Admiral Eddie is a biography written by Edward Orrick McDonnell Barry detailing the life and experiences of the greatest naval aviator, Edward Orrick McDonnell. The author is the grandson of Edward “Eddie,” and the book is written based on the oral accounts his mother, Betty, had shared with him. She made him promise that he would write this book to show the world her father was a wonderful and accomplished man.
Eddie was born into the family of Eugene and Ann Chilton McDonnell as the last of their five children. Despite his position and stature, this did not stop him from being strong and confident. Eddie went to Annapolis, a training ground for naval and marine officers, where he finished as a midshipman and graduated at the top of his class. He would then go into active service, serving on warships and earning medals for exceptional conduct in the face of battle. He participated in WWI and WWII, had a career in investment banking, and underwent some exciting adventures during his lifetime, all of which are explained in detail throughout the pages of this book.
I have to admit, when I picked up this book, I expected a book with military action, unrelatable terms, and a war-themed plot. However, I was in for a surprise; this book was much different than I expected. It was told more like a story and written in simple language that I’m sure everyone could understand. This book perfectly mixes family, action, humor, and service. Eddie truly lived an accomplished life. I loved the tales of battle and how he always made a difference; I also admired the fact that he was loved and respected by all. I was also amazed that, although tragedy befell him during his life, he did not let this cloud his judgement or stop him from doing what was right; that was both sad and inspiring.
The fact that he excels on and off the field was a trait I found myself in awe of; he, indeed, was a talented man. I loved reading about his adventures in South America and Africa after he retired. The humour and adventure made that chapter my favourite. Reading not just one part of his life but all was refreshing.
The only thing I disliked about this book was the early description of the family’s roots. That wasn’t made clear or easy to assimilate; this made me mix up names and characters as the story progressed, and sometimes I got confused. I feel a sort of family tree representation could have sufficed well enough. Every other aspect seemed to have been checked. I also have to commend the author’s writing. As much as he mentioned that his mother could make her oral stories come alive, I believe his writing had the same effect on me. Although this book described events that had happened decades ago, I found it easy to flow alongside the plot. I appreciate that. A few minor errors were spotted throughout my reading, which leads me to believe that this book was professionally edited.
Admiral Eddie receives a rating of 4 out of 4 for its exciting plot, excellent narration, and beautiful presentation. This book is recommended for fans of nonfiction, adventure, military, and inspirational works. The life of Edward Orrick McDonnell was genuinely worth knowing.
0 Comments