Finished We 9/18/13
My post on Good Reads-
First of all, I must admit that I am growing weary of so many contemporary fiction novels that employ tawdry 'flashbacks', garish 'flashforwards', and pointless 'shifting points of view' as literary gimmicks, and it was a pleasure to read a novel from 1958 that was written with enough confidence to just proceed inexorably from 'A' to 'Z'. I fully enjoyed the tale because the author did not attempt to woo the reader with unnecessary tricks or useless pedantic devices.
ICE COLD IN ALEX is a gripping tale of World War II set in the North African desert during the fall of Tobruk in 1942. Captain George Anson and his Sergeant Major Tom Pugh are ordered to transport two nurses out of the city just as the Tobruk is about to be overrun by the Nazis. Although set during the war, all the characters are non-violent types, and the book is more of a straightforward metaphor that allows that their shared adventure and metaphysical journey will lead to catharsis and character development. The clever title refers to Captain Anson's desire to have an ice cold beer in Alexandria with his compatriots once they have completed their mission, and this overwhelming sense of purpose keeps his mind from dwelling on his addiction to whiskey and spirits. His alcoholism, the fierce desert environment, and the mysterious South African Captain Zimmerman who shares their hospital ambulance are as much of a hostile force or mortal enemy as are the Nazis.
This is not a major work by any means, but it's an interesting and insightful novel of WWII, and I'd recommend it to anyone.
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