The Winds of War by Herman Wouk Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Winds of War
Book Review: Most compelling historical fiction about WWII ever written
Summary: 5 Stars
The pair (Winds of War plus War and Remembrance) are must-read books for anyone who wants to understand World War II. Following a military family through the pre-war years up until Pearl Harbor, Winds of War sets the stage and covers the early war in Europe in detail. War and Remembrance then picks up after Pearl Harbor and gets all the way to the victory over the Japanese.
Artfully using characters that have a plausible reason to be in important locales for the war, Wouk combines the family's story with military analysis (by a fictitious German general) to give a complete story. It's amazing that he can work so much that's relevant to the war into a drama about fictional characters.
The novel gives you a sense of the military and geographic factors that drove the war, the logistic and economic factors, and the psychology of the leaders of the great powers. But you're also treated to an understanding of the spirit of the times. Younger readers especially will begin to understand what it was like to live in an age very unlike the modern world, and one in which mortal threats were commonplace.
I recently reread Winds of War after a twenty year gap, and enjoyed it even more this time. I feel that I know the characters even better the second time through, and better understand their predicaments and the choices they made.
I only have only one quibble about characterization. One of the characters, a Jewish wife to one of the military family, is the on-scene witness in Europe to Germany's treatment of the Jews. While I think that material is very important, the series of circumstances that keeps her and her uncle in Europe seems a bit contrived to me. But I'll give Wouk a little license. The book would have not been complete or nearly as powerful if it had left out a complete understanding of the Holocaust, and if it took a little contrivance to get two Americans to witness those events, I consider that a worthwhile trade.
If you've seen the TV series and liked it, you really ought to get the complete picture by reading this book. I've given it as a gift to friends for years. I used to pick up copies I would see in used book stores so that I could give it to folks I thought might be interested.
Unfortunately I ended up with no copies except one very old falling-apart one, and bought a recent printing of the paperback. The quality was not as good it should be, probably because this book is over a thousand pages and they cut some corners on production. I have to wash my hands after each reading because the print smudges off the book. So if you can afford it, you might want to get the school/library binding version instead. It's more than twice as expensive, but I expect it's of far superior quality. I'm probably going to pick up one of those myself. This pair of books is one that ought to be displayed proudly in any thinking person's library.
Book Review: Not a Love Story
Summary: 4 Stars
Wouk does a magnificent job of providing the background of the US prior to our comittment in World War Two.Book Review: One of the best
Summary: 5 Stars
I first read the novel 35 years ago. I was entranced by Wouk's human characterizations and his grasp of history. He allows you to BELIEVE in the story. I probably have it all memorized by now but I still grab a read now and then. Definitely 5 stars.Book Review: Peace Requires the Love of Peace
Summary: 5 Stars
In the foreward of my copy, I am still touched by Herman Wouk's talents, "Peace, if it ever exists, will not be based on the fear of war, but on the love of peace. It will not be the abstaining from an act, but the coming of a state of mind. In this sense the most insignificant writer can serve peace, where the most powerful tribunals can do nothing."All family members, and military figures in this great novel had to find their own form of peace. Their faith was challenged. As was their fundamental ways of life.
I especially enjoy how the arthor combined true history with the fictional family. It was easy to relate to each family member, and to root for their desire for peace.
The message that the quote above carries in my heart is also something that I believe we must apply in our daily lives. It's extremely valuable to face problems from a desire for peace, knowing that looking directly at the problems, and what role we play creates love that is passed onto others, naturally.
Book Review: Settle in my friends!
Summary: 5 Stars
You're in for a long haul but it's well worth it. I take on at least one epic every winter and picked "Winds of War" and it's sequel "War and Remembrance" this year. I love historical fiction and these two books are some of the best. You'll learn about WWII and still be able to wrap yourself around the characters whose family soon becomes a part of your life. There's intrigue & suspense, there's action & very personal relationships as well and then there are the facts of WWII that will have you looking online for more information. These are powerful novels that really draw you in; so much so that after I read "Winds of War" I was going to take a break and read something else between it and "War and Remembrance" but as I read the "other" book I kept wondering about what happens to these characters Wouk created. So I quit the "break" book and got right back on "War and Remembrance." I'm very glad I did. Both novels are such page turners that it's darn near impossible not to want more. The two combined are close to two thousand pages but they read like a novel of several hundred. Good stuff!