The Winds of War by Herman Wouk Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Winds of War
Book Review: "Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance"
Summary: 5 Stars
I've noticed that there continues to be an interest in these books, but that there have also been some interesting comments about them on Amazon. So I'll add some thoughts of mine.
These novels, which are really one, extended, story cover World War II from antecedents to conclusion from the American viewpoint. Wouk uses the device of having one set of characters--in this case Naval Officer "Pug" Henry and his family--continually turn up in key situations so as to allow the novel to cover the entire epoch while having a continuous, human-level plot. ("War and Peace", obviously an inspiration to Wouk, is probably the most famous example of this approach.) Without this device the writer is forced to chose between taking a microscopic view of the period, or ending up with a set of connected stories without a unifying, human-level plot, or interrupting the novel with historical asides. The downside of this device is that it relies on a series of improbable events and coincidences to get a key character into each historical situation important to the story. Readers then need to suspend disbelief on this point to enjoy the novel; those that can't are going to be disappointed.
Comments on Amazon suggest that these books are anything from soap operas to the greatest historical novels ever written. Those who consider them soap operas can't suspend disbelief concerning the plot improbabilities. That is a fair reason to not enjoy novels like these, but doesn't really consign them to the level of soap opera. But neither are they among the greatest historical novels ever written. In fact, they aren't even the best novels about World War II that use this plot device; that honor goes to Vasily Grossman's "Life and Fate", which covers the war from the Soviet viewpoint, and is a great novel by a great writer and well worth reading.
At the end of the day, Herman Wouk may be remembered as one of the finest American novelists of the twentieth century, in that his best books were outstanding, if conventional, novels. But he was not a great writer, although he was a very good one. That said, these are two books that deserve to endure and gain new generations of readers. They are well written, keep moving and encourage the reader to keep turning pages, and give a grand overview of the World War II era. If you love history you might prefer learning about the era from nonfiction books by historians and participants. If you are looking for deep characterizations and profound insight into the human experience you should probably read smaller-scale novels that look inward rather than cover the broad sweep of a world-wide conflict. But for a reader looking for a well constructed and well written story that also provides an overview of the conflict that consumed the world in the 1930s and 40s, and set the stage for the geopolitics of the half century to follow, these are wonderful books.
Book Review: A Truly Great Book and Better than WW II Non-Fiction
Summary: 5 Stars
Of any book I've ever read, The Winds of War remains the most thrilling, beautifully educational, and wonderful. Even though many years have passed since I finished it, I frequently think of the characters, and the horror and heroism of World War II. This book puts you there like no non-fiction book can.(I was so moved when I finished, I wrote Mr. Wouk, to tell him what an impact the book had on me. He wrote me back, with thanks, and told me how few readers ever write him with feedback. So be sure to send him a note when you're finished.) READ THIS BOOK.Book Review: A suffocating read
Summary: 1 Stars
I thought this was a horrible book. Pug is an absolute bore and so infuriating becasue he is perfectly perfect in every way. He is the naval male counter part to Mary Poppins. The battle descriptions droned on forever and ever. I found myself skipping large sections just because I could not stand it any longer. No one should subject themselves to reading this book unless they have no other option including seduce the profesor.Book Review: A world Falling Apart
Summary: 4 Stars
"The Winds of War" is a novel of the events leading to World War II told through the eyes of an American Naval family and their acquaintances. It is written by Herman Wouk based on his wartime experiences and his research.
Commander Victor "Pug" Henry is considered an officer with a bright future. He is a methodical, careful engineer with "plenty of blue water" in his service record. His family consists of his wife, Rhoda, their daughter, Madeleine and two sons, Warren and Byron (Briny).
Commander Henry wants nothing more in life but to reach the rank of Captain and command a battleship. He has worked systematically towards this goal for his entire career. Beneath that taciturn exterior is a deep intellect coupled with presence of mind. He has made no missteps in his career. However the next assignment offered to him doesn't thrill him.
The U.S. Navy had historically sent it's less promising officers to diplomatic posts. In these days before WWII, this policy is reversed. Pug is offered the post of Naval Attaché to Germany. This is Germany under Adolf Hitler and the post is considered crucial. However in Pug's eyes, it is possibly a career dead-end. Nonetheless after consulting his socialite wife Rhoda and an Annapolis classmate, he takes the job.
Pug's elder son Warren is cut from father's mold career-wise. Like his father, he has excelled at the U.S. Naval Academy. He has chosen aviation as his specialty. The younger son, Byron is another story.
Byron is an undisciplined romantic dreamer slacker-type who has somehow made it out of Columbia with a B.A. He also got a reserve naval commission in order to placate his father. When the book begins he is working for a best-selling author, Prof. Aaron Jastrow in Siena, Italy as researcher. It's obvious he has `something' but he lacks that certain spark. This amiable drifter finds direction in his life when he falls in love with Professor Jastrow's niece, Natalie.
The romance is complicated by a number of things. She is older. Natalie is in love with someone else, an old money East coast establishment-type diplomat, Leslie Slote. She barely acknowledges Byron's existence. Finally, Natalie is Jewish.
The last is a relationship killer in pre-WWII America. At this time, a WASP-Jewish marriage was socially looked down upon. Jews and Gentiles had their own separate worlds.
This woman gives Byron from his `spark'. Like his father, Byron Henry gets what he wants......
While in Germany, Commander Henry files a report going against conventional wisdom. This report makes its way up through the chain of command to the President of the United States. He returns it with a note to forward Victor Henry's service record.
Victor Henry has come to the personal attention of the President of the United States of America.
I've only scratched the surface of what happens in this book. This book (and its sequel, "War and Remembrance") is about WWII and its effects on this most American family. Mr. Wouk cleverly arranges things in order to involve his characters in the different events and theaters of world as they lead up to Pearl Harbor.
Close attention is paid to the Jewish experience in Europe as well as the thoughts, events and personalities of those in the corridors of power.
The book is a page-turner. While it is not great literature, it is engrossing and the most painless way I know of to study the events leading up to WWII.
Book Review: Amazing
Summary: 5 Stars
This was one of the greatest books I have ever read. I especially like the excerpts from the author of his opinion on roons writings which seem to be nesseled in every other chapter or so. And for those who think kids cant read this book well they can Ive read it and im 14 so i thnik most people can comprehend this book.