I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Author Yael Yannay shares the story of higher pilot Avi Lanir, who never returned from Syrian capture during the Yom Kippur War in the book “Avi Lanir – A Short Life Story: The Courage and Capture of an Israeli Fighter Pilot.”
The Synopsis
This is the story of the life and death of Lt. Col. Avi Lanir (1940-1974)—the most senior Israeli pilot to fall into Syrian captivity during the Yom Kippur War, and the only one who did not return alive.
Lanir died after brutal torture, without betraying the critical secret the Israeli Air Force had entrusted to his care. The body was defeated, yet the human spirit soared and triumphed. In these stormy and turbulent times, here is the story of a man whose brief spring touched the seasons of a nascent Israel.
Israeli author and editor Yael Yannay has woven a moving, inspiring biographical tapestry from the memories of family members, soul mates, and comrades-in-arms, and from the reflections of those who led Israel then—in body and in spirit. A profound, complex story: one of beauty and a vibrant life attuned to awareness— full of orders and briefings; question marks and family; love and yearning; wounds and hopes.
The Review
What immediately struck me was how honest and heartfelt the author’s writing was. While a national hero who withstood some of the worst torture a person could endure during war before passing, the author could have easily written a biography that was pure hero worship. Still, instead the author delved into the complex humanity that was Avi Lanir’s life growing up and during his time as a fighter pilot, captured best in the author’s opening chapters that showcased the stress Avi was under during his last meeting with his wife, and his reaction to not seeing his child leading to a disagreement and later reflection on the words not said between them.
The honesty was balanced well with the detail and immersive writing experience the author brought to this book. The way the author conveyed the historical events that Avi’s father and grandfather experienced and how these impacted Israel as a whole, while also balancing this with Avi’s personal struggles and experiences, was memorable. The sheer volume of courage that Avi displayed during his career and short life, especially in those pivotal moments withstanding torture to keep his country’s military secrets, exuded a bravery that is inspiring and infectious all at once.
The Verdict
Honest, compelling, and engaging, author Yael Yannay’s “Avi Lanir – A Short Life Story” is a must-read book. The biography holds nothing back, is well-researched, and brings so much insight to life in Israel and in the Israel Air Force, both historically and through the life of Avi Lanir. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Yael Yannay, mother of four. Author, editor, lexicographer. Coaxes words into what they long to become: spring or autumn, iron or silk, minor or major.
