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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.
ferris_mx's review against another edition
4.0
The story seems accurate and insightful, historically speaking, still. The characterization and domestic end of the story seems somewhat less compelling than when I read it twelve years ago. Since Wouk brought it up, yes, this book can be compared to War and Peace, and that's what really highlighted the shortfalls in character development. Still worth reading, but downgraded from five stars to four.
chevaliercreates's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wwatts1734's review against another edition
5.0
As a huge fan of Herman Wouk, I looked forward to reading the "Winds of War" for many years as that formidable volume sat on my bookshelf. At over 1,000 pages, it was a daring feat to get through this novel, although once I began reading I found that it was easy to get through. This novel is the story of a US Navy officer whose socialite wife made it difficult for him to get the shipboard command that he wanted in order to advance his career. Consequently, he was sent to the US Embassy in Berlin in the late 1930s, where he experienced firsthand the unfolding of the events that led to the Second World War and the conduct of the war prior to the US entry into the war on December 7, 1941.
Wouk's novel is breathtaking in scope, focusing on many of the major figures in Europe leading up to the outbreak of war. He balances the drama of family life for an American military family stationed overseas during a time of conflict with the events leading up to the conflict itself. The reader of this novel learns quite a bit about Hitler's inner court, the politics of the Nazi/Soviet pact prior to the invasion of Poland in 1939, and Britain's major leaders in the era of Munich and beyond. Most surprising for me, Wouk really captures the uneasiness of American observers of these events given that the United States was still a neutral country at this time.
When I finished this novel I really felt that I knew the characters and that I had experienced the events leading up to war in Europe. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys historical novels and especially those who are interested in World War II. But I would even recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a well written novel.
Wouk's novel is breathtaking in scope, focusing on many of the major figures in Europe leading up to the outbreak of war. He balances the drama of family life for an American military family stationed overseas during a time of conflict with the events leading up to the conflict itself. The reader of this novel learns quite a bit about Hitler's inner court, the politics of the Nazi/Soviet pact prior to the invasion of Poland in 1939, and Britain's major leaders in the era of Munich and beyond. Most surprising for me, Wouk really captures the uneasiness of American observers of these events given that the United States was still a neutral country at this time.
When I finished this novel I really felt that I knew the characters and that I had experienced the events leading up to war in Europe. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys historical novels and especially those who are interested in World War II. But I would even recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a well written novel.
sarahd3's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It can seem intimidating when looking at it and its sequal side by side but once you begin reading you are taken out of the book and into Europe before 1941. I found the writing to be compelling and familiar, Wouk does a nice job of developing his characters and taking you into history. I especially liked the evolution of Byron and Natalie. These two characters are not meeting heads of state and changing the outcome of the war, they are living it, in Warsaw when the German's invade, in Italy, and all over Europe. You like some of the characters and then hate the choices they make along the way. I definite recommend for those who like historical fiction!
peterongcook's review against another edition
4.0
Good fictional story of WWII before Pearl Harbor from a world-traveling US Navy family's perspective. The book is written in that style that all of those miniseries books are written in, familial epic historic novels, like Rich Man, Poor Man or Thornbirds. I'm curious to read the sequel.
ethannorwoodbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
tpteacher's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic blend of fiction and history. This book has way more substance than many of the WW2 books out there currently. Winds of War presents the many facets of the war clearly and painlessly, not boring at all. I learned a lot and also enjoyed following the Henry family. Well worth reading even though it’s super long and took me forever. I will definitely read the sequel sometime in the near-ish future. This book ends with the bombing of Pearl Harbor so there is a lot of war and family saga to still go through.