First to Fly

In the introduction to this audiobook about American pilots who flew for France before the U.S. entry into WWI, the author describes his work as a mosaic. It is a series of extended vignettes about the men who flew and the people who helped them. These elements turn out to be the book's biggest strength and biggest weakness. The sketches make it easy to listen to, but the lack of an overarching narrative beyond simple history makes the audio less than engaging. Tom Perkins offers an evenhanded reading, with no false emotion. But at times, the text makes his narration sound a bit dry. While not the narrator's fault, it makes for an unsatisfactory aural experience. R.C.G. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine