Reviews

The Winds of War by Herman Wouk

jmilberg's review against another edition

challenging informative tense slow-paced

3.75

sassyporcupine's review against another edition

2.0

This book took me quite awhile to get through. I enjoyed the history of it but I had no real love for any of the characters. Ending wasn't satisfying at all. But, I admit I care enough to attempt to read the follow up.

expatally's review against another edition

3.0

Just not my cup of tea. Interesting parts, but I didn't find the characters multi dimensional enough that I wanted to read the 2nd part in the series to complete the 1800 page saga.

beingshort's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

gregcagle's review against another edition

5.0

This is one of my favorite books. I think it boils down to having read it at an impressionable age, and really getting onboard with the scope and the themes and the characters.

bonnielucasnelson's review against another edition

5.0

Now this is a real ww2 novel.

I found out about this book while reading through reviews of The Nightingale, which doesn't even exist in the same planetary orbit as this behemoth masterpiece. This is hands down the best work of historical fiction I have ever read. I didn't expect to fall for some of the characters as hard as I did. Amazing read!!!

dputiger's review against another edition

5.0

Just as good as I remember. Enjoyed the audio recording (book on CD) as well.

terrimarshall's review against another edition

5.0

This book is a masterpiece of historical fiction. I remember watching the miniseries on TV back in the early 80s, so I was familiar with the story of the Henrys and Jastrows. The book was written in 1971 and reads like something written in that era, meaning there’s some racism, some sexism, but I just accepted it as a product of the times and didn’t let that keep me from appreciating the brilliance of the book and how it unfolds history in the midst of a family saga. It was a little annoying that the women do nothing but worry about their clothes and hair, but, again, a product of the time period. I listened to it on Audible, and the reader was excellent. He even sounded like Robert Mitchum as Pug Henry, and I couldn’t help but fall a little bit in love with Pug.

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.