The Perfect Storm

Rating:
Summary: Informative, entertaining
Review: "The Perfect Storm" is the perfect book for anyone who is curious. . .about weather and what makes it, about boats and how they (usually) survive rough seas, about commercial fishing and the people who do it, about lifesaving, about what it's like to drown. It's fascinating stuff, cleverly packaged as a story well told.

Rating:
Summary: this is lightweight journalism
Review: Light on content, light on analysis, medium-to-light on characterization, all in all it reads like a not-very-good magazine article, inflated to book length. If it were fiction it would be without worth. As non-fiction there's an occasional thrill, but it should tell more than it does (I wanted to know more about the storm!) And as journalism the author fails to connect solidly with the story.

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Summary: For those who enjoyed this book . . .
Review: I should immediately say that I have not yet read this book, but I would like to let readers and prospective readers know that this book will be a Featured Selection on Discovery Online starting November 3. The idea is that those taking part will read the book during the same period and discuss it online. The author will be online also during the period to respond to readers' questions and comments. I am not connected with Discovery Online, just passing on the information! The address is www.discovery.com

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Summary: Can't wait for the author's next book.
Review: When I first read the reviews of this book, I had almost decided not to read it, as it sounded too graphic, and frankly depressing, (I don't generally like reading about people getting killed.) But fortunately, I received the book as a present, and I'm glad I did. It was as harrowing as I though it would be, well written, and in spite of the ending, suspenseful. Some reviewers have mentioned it as being plot driven, but to me that's the point of a book like this - I want to know what happened, and don't need to be amazed and/or distracted by the authors literary flourishes. To those who didn't like some of the "boring detail" I would say that that goes with a story about ships, airplanes and meteorology. Having been a navy aircrewman and flown over the North Atlantic is bad weather, I found the aviation sections of the book accurate and evocative of what its like to be there. Everyone I know who has read this book and has some experience with the sea, has thoroughly enjoyed it, and they all recommend it. So do I.

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Summary: The best book that I have read in five years.
Review: The Perfect Storm is simply an amazing book. To think that the author is able to give such a compelling and satisfying telling of an event that, by necessity, involves facts that always remain shrouded in uncertaintyis the most incredible aspect of this work. Yet one is always completely aware of where the author is speaking from the fruits of his reportage of this event and where he is utilizing his exhaustive research to link and complete the narrative (such as his "description" of a human drowning). This is a work of true genius and I have recommended it to all of my friends. Surely, a Pulitzer or National Book Award winner.

Rating:
Summary: There but for the Grace of God...
Review: I was given this book by my father, who commented that he was glad I no longer worked on a fishing boat. In 1979 I worked on the Sea Fever, a boat owned by Bob Brown, and mentioned in this book. Junger describes the fishing industry and more importantly the people to a tee. His accounts of the times on "the island" as well as those at sea are right on the money. Thankfully, we never had to ride out a storm such as the one that scuttled the Andrea Gail. We always hated going out, but mayby thats why we tried to have so much fun when we hit the beach.

Rating:
Summary: Gripping story, but so-so presentation
Review: Like many people who love to read, the best books for me are the ones into which you "fall", in which a hole seems to open up into the pages and you no longer simply read; instead, you EXPERIENCE the story. "The Perfect Storm" had such moments, I thought. The horrific description of drowning, the attempted rescues by helicopter, even the Coast Guard buoys being battered by mountains of water seemed real to me, seemed tangible. Unfortunately, I found myself repeatedly taken out of the story by the style of storytelling. I continually had to ask myself if a particular passage was the result of any degree of evidence, or if it was pure fiction sprung from the authors' head. This, in and of itself, certainly didn't turn the book into a dog read, but I found it to be distracting. That said, I DID enjoy the book. It isn't necessarily graceful, or fluid, but I don't think that Junger meant it to be as such. What he does is tell a story, a TRUE story. And, in the end, the facts of the storm and of the human drama involved overcome whatever limitations you may find in the books' "technical" merits.

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Summary: I'm recommending this book to all my friends! A great read!
Review: As a lover of the ocean's beauty and forever in awe of its power, I was totally captivated by this book. Was so moved by this story, and for the crew of the Andrea Gail, I made my husband make a detour from our recent trip to Nantucket, to Gloucester. Visited the Crow's Nest at ten in the morning ... Bobby Shatford's picture hanging on the wall and all the details of this rough fishing town are exactly as Mr. Junger described it. I was even lucky enough to meet Ethel. When is Mr. Junger's next book coming out?

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: Unlike some who appear to not enjoy the technical details, I found this book enjoyable mainly because of the combination of a riveting true story and lots of fascinating details about weather, fishing, wave dynamics, naval architecture, Coast Guard rescues, etc. What a great book.

Rating:
Summary: An absolutely phenomenonal voyage
Review: I ordered this book only because it was recommended by Amazon the day I logged on. Nothing about the topic really interested me. This is why they say do not judge a book by it's cover (even though it's a cool one) Now I will always listen to their suggestions! It is without a doubt one of the most well written, descriptive, insightful, driven novels I have ever read. It is an allegory of real life. The fishing lingo is a little technical, but I sort of glossed over those parts. I was so excited about it I gift wrapped it ten minutes after I had finished it and gave it to my dad for his birthday. I also immediately went to buy more books recommended by Amazon.