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taracrouch's review
4.5
The prose is enjoyable to read because it provides a pathway for story telling instead of a dry recounting of a science heavy history. However, I found the authors sympathetic aside towards Wernher von Braun’s contributions to Nazi Germany jarring.
arandomowl's review
Very difficult to read. I expected it to recount real events, but reads more like a fantasy.
castairs's review
2.0
I wasn't sure whether to give it two or three stars so I guess I would put it somewhere in the middle.
Being a book written by Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton, I thought this would be a great read and a good resource to learn more about the life of an astronaut during the Mercury days and what it was like to work with the other astronauts later on, but to my disappointment I found very little of the latter in this book.
It started out well, offering a more detailed and interesting picture of the early years of the space race since it included information about the soviet side too and their progress alongside the american. I enjoyed reading about the first Mercury flights too.
However, and this is my main problem with this book, the writing was quite bad, resorting to the use of purple prose and flowery language that felt out of place to me. The book is ghostwritten and it shows. I didn't connect with Slayton or Shepard and I felt like I was reading a fiction novel based on these people rather than their personal experiences. The writer also has a tendency to describe the emotions and thoughts of people who are neither Slayton nor Shepard, which made me feel uncomfortable at times.
In general, the second half of the book lacked substance (the only somewhat redeemable chapter is the one about Apollo 14) and the impression I got was that the two "authors" wanted to write a book to cash in on the hype rather than a genuine desire to tell their stories. If you've already read some books about the space race don't bother with this one.
Being a book written by Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton, I thought this would be a great read and a good resource to learn more about the life of an astronaut during the Mercury days and what it was like to work with the other astronauts later on, but to my disappointment I found very little of the latter in this book.
It started out well, offering a more detailed and interesting picture of the early years of the space race since it included information about the soviet side too and their progress alongside the american. I enjoyed reading about the first Mercury flights too.
However, and this is my main problem with this book, the writing was quite bad, resorting to the use of purple prose and flowery language that felt out of place to me. The book is ghostwritten and it shows. I didn't connect with Slayton or Shepard and I felt like I was reading a fiction novel based on these people rather than their personal experiences. The writer also has a tendency to describe the emotions and thoughts of people who are neither Slayton nor Shepard, which made me feel uncomfortable at times.
In general, the second half of the book lacked substance (the only somewhat redeemable chapter is the one about Apollo 14) and the impression I got was that the two "authors" wanted to write a book to cash in on the hype rather than a genuine desire to tell their stories. If you've already read some books about the space race don't bother with this one.
karatedrummer's review
3.0
Fantastic story, really confusing and poor writing. Is this a dramatization or a straight re-telling? Make up your minds.
deearr's review
4.0
Anyone looking for a detailed, blow-by-blow of everything that happened during the space race and slightly beyond may be slightly disappointed. This book reads more like a novel, capturing the excitement of what was nothing but fantasy to most people in the 1950s. The different missions of Mercury and Gemini leading up to Apollo 11 and beyond capture more of the human element, the glories and the frustrations of a group of men attempting to make the impossible possible. The culmination of two opponents, Russia and America, becoming partners in a joint space effort was heartening.
Whether I agree or disagree with the last chapter’s clumsy step into the political arena makes no difference. After an incredible story, I felt a political rant was uncharacteristic of the rest of the book. I wish I had stopped and not read the last few pages.
Overall, a fun read and a different look at the space race as opposed to some of the fact-full but dry versions I have seen. Four stars.
Whether I agree or disagree with the last chapter’s clumsy step into the political arena makes no difference. After an incredible story, I felt a political rant was uncharacteristic of the rest of the book. I wish I had stopped and not read the last few pages.
Overall, a fun read and a different look at the space race as opposed to some of the fact-full but dry versions I have seen. Four stars.
josethi's review
3.0
It is very interesting to read about the journey to the moon from people who lived it.
But writing...
I, personally, read non-fiction to know the facts. Sometimes I can stomach slight colorization. But this was so hard to digest, I got through it on pure willpower.
If the topic didn't interest me, I would give it max 2 stars.
But writing...
I, personally, read non-fiction to know the facts. Sometimes I can stomach slight colorization. But this was so hard to digest, I got through it on pure willpower.
If the topic didn't interest me, I would give it max 2 stars.
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