Scan barcode
nicoleisalwaysreading's review against another edition
5.0
This book is obviously the product of an incredible amount of thoughtful research, and the final product reads like a typical novel with well-developed characters. It's interesting to feel that, but also know in the back of your mind that this all actually happened and that the "characters" are in fact real people. The footnotes are also delightful, since they often detail the ironies and twists of war.
feedingbrett's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.0
Perhaps it is the nature of non-fiction literature that slowed my momentum of enduring through the entire book, with The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank being the only exception so far. That being said, Cornelius Ryan has created a historical document, but a document that traces itself like a novel - at least for the most part. Its narrative constant may be the war itself, the setting, and the constant progression of time, therefore characters come in and out of the chapters depending on their given relevance, but each moment feels informative, both historically and emotionally. Despite its length, one is aware whilst reading through that there are portions that Ryan has researched that have been omitted for the sake of pace and ease of absorption, and I don't blame him for it. Yet by the end, I was left even more curious on what more could be dug from the triumphant, tragic, and critical day that was June 6 1944.
miguelst's review against another edition
5.0
The amount of detail in Cornelius' writing is incredible. Learned a ton about an event that I already knew a lot about.
mynameisnemo's review against another edition
3.0
Following along with Ambrose's Band of Brothers and Citizen Soldier, I read The Longest Day. I've really been enjoying the WWII nonfiction lately.
Unfortunately, it took 2 months to finish the book, which meant that by the end I was more than a little frustrated with it. The book wasn't so much the problem as my out of prescription reading glasses were.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book, more even than the anecdotes from veterans of the invasion, was the switching POV between the Allied and Axis sides. It gave a sense of evenness to the narrative, insight into not just what the 'good guys' were thinking and feeling but how it felt to be on the other side of the line, watching the invasion head straight at you.
I have also developed a new interest in Rommel due to this book, as he seems like a very interesting person.
One of the more difficult things about this book was that I kept expecting it to move on and get to D-Day+1, etc but of course it didn't because it is a book that is solely about D-Day. Another thing was the fact that even though a cohesive story was told, it didn't really follow a single character through the day. I prefer personal history type narratives so the fact that this dealt with only small moments from many many people meant that it didn't quite suit my personal preferences.
Despite this, Ryan did an amazing job gathering information and coalescing it into a single 275 page paperback. There is a thread throughout the entire story, even though it never follows a single character. His descriptiveness also helps, as a clear picture of the French country side, the beaches, and the battles is conveyed through his storytelling.
All in all, a good book and one I enjoyed. I do wish I had been able to finish it faster but I was glad to read it regardless.
Unfortunately, it took 2 months to finish the book, which meant that by the end I was more than a little frustrated with it. The book wasn't so much the problem as my out of prescription reading glasses were.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book, more even than the anecdotes from veterans of the invasion, was the switching POV between the Allied and Axis sides. It gave a sense of evenness to the narrative, insight into not just what the 'good guys' were thinking and feeling but how it felt to be on the other side of the line, watching the invasion head straight at you.
I have also developed a new interest in Rommel due to this book, as he seems like a very interesting person.
One of the more difficult things about this book was that I kept expecting it to move on and get to D-Day+1, etc but of course it didn't because it is a book that is solely about D-Day. Another thing was the fact that even though a cohesive story was told, it didn't really follow a single character through the day. I prefer personal history type narratives so the fact that this dealt with only small moments from many many people meant that it didn't quite suit my personal preferences.
Despite this, Ryan did an amazing job gathering information and coalescing it into a single 275 page paperback. There is a thread throughout the entire story, even though it never follows a single character. His descriptiveness also helps, as a clear picture of the French country side, the beaches, and the battles is conveyed through his storytelling.
All in all, a good book and one I enjoyed. I do wish I had been able to finish it faster but I was glad to read it regardless.
glowe2's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.5
A classic account of the D-Day invasion interspesed with vignettes of individuals on both sides. Ryan moves the action along at a crisp pace and even knowing the outcome, it was hard to put this book down.
fivetilnoon's review against another edition
5.0
This book does a fantastic job of covering the main elements of the D-Day invasion. On the Allied side, the author covers the airborne troops (British and American), the Navy, the high command, and the infantry troops (American, British, and Canadian). On the German side, he covers the infantry, the Panzer divisions, and the high command. The book also covers the French that lived in the Normandy area and how they experienced D-Day. The author's style is direct and easy to understand. He explains very complicated military manouvres clearly and mixes in plenty of anecdotes. This books's style is very similar to Stephen Ambrose's D-Day account but I thought it was a more inspiring telling. I listed to the Audible.com audio version of the book.
ssindc's review against another edition
5.0
Great stuff! Not quite the epic - in terms of length or scope - as Ryan's The Last Battle, but every bit as gratifying.
D-Day - 24 hours. Tick, tock... The agony and the ecstasy - the glory and the ignominy - inspired decisions and catastrophic mistakes - bravery and cowardice - cost and carnage - luck and fate - sacrifice, death, destruction, and liberation - steaming (and sinking), flying (and crashing), jumping, swimming, wading, running, walking, crawling, climbing, and, yes, fighting - moments of grace.... Tick, tock... The beginning of the end.... Tick, tock... Quite a day, and one not soon to be forgotten. ... Tick, tock...
Ryan crafts a strange but effective, accessible, and moving brand of history. The most grand of events through the most personal of lenses. A world-changing event through the eyes of individuals of all types - generals, soldiers, sailors, pilots, civilians - American, British, French, German, Russian - each experiences their own day, and Ryan weaves their recollections seamlessly together.
I'm glad I wasn't there. But I'm glad I read the book.
D-Day - 24 hours. Tick, tock... The agony and the ecstasy - the glory and the ignominy - inspired decisions and catastrophic mistakes - bravery and cowardice - cost and carnage - luck and fate - sacrifice, death, destruction, and liberation - steaming (and sinking), flying (and crashing), jumping, swimming, wading, running, walking, crawling, climbing, and, yes, fighting - moments of grace.... Tick, tock... The beginning of the end.... Tick, tock... Quite a day, and one not soon to be forgotten. ... Tick, tock...
Ryan crafts a strange but effective, accessible, and moving brand of history. The most grand of events through the most personal of lenses. A world-changing event through the eyes of individuals of all types - generals, soldiers, sailors, pilots, civilians - American, British, French, German, Russian - each experiences their own day, and Ryan weaves their recollections seamlessly together.
I'm glad I wasn't there. But I'm glad I read the book.