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john_raine's review against another edition
4.0
I would probably give it 3.75 but I am limited to integer ratings. I am fascinated by WW2 history and the story is very good. There were sections of the book that dragged a bit. The story lines with Aaron Jastrow were kind of boring to me. All in all the book reminded me of some Leon Uris books. Probably a book that I will re-read at some point
dotorsojak's review against another edition
4.0
This first novel of the two-novel series (War and Remembrance is the second) is much the better of the two. Wouk has been called an American Tolstoy, but really he is not much like Tolstoy. This novel is a portrait of two American families in the two and a half years leading up to the US entry into World War 2. It is excellent at capturing the flavor and uncertainty of those years. Very readable. The 800 plus pages flew by for me.
ashro's review against another edition
5.0
This is some of the best (or maybe the best??) WWII fiction you will read. I highly recommend getting the know Herman Wouk's fictional Henry family. Pug, Warren, Byron, Natalie, Pamela, Berel, Janice, Madeline, Leslie...you'll love them all. The great news is that after this book is any even longer sequel called War and Remembrance.
loriameadows's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. It took me a LONG time to read the Winds of War. Longer than it probably should have, even considering the length. That’s not, however, intended to be a complaint, because I enjoyed it so much. This is the first time I’ve been sold on a book just from reading the author’s note; it’s a beautiful introduction. The novel itself is truly the most “historical-fictiony” work I’ve ever read. It’s so very rich with political and military details that at times, I felt like I was reading nonfiction. I’ve connected with the characters and become so invested in the WWII world Wouk created that I’ll definitely be reading War and Remembrance to finish the saga.
nicofic's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
oceanwriter's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I won’t lie. This was an intimidating book to start. Typically 500+ pages in books don’t phase me, but for me, that usually means nonfiction. I seldom find a fiction book so long that interests me. This book was suggested to me and I jumped in blindly, purchasing the book only to see the length afterward. I ended up opting for the audiobook to help me through it before the end of the year.
The book is broken up into different POVs in the Henry family as they go their separate ways in the early days of World War II (namely, America’s part in it). Pug is a Navy man, something his wife Rhoda grows to resent more and more now that their children, Warren, Byron, and Madeline are grown and leading their own lives.
The book covers a lot of World War II history, often at the expense of the flow of the story. I’m not sure if these more nonfiction sections were footnotes being read at the end of certain chapters or full chapters themselves, but the first couple of times it happened I ended up checking the book to see if Audible had somehow changed my books. I didn’t love the pacing or the organization. I can blame being accustomed to modern historical novels for that undoubtedly. That was a fair trade for the content, however. It was refreshing to be reading a piece of World War II fiction that didn’t rely on the same handful of tropes and their variations. The story was deep, meticulous, and aimed at educating rather than romanticizing. For that, I enjoyed it immensely.
Some of the characters didn’t feel necessary. Even while I was actively reading the book, I couldn’t distinguish Warren from Pug and found myself forgetting his existence completely. I could say the same for Madeline although her scenes felt like such a distraction from the meat of the story that she became memorable. I was most invested in Byron and Pug’s storylines. Toward the end, I felt as though I was wading through the rest just so I could carry on with the stories I cared about.
I kept telling myself throughout the entire book that I wasn’t hooked enough to continue with the next installment. The last 100 pages or so changed my mind which I suppose should have surprised me as it was obvious where the build-up was leading to. On I go to War and Remembrance, in the new year…
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, War, Antisemitism, and Infidelity
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
jenleah's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a commitment. 44 hrs on audiobook, eventually I was able to work my way up to double speed to knock it down to about 30 hrs. Phew. Three stars to me for finishing. Zero stars for the many boring war strategy parts of the book. Two stars for
the author getting everyone in the Henry family to somehow manage to be in every critical moment leading up to WWII. Five stars to the narrator, he did an amazing job with accents and differentiating each characters' voice. ---UPDATE!!! This WAS a 1983 mini-series!! Too bad it's not on Netflix! -- Really, this book reminded me of a super dramatic 80's mini-series. I kept picturing Lorenzo Lamas and Morgan Fairchild and Ricardo Montoban.
the author getting everyone in the Henry family to somehow manage to be in every critical moment leading up to WWII. Five stars to the narrator, he did an amazing job with accents and differentiating each characters' voice. ---UPDATE!!! This WAS a 1983 mini-series!! Too bad it's not on Netflix! -- Really, this book reminded me of a super dramatic 80's mini-series. I kept picturing Lorenzo Lamas and Morgan Fairchild and Ricardo Montoban.
joabroda's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
A family saga featuring Victor "Pug" Henry and his U.S. Navy family, beginning at the onset of WWII in 1939. The characters grow, the history is true to life and Wouk's storytelling will all draw you in.
Be not afraid of the size of this novel-It was my second time around with it (something I rarely do) and I still found myself reaching for it and reading a few chapters every night.
The world and the characters, and there are many, are portrayed realistically for the time period and this is something that adds to the novel.
<i>Aster took in the girl with a keen, rather greedy glance</i>
<i>Captain," said Lady Aster, as Caruso refilled the glasses, do you think that picture in Byron's room does Natalie justice?"
"Not in the least, said the captain, looking at her with liquid, man-loving eyes." </i>
...and these were Byron Henry's friends leering at his girl ! LoL, but as I said Wouk keeps you in the time period and men could be leeches back then, would be what we would call rude and creepy these days.
Wouk writes a tender and moving love story (a few in fact) and they took me back to my first time reading it. How all the older women in my life were swooning over those excerpts, and remembering what it was like to be a military family and a war bride.
This is my second Wouk in 2 years and 2024 calls for a third, the follow-up to this book [book:War and Rembrance|136284238]. Already on my blanket chest for movement in January to the nightstand.
Be not afraid of the size of this novel-It was my second time around with it (something I rarely do) and I still found myself reaching for it and reading a few chapters every night.
The world and the characters, and there are many, are portrayed realistically for the time period and this is something that adds to the novel.
<i>Aster took in the girl with a keen, rather greedy glance</i>
<i>Captain," said Lady Aster, as Caruso refilled the glasses, do you think that picture in Byron's room does Natalie justice?"
"Not in the least, said the captain, looking at her with liquid, man-loving eyes." </i>
...and these were Byron Henry's friends leering at his girl ! LoL, but as I said Wouk keeps you in the time period and men could be leeches back then, would be what we would call rude and creepy these days.
Wouk writes a tender and moving love story (a few in fact) and they took me back to my first time reading it. How all the older women in my life were swooning over those excerpts, and remembering what it was like to be a military family and a war bride.
This is my second Wouk in 2 years and 2024 calls for a third, the follow-up to this book [book:War and Rembrance|136284238]. Already on my blanket chest for movement in January to the nightstand.