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reasonabee's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
boggremlin's review
4.0
It's hard to find new approaches to WWII nonfiction, but this is spectacular (I listened to the audiobook, which I highly recommend, but make sure to check the print copy so you can see the pictures). I was amazed and enthralled--it's a delightful mix of "ridiculous hobbies that have a brief tenure of importance" and "deeply human attempts to fix what is unfixable." I liked this book so much that I created an impromptu discussion club by making both of my parents read it. It was poignant and made me wonder about how the course of the war could have changed...if only there had been more pigeons.
rachelmerry_'s review against another edition
4.0
I’m not going to say I was on the edge of my seat or anything (turns out there’s quite a lot of *waiting* in espionage and resistance) but I did come away with a fondness for pigeons I wasn’t expecting.
The middle part was pretty dry, but the first and last thirds were fantastic. So much heart and humor!
The middle part was pretty dry, but the first and last thirds were fantastic. So much heart and humor!
labtracks's review against another edition
3.0
I had no idea this was a thing. I'm always amazed at the things that are tried with success during times of war. Well written.
kingfan30's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
3.0
heres_the_thing's review against another edition
4.0
It's hard to find new approaches to WWII nonfiction, but this is spectacular (I listened to the audiobook, which I highly recommend, but make sure to check the print copy so you can see the pictures). I was amazed and enthralled--it's a delightful mix of "ridiculous hobbies that have a brief tenure of importance" and "deeply human attempts to fix what is unfixable." I liked this book so much that I created an impromptu discussion club by making both of my parents read it. It was poignant and made me wonder about how the course of the war could have changed...if only there had been more pigeons.
rainbowbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
When I saw this book a few months ago at the National Army Museum in London, I had not idea that I would become so engrossed in the central narrative that I would forget that it was a school night and blew past my bedtime, finishing the book in one sitting.
As a young girl, my cousin and his friends tried their hand at raising homing pigeons and since then I have been fascinated by not just homing pigeons, but racing pigeons as well. However, I was not aware of the missive that inspired the author to research this story which is why I found it riveting.
As a young girl, my cousin and his friends tried their hand at raising homing pigeons and since then I have been fascinated by not just homing pigeons, but racing pigeons as well. However, I was not aware of the missive that inspired the author to research this story which is why I found it riveting.
lainecid's review against another edition
2.0
This would've made a great long form article, but I had trouble getting into the non-pigeon spy plot lines.
jessferg's review against another edition
2.0
I guess closer to 2.5 - I'm on the line between "it's okay" and thinking it deserves more because I probably learned something.
I suppose it's hard to discuss the pigeon service without explaining the intertwining of the various MIs and projects but the result is an awful lot more about the resistance and strategy than about the pigeon service. It starts out strong but really bogs down in the middle with a lot of minutiae - names and dates seem to take up pages before they connect.
There's a lot of research here and this is probably a great read for historians interested in WW2 and looking for less-known details and stories but I found it a little dry.
I suppose it's hard to discuss the pigeon service without explaining the intertwining of the various MIs and projects but the result is an awful lot more about the resistance and strategy than about the pigeon service. It starts out strong but really bogs down in the middle with a lot of minutiae - names and dates seem to take up pages before they connect.
There's a lot of research here and this is probably a great read for historians interested in WW2 and looking for less-known details and stories but I found it a little dry.