Mick Thompson’s secretive life throughout WWII continued after returning home to New Zealand in 1945. This seductive and intriguing true story explores love against the backdrop of this courageous ANZAC soldier’s fight in the Western Desert war in North Africa.
The writer skillfully delves into Mick’s personal struggle with sexuality, focusing on his secretive alter ego. This real-life account intrigues and challenges conventional thinking about bravery, male and female roles, love, lust and forgiveness. Mick received a bravery award and promotion to Sergeant during the war.
His courage, during the war and on his return, is defined by the extraordinary effort he makes to hide his secret obsessions. He transforms himself to escape memories of childhood ridicule and humiliation and the horrifying memories of war’s death and destruction. The narrative exposes war, love and sex with humour and insight making it a captivating read.
Long after you have put the book down, haunting images remain – such is the power and pull of Nicky’s words in ‘No Ordinary Man’. She has a sound grasp of her characters and the storyline of a war that impacted the entire world. What surprised me was the level of compassion and the resolution of this compelling story.
