As the Crow Flies (Coronet Books)

Somewhere in my past, I had heard Jeffrey Archer criticized as writing "kitsch for the masses" and had avoided his books based on little more than a one liner from someone. Meanwhile, Archer's personal life has been the source of scandals that rival those of the characters in his novels. So, it was with some trepidation that I picked up this novel in a used bookstore and decided I'd see what the fuss over this author was all about. I have to honestly say that I enjoyed this book as much as any I've ever read. He's been called one of the top 10 storytellers in the world, and I'd have to agree with that assessment. This book chronicles the life and times of Charlie Trumper, a fictional character who goes from destitute street vendor to department store magnate over the course of his lifetime. When we first meet Trumper in the early 1900s, he is living hand-to-mouth with his two sisters, fed only by the meager income of his grandfather who sells produce from a tiny wheelbarrow-like cart (or 'barrow as the British like to call it) in one of London's poorer districts. Trumper's father is a ne'er-do-well who drinks away his paycheck, does nothing to support the family, and hasn't been seen in years. Charlie's mother is not in the picture either. When not in school, Charlie tags along with his grandfather each day, enchanted by the old man's remarkable salesmanship, and the boy dreams of nothing more than someday having his own 'barrow - his single passion in life. When the grandfather dies and leaves his 'barrow to Charlie, the boy is suddenly thrust into the role of chief breadwinner, a role that thrills him rather than overwhelms him. He drops out of school before he's barely hit his teens and quickly shows a brilliant ability to sell that surpasses even that of his grandfather. The saga takes us through Charlie's life as his dream grows from a single 'barrow, to a storefront, to a series of storefronts, to the idea of building the world's largest department store - and the ups and downs along the journey. When Trumper's patriotism compels him to join the army in WWI, he meets up with several individuals who will prove to play central roles in his personal and business life for years to come, and the story's main antagonist arises from a most unlikely place. This is the type of book that could easily be made into a mini-series because it covers 60+ years of the characters' lives, and Archer does an outstanding job developing those characters quite fully. I found myself getting quite attached to the characters and when the book came to a close, there was a sense of sorrow at having to say goodbye to these people with whom you had shared so many of life's triumphs and disappointments. Archer chooses to write this book from the alternating viewpoints of various characters in the story, ranging from Trumper to Trumper's wife to the story's main antagonist, to various others. He does so quite masterfully, and it is interesting to view

This is the third novel by Jeffrey Archer that I have read and I can't wait to read more. His amazing storytelling ability, completely enchanting characters, and surprising twists all combine to make a totally enjoyable novel.Archer uses his rags-to-riches theme with Charlie Trumper, young barrow boy from the Whitechapel area of London's East End. Charlie masters the fine craft of becoming the best fruit and vegetable man in all of the East End, a talent he hones at his grandfather's side and one that stays with him for life and gives him his greatest thrill.The reader watches Charlie grow from eight-year-old urchin to World War I soldier and chairman of his own London department store. Along the way both triumph and tragedy are his companions, but it is his bitter and hate-filled feud with the Trentham family that will leave you aghast and shocked, but always mesmerized and turning the pages.For Jeffrey Archer has written here the ultimate page-turner, one you will be loathe to put down for such mundane tasks as going to work or sleeping. And as always with Jeffrey Archer, you will never guess the ending. He will surprise you and make this reading experience one you'll long savor.

What a superb story teller. My first book by Jeffrey Archer was picked up from a fancy little book display devoted to Mr Archer that caught my eye, I'm embarrassed to admit. I've never been sorry I succumbed to that marketing ploy. What a talented author with a wonderful gift. "As the Crow Flies" kept me reading every night until I was done. An eight hundred page book that felt like half of that, I was sorry when it ended. I hate to retell the story in my reviews since the summary is available so I'll just say that I loved Charlie and Becky, the main characters, and enjoyed their life experiences with them. I felt the happiness, sadness, anger and frustration right along with them...Oh, that Mrs. Trentham! This book definitely lives up to the five stars I rated, what a good read. If you like this one be sure to read Kane and Abel, the Prodigal Daughter, The Eleventh Commandment, and Honor Among Thieves. I've already ordered my next JA book, I hope you do the same.

Ever since I read my first Jeffrey Archer novel a year ago, I have never failed to be impressed by the fluid and seemingly uncanny flair for writing he appears to posess. I managed to cover every book of his, from Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less to The Eleventh Commandment within a space of six months, apart from As the Crow Flies as I felt that it would be quite a chore to plough through 738 pages (UK paperback edition). How wrong I turned out to be. Right from the very moment I completed the first chapter of ATCF to the very last page, I simply could not get the incredible story out of my head- the enterprising and brilliant Charlie, the scheming Mrs. Trentham, the practical, intelligent Daphne- just kept flooding my thoughts. I finished the book within three days, which was a rather short period of time by my standards. This is one book which is equal to, if not better than, Archer's classic novel, Kane and Abel, especially in terms of plot twists. Jeffrey Archer tells the story from a multitude of viewpoints, making the book all the more interesting, given the fact that we, the readers, actually get to sample the feelings of the many characters. Archer's strength lies in his ability to tell the story of a person right from his or her birth (take K & A or The Fourth Estate for example), which is also evident in ATCF. Without the slightest doubt, As the Crow Flies justifies the fact that, to quote the Mail on Sunday, Jeffrey Archer is 'probably the greatest storyteller of our age'!

As the Crow Flies is undoubtedly the best Archer book I've ever read. In fact, it's the BEST BOOK EVER! ATCF is another one of Archer's novels about ordinary people pursuing great ambitions. Although Kane and Abel is the clear favourite among Archer fans, I have to say that the conflict in ATCF is much clearer and stronger. Also, the way Archer makes the characters' paths cross in such unexpected ways is absolutely superb. It's so unbelievable that you have to believe it. The writing style is distinctly different from most books, because each chapter beginning is told from the first person POV, so you get to see the story told from different angles.One more thing I really liked about this book is the way Archer uses the past to build upon the present. The reader sees how the characters in the story have to face events of the past, and the way their present is affected by it. Life turns a full circle. A touch of humour is added when the characters reminisce about their past, repeat old habits, do things they have always done. Irony is present throughout the story and everything seems to be linked together in a woven web of intricacy. To me, the characters seem much more alive.In all, a seemingly simple story of a man with one great ambition but with many twists and turns and wonderful subplots. Absolutely the best!