer describes progress in terms of culture and technology with a light hand, even speculating as to what gadgets might be available in the 2020s and beyond. These things informed the story rather than being allowed to drag it down. The exception to this was the rather detailed descriptions of camera equipment, clearly rather a hobby horse with the author; here less would have been much more.
The central conceit of the book is Chris’ search for his biological parents, particularly his father. Discovering at an early age and by accident that he is adopted, Chris struggles to come to terms with what this means in terms of his own place in the family and his relationship with his adoptive parents Irene and Ted. Naturally the time comes when he decides to seek out his biological parents. I’d have liked Chris to invest far more in his need for an alternative father figure to Ted. Ted is a reasonably nice though not fully developed character; greater antipathy between the two, perhaps, or some decidedly unpleasant traits might have helped build Jimmy up as a desirable alternative. But as the title suggests, the man Chris eventually tracks down turns out not to be the man he had imagined. Because the build-up of his ‘hero’ role model and Chris’ deep-seated need for him had not been thoroughly developed, the disappointment failed to have much impact.
In the middle of this story sits a mini historical investigation into the life and reputation of General Patton, seemingly the most respected US military leader as well as the most reviled man of the second world war. Another obvious enthusiasm of the writer (the bibliography reveals extensive reading on the topic), it is shoe-horned in like the glass slipper onto the foot of the ugly sister, sitting very uncomfortably, tenuously connected and not really resolved.
In the end I found that neither Jimmy, General Patton or even Chris himself had really been convincingly cast as any kind of heroes and therefore their fall didn’t entirely resonate.
On the one hand we have the quite engaging story of Chris, from his childhood through adolescence, adulthood and into retirement. There was much to enjoy here. The writer describes progress in terms of culture and technology with a light hand, even speculating as to what gadgets might be available in the 2020s and beyond. These things informed the story rather than being allowed to drag it down. The exception to this was the rather detailed descriptions of camera equipment, clearly rather a hobby horse with the author; here less would have been much more.
The central conceit of the book is Chris’ search for his biological parents, particularly his father. Discovering at an early age and by accident that he is adopted, Chris struggles to come to terms with what this means in terms of his own place in the family and his relationship with his adoptive parents Irene and Ted. Naturally the time comes when he decides to seek out his biological parents. I’d have liked Chris to invest far more in his need for an alternative father figure to Ted. Ted is a reasonably nice though not fully developed character; greater antipathy between the two, perhaps, or some decidedly unpleasant traits might have helped build Jimmy up as a desirable alternative. But as the title suggests, the man Chris eventually tracks down turns out not to be the man he had imagined. Because the build-up of his ‘hero’ role model and Chris’ deep-seated need for him had not been thoroughly developed, the disappointment failed to have much impact.
In the middle of this story sits a mini historical investigation into the life and reputation of General Patton, seemingly the most respected US military leader as well as the most reviled man of the second world war. Another obvious enthusiasm of the writer (the bibliography reveals extensive reading on the topic), it is shoe-horned in like the glass slipper onto the foot of the ugly sister, sitting very uncomfortably, tenuously connected and not really resolved.
In the end I found that neither Jimmy, General Patton or even Chris himself had really been convincingly cast as any kind of heroes and therefore their fall didn’t entirely resonate.
7 February 2016
The author starts off the story with a good characterizations. First of Jimmy Lucas, WWII vet. He's fidgety and has a few OCD tendencies. Then onto little six-year-old Christopher, getting in trouble for only wanting a treat. The story then follows Christopher through his life--from childhood through old age--and the many discoveries he makes about his past and himself. I found myself laughing at many of his childhood adventures.
I had a difficult time at first figuring out the time period. The story started in 1945 with a little about the death of George S Patton, then switched to 1975 in talking about Jimmy. The when Christopher's story begins in the next chapter, the time apparently switched back to the post-WWII by its references to "after the war," but this was not immediately apparent.
I thought the story was going to be heavy on details about Patton, but this wasn't the case. The excerpt at the beginning is important to how the story unfolds nonetheless. But it is not a story about Patton. Many of the characters in the story can be considered a "Fallen Hero." It starts off with a bang in Christopher's early years and life until he takes a trip to the USA. After that, much of it was summarized to pass the years. But it ends on a good note and with a good message.
The one thing I found off-putting and distracting was the internal thoughts. So much of what they were thinking was already adequately conveyed in the characters' actions and the words they spoke. All in all, it was an enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had a difficult time at first figuring out the time period. The story started in 1945 with a little about the death of George S Patton, then switched to 1975 in talking about Jimmy. The when Christopher's story begins in the next chapter, the time apparently switched back to the post-WWII by its references to "after the war," but this was not immediately apparent.
I thought the story was going to be heavy on details about Patton, but this wasn't the case. The excerpt at the beginning is important to how the story unfolds nonetheless. But it is not a story about Patton. Many of the characters in the story can be considered a "Fallen Hero." It starts off with a bang in Christopher's early years and life until he takes a trip to the USA. After that, much of it was summarized to pass the years. But it ends on a good note and with a good message.
The one thing I found off-putting and distracting was the internal thoughts. So much of what they were thinking was already adequately conveyed in the characters' actions and the words they spoke. All in all, it was an enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
5 March 2016
The book opens with a prologue of a fallen man, the accidental/purposeful death of a real-life historical figure called General George S. Patton and the (fictional) person who may have played a part in it. The happenstance, still questioned today, is used to weave a story that constantly shifts the terrain of who is exactly the "fallen hero," for which the book is titled.
From there, the story follows two boys who grow up to become teenagers. This part of the story reads more like a fictionalized memoir with a point of view that constantly shifts quite rapidly between characters, something that I found quite jarring as a reader. At times, i had to reread to ensure I had the correct perspective.
While the former part of the book explores Christopher Squires' journey to adulthood, his resulting shock over his own adoption, and his unexplainable desire to discover who his real father is/was; the latter part of the book is about Chris coming to terms with the shocking facts that weave the destiny of several lives together in a fateful way.
By book's end, I found myself counting, recounting, and wondering who all the fallen heroes are in the book. Overall, a slow build to a dramatic encounter that freefalls, then dovetails to a smolder of hope. A snapshot of post-World War II UK, a stint in the US, then ultimately multiple choices and guilt trips put to rest.
If you don't mind the swift point of view changes at times, you may enjoy this story. However, if you do mind, then you'd find the story belabored and could be tightened up. If you enjoy philosophical explorations of "fallen" and "hero" definitions, this read may also satisfy.
From there, the story follows two boys who grow up to become teenagers. This part of the story reads more like a fictionalized memoir with a point of view that constantly shifts quite rapidly between characters, something that I found quite jarring as a reader. At times, i had to reread to ensure I had the correct perspective.
While the former part of the book explores Christopher Squires' journey to adulthood, his resulting shock over his own adoption, and his unexplainable desire to discover who his real father is/was; the latter part of the book is about Chris coming to terms with the shocking facts that weave the destiny of several lives together in a fateful way.
By book's end, I found myself counting, recounting, and wondering who all the fallen heroes are in the book. Overall, a slow build to a dramatic encounter that freefalls, then dovetails to a smolder of hope. A snapshot of post-World War II UK, a stint in the US, then ultimately multiple choices and guilt trips put to rest.
If you don't mind the swift point of view changes at times, you may enjoy this story. However, if you do mind, then you'd find the story belabored and could be tightened up. If you enjoy philosophical explorations of "fallen" and "hero" definitions, this read may also satisfy.