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The Winds of War
- Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau
- Length: 45 hrs and 48 mins
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Summary
A masterpiece of historical fiction, this is the Great Novel of America's "Greatest Generation".
Herman Wouk's sweeping epic of World War II, which begins with The Winds of War and continues in War and Remembrance, stands as the crowning achievement of one of America's most celebrated storytellers. Like no other books about the war, Wouk's spellbinding narrative captures the tide of global events - and all the drama, romance, heroism, and tragedy of World War II - as it immerses us in the lives of a single American family drawn into the very center of the war's maelstrom.
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- Richard H
- 16-01-19
Very good in parts, creaky in others
It seems almost curmudgeonly to give this novel only 3 stars overall. It is undoubtedly a work of great significance and ambition, with its great historical and geographical sweep and searing commentary on many of the real characters involved. The author is very good at action scenes, for example when Americans are trapped in Nazi-invaded Warsaw: this chilled me to the bone. Equally, the flim-flam, cynicism and hypocrisy of Hitler’s Berlin are deftly depicted in all their raging lunacy, against a background of sheer dullness and poverty as experienced by any sane person, i.e. the book’s American protagonists. And I liked the ‘interruptions’ of commentary: extracts from the post war essays of a fictional but realistically portrayed German general who has survived the gallows and is now falling over himself to justify his nation’s crimes. This is very cleverly done and in among the vaingloriousness are some real historical nuggets. For example, I’d always known about the Maginot Line and how the Germans ‘just walked round it’, but had never understood exactly how. The mechanics of this exercise are minutely but not boringly described - a worthy addition to one’s education! There are several other instructive historical insertions of this nature.
But the book is seriously let down by its dialogue. This ranges from the preposterous to the plain boring! Far too many longeurs when the protagonist Pug is preparing for a meeting with his shady ‘boss’ Roosevelt, then the actual meeting - which just goes on and on, taking the narrative nowhere. Yes, we got the point that Mr R was vain and manipulative two pages ago! But capable of inspiring great loyalty - yes, we got that too. No need to replicate each speech over and over. For mere replications they are: nothing new is added, no character development. When it comes to dialogue in general, at first I was inclined to blame its creakiness on Kevin Pariseau’s inability to do accents. True, his attempts at British English are laughable but on closer listening I realised that poor Kevin was doing his best with some, frankly, very shoddy material. You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, and the author clearly had a tin ear for how people actually speak, or couldn’t be bothered to offer up anything other than tired stereotypes. He has all the British characters, male or female, posh or less posh, speak in exactly the same way, that way being one that never existed, even in wartime! Then I noticed that most of the American characters have the same turns of speech too, though presumably these are more authentic as one might suppose that Herman Wouk had actually listened to the lexicon of his own countrymen! It’s a struggle, sometimes, to figure out who’s talking. With such poor material Pariseau has performed valiantly with light and shade and, in the case of the Brits, making some of them speak in a slightly less strangulated way than others. And his renditions of German or Russian accents sounded superb. So ten out of ten to Kevin for making the best out of a bad job .... but I can’t forgive the author for being so lax and lazy over something - the dialogue - that occupies a large proportion of the book. Such a shame when there are scenes that really stand out in their grisly authenticity!
But that’s why it’s three from me!
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18 people found this helpful
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- Julie
- 11-11-12
Incredible!!!!
I have loved every minute over this incredibly long book!! My ipod earphones have been glued into my ears for days...I now fear there may be permanent damage. Despite that fact this book is over 45 hours long, it still rockets along nicely.
My one tiny issue is the narrator's attempt at some English accents, but hey, my New York accent is appalling!!!
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in WW2 novels.
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11 people found this helpful
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- Rachel
- 22-11-12
Winds of War
An absolutely amazing book! This is meticulously researched historically and a must read for anyone. I was never interested in the history and facts of WW II even though five uncles served. My father served as a Captain in the Medical Corps in the Pacific. I wish he was still alive. I have so many questions I wish I could ask. I guarantee even if you don't like "war stories" this book will have you hanging on every word. Thanks Audible!
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10 people found this helpful
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- Frances Wartnaby
- 07-02-14
Well researched, but not well written
I am in two minds about this book. The research and detail were brilliant, but the writing style is stilted. Conversations don't sound like real people. Almost all of the characters come across as synthetic. Having said that, I did enjoy listening to it. Maybe a better narrator would have helped.
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9 people found this helpful
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- Sharon
- 15-07-13
Absolutely Wonderful..
Compelling.. there is so much in this book to digest that it will have to be reread, it will be no hardship. I thought I was pretty knowledgeable on the WWII but I was wrong, and it was so refreshing to see it from different POV's, it only takes you up to Pearl Harbour so looking forward to the next one in series... recommended.. the type of novel that does not get old or out of date, wonderful wish I had read it years ago.. I know it will stay with me in many years to come.
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7 people found this helpful
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- Mrs. J. L. Reed
- 23-12-12
An epic story of love and war
I remember reading this book many years ago and was delighted to see it appear here as an audio book. I was concerned that my memories of Victor 'Pug' Henry and his family would not be as I remembered but I was not disapointed. Beautifully told and a joy to listen to. I would recommend this to both people with a love a huge sweeping stories and anyone interested in our recent history,
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6 people found this helpful
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- Irene
- 05-05-13
I can listen this book again & again
Magnificently read by Kevin Pariseau, this history of the second world war as seen by Americans through the lives of an American family and their English friends was a great experience. The characters came alive and you feel their hopes, loses, happiness and sorrows.
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5 people found this helpful
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- James
- 07-04-13
A view from a different angle.
A history af the run up to and the beginning of the second world war from the American viewpoint. up to thethe forced entry of the USA Into the conflict. Telling of the crucial mistakes of the leaders that contributed to the outcome.
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5 people found this helpful
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- eatough1999
- 05-12-17
Worthy marathon listen
Wasn't sure how I would take to this work, am currently 20hrs in and have found myself completely drawn into the narrative. It is a slow burn, there are heavy going chapters, but this actually adds to the appeal. The subject matter is weighty, it demands your attention and your thoughts about the content. It is in no way a 'light, easy listen'. I feel the narrator does a good job overall... he manages to keep my attention.
If you are looking for a listen that has meat on its bones...this really might be what you're looking for.
Update 17/12..completed, absolutely loved it, currently downloading book 2 war & remembrance, the scene is now well and truly set, characters established Pearl Harbour has happened. Cannot recommend this first book enough, I like weight to my books and this has satisfied wonderfully. Bravo!
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4 people found this helpful
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- Anita McCaul
- 31-10-17
Entertaining
The novel is a fantastic read and for the main part the narrator gets it bang on, sometimes however there are words that the narrator simple doesn’t understand and his pronunciation of those words are obvious and jarring. If you can overlook those mistakes as they happen, usually in the English sections, then I recommend this title. If however you are a stickler for the English language perhaps the writer book would suit you best
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3 people found this helpful