The Perfect Storm

Rating:
Summary: You'll never row a boat with the same ease again.
Review: Everyone's batting words back and forth, comparing Krakauer's Into Thin Air to Junger's harrowing sea tale. Krakauer's, judging by my bookstore's returns, has sold more, but Perfect Storm gets my supremacy vote. Aside from the non-fiction adventure aspect, there's really little to compare. Junger, unlike Krakauer, was not involved in the events and therefor was able to be truly objective, offering up an old fashioned journalistic amalgam of what could have been, should have been and simply was. Certainly Krakauer had some demons to deal with when relating his story, but his emotions had the best of him, limiting his capability to truly terrify the reader because in so doing he'd churn up more personal fears than he perhaps could handle. On the other hand, Junger was able to explore the potential for true horror in Perfect Storm because as he admitted in his epilogue, that horror overtook his nightly dreams. He churned out an adventure masterpiece that'll forever hol! d you in alternate grips of fear and respect for the sheer volume of power the ocean possesses. On page 129 of the softcover he explains in one simple, concise paragraph the detriment of hurricanes, citing a 1938 Rhode Island storm with winds of more than 200 miles an hour that left only shoes and belt-buckles after having sandblasted the people to death. He generates more fear of the catastrophe in one paragraph than all the footage of Hurricane Andrew could ever muster. Junger is a foremost freelance journalist, but he's a hell of an author. I'm avidly awaiting his next work, hoping he'll leave me with the same sense of awe with which I finished the last.

Rating:
Summary: An almost-perfect storm book
Review: Having been a commercial fisherman on the Bering Sea for twenty years, A Perfect Storm had passages that described its world to a T. From the thoughts while drowning to the feel of rain hitting you at 100 mph (feels like grapeshot) even to the hilarity of the shopping trip that always precedes the fishing, this book rang true. Why not 5 stars? Because the author makes it sound like fishermen are a bunch of drunken, brawling, screwing, smoking losers, a typical stereotype. My own experience of fishing was quite different. While there were some fishermen like that, I fished in a seasonal fishery with a group that included a computer programmer, an airline pilot, a lawyer, a real estate agent/bartender, an accountant, even a theology professor! Otherwise, a fantastic read, from one who's been there.

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Summary: I couldn't read fast enough; the writing is so exciting!!
Review: Surprise is what I felt after reading this great book. How was I to know that I would learn so many intricate details to swordfishing, swordfishing boats and equipment, not to mention all the weather information included. I found myself trying to read faster to find out what happened to the Andrea Gail and its six passengers. Mr. Junger's writing propelled me along with great anticipation and sadness at the same time. The lives of those six men will never be forgotten with such an indepth view of their last moments.

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Summary: I Love the book & am looking forward to the movie!
Review: One of those 'can't put it down' books! I loved it! And as an ex-Navy Man, it sure brought back some fond memories of the sea. A riviting account of the storm and lives affected by it! Am looking forward to the movie....I should play one of the rescue swimmers!

Rating:
Summary: A very emotional and well told story.
Review: A must read for anyone interested in boats, meteorology, adventure or just a good story. The author goes in depth with some technical descriptions but manages to maintain a high level of reader interest. The author keeps the reader's emotions pitching as fiercely as the storm whipped seas. Keep the tissues and Dramamine handy!

Rating:
Summary: Hands down the best book I have ever read!
Review: As a burnt out English major it has been difficult to open new books. But, a friend read Junger's erie passage describing, quite realistically, what it is like to drown (because we both had had similar experiences) and I was hitched. To this day I still get chills when I think about the story. Everytime I see fishing vessels or even freighters, I envision the awesome size and power of the storm that battered them around like tooth picks. A must read!

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Summary: Exciting. Informative. Outstanding read!
Review: Wow. What an incredible book. This author reminds me a lot of Jon Krakauer (author of Into Thin Air and Into the Wild). A fabulous read!

Rating:
Summary: Not beyond comprehention
Review: Being there was the feeling after the compelling story, turned the next page ,I felt each moment in the characters lives so vividly portrayed by the author. As the characters began to be introduced and their roles played out I now knew I could not comprehend why they were continuing in their designated foot steps. Sebastian Junger, drew my being into their roles and they were no longer beyond comprehention.A teaching and learning experience. A must read. JJ

Rating:
Summary: a well-researched read
Review: I applaud Junger's decision to stick to the facts. He is a fine investigative reporter as well as a skilled writer. Still, I did a lot of skimming to get through his lengthy scientific/technical discussions of gale forces and boat constuction. I was most fascinated by the stories of the Satori and Air National Guard crews. Like INTO THIN AIR, this book left me to ponder nature's ability to render man helpless even as we approach the twenty -first century.

Rating:
Summary: A white knuckle catastrophe
Review: This story talks @ a ship named A. Gail being lost at sea, and some other peripherals of this Mother of the Storms. It brings you into the story and you get to experience the 100-foot waves and the 70 kt winds. The story is well paced and I think that works, it makes the story an exciting one. It shows you the theme of dangers at sea and a slight glimpse on the human reaction. Pretty good read, I must say.