Boekverslag Arthur Hailey

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Geschreven door:	Marie-Julie
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Taal:	Engels
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Titels van Arthur Hailey

• Airport (13)

  1968

• Hotel (2)

  1965

Reading File: Airport by Arthur Hailey

1. Title
Airport

2. Year of Publication
1977

3. The author: Arthur Hailey

Born in 1920 in Luton, England, Hailey began writing poetry and short stories as a child. He dropped out of school in his teens when his family was unable to afford a college education. Hailey served as a pilot in the Royal Air Force during World War II, then immigrated to Canada, where he hoped to become a professional writer. Breaking into fiction proved difficult, and he worked for several years as a real estate agent, an advertising executive, an editor and a sales promotion manager. And then in 1956 he had his first breakthrough with Flight Into Danger, which later became known as Flight Zero-Eight. Then he had his big hits with Hotel, Airport, Wheels and the Moneychangers.

4. Summary of the plot

On the airport, there is on runway 3-0 a plane stuck because of worst storm in years. Mel Bakersfield, the Airport General Manager, has to find a way to move the plane because that night a plane has to leave to Rome, the "Golden Argosy", which Vernon is going to fly. One of the passengers is D.O. Guerrero. He is a ruined man and decides to make an end to his life. He would do that with a bomb, that he shall take with him on the plane. He has taken a big insurance policy, so that his wife, Inez, would get that money.
When the plane to Rome is prepared, it’s time for the passengers to get on board and the men on the gate discover a stowaway. But when they find out that D.O. Guerrero has taken a bomb on board, they let the stowaway stay on board if she helps them remove the bomb. She agrees immediately, and plays along with Gwen, the stewardess, and the captain, Vernon.
But the act fails, D.O. Guerrero makes the bomb explode and there is a big hole in the plain. The plane has to land as soon as possible, but there was still a plane stuck on the runway. At the very last moment, Joe Patron succeeds to move the plane and the plane of captain Vernon lands safely. And then they noticed that the storm was over.

5. When / Were?

The story takes place in the Lincoln International Airport in Illinois on a Friday evening in January We know this because the name is mentioned several times. The story begins at 18.30h and ends at 01.30h.

6. Main characters

Mel Bakersfeld is the director of the Lincoln Airport. He’s having troubles with his marriage, and they’re considering a divorce. He also has 2 daughters, Robert and Libby.

Vernon Demerest is a pilot at the airport and the brother-in-law of Mel. He is full of himself and he’s also a womaniser, because he got Gwen, a stewardess, pregnant but he wants her to have an abortion.

D.O. Guerrero wants to commit suicide because he went bankrupt and because of his failure he and his family are in deep financial problems. He’s married to Inez. He took out a life insurance 75 000 dollars, so if he dies his family would get a lot of money. So he decides to go on an airplane and blow himself up.
Note: He smokes continuously, lighting a fresh cigarette from the end of each old one.

7. My favourite character

Mel Bakersfeld, the manager of the airport. He’s my favourite character because he’s having so much trouble himself, and still he manages to help everyone else.

8. Main theme

The incidents and passings on the airport, because the story tells things about all the people who are in the airport and witness the accidents.

9. Personal opinion

I didn’t like the book, because I thought it would be exciting and sensational because I read the backside of the book and it sounded spectacular. A guy who’s going to blow himself op in a plane! But it was kind of boring and long-winded because of the flashbacks.
It also bothered me that the book was in such bad condition; the book practically fell apart. I had to turn every page very careful because I was afraid it would tear.

10. Would you recommend it? Yes / No

No, I wouldn’t. It was to long-winded and the flashbacks didn’t make the story exciting at all. But if you do choose to read this book, please choose a new version that doesn’t fall apart!