Rating: 
Summary: The Perfect Blunder
Review: I have never seen the movie so I'm not swayed by those discussions. I listen to at least one book on tape a week and enjoy this format for most books. I found the history of the boat, weather patterns, etc. interesting and enjoyable. The book was OK. But to listen to it was completely confusing. Three quarters of the way through he starts introducing new people and just gives a tiny bit of history of them and soon you're lost as to who he's talking about. If you're actually holding the book you can flip back and check yourself but to listen to it you just have to plow forward. To dedicate so much of the book to one crew and then suddenly jump to several other boats and many other people was just plain confusing. There is some sailor language.
Rating: 
Summary: The Perfect Storm - I was Blown Away
Review: Sebastian Junger should be so flattered by the story that the screenplay writer and director molded out of his book. Going into the book with preset expectations, I was saddened and disappointed to find that the book does, indeed, live up to its title, period. More of a biography of the weather systems involved, than focusing on the crew of the Andrea Gail. Having seen the movie first, after reading the actual book I was left with a feeling of missing so much that was contained in the story-line of the movie. Had I read the book prior to viewing the movie, I would never have been inclined to do the latter.
If one has purchased the DVD and reviewed the special feature section, the commentary with Mr. Junger reveals the majority of the content of this book.
Realizing that movies can be quite different from the original writing and taking this into account, a review of the book on its own merit still leads this reader to say that it is more of an academic and fact-finding piece than a story with an on-going plot in which one may get caught-up.
Kudos to Director Wolfgang Peterson, who must have been looking through the eyes of a genius to see such a wonderful story in the midst of such a hodge-podge of facts.
On a more positive note, I now know how large a wave it would take to roll over or pitch-pole a boat of any given size. Also, having grown up on the coast of Florida, I have long agreed that fishing is an extremely dangerous trade. Knowing that the movie certainly resulted in the world realizing what a precarious profession fishing is, Mr. Junger deserves the credit for opening that door.
Thank you for this opportunity to express my thoughts on this book.
Sincerely,
Jessica
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Approach
Review: Sebastian Junger uses a fascinating approach to writing his nonfiction bestseller, The Perfect Storm. While Hollywood based its screen play primarily upon a fictitious account of what occurred on the Andrea Gail after the sword-fishing boat left Gloucester, Junger is less focal and more inclusive about other vessels and people that were affected by this most terrifying collision of storms. He is very careful to separate fact (validated by his research and interviews with pertinent people) from that which is speculated. In all, this book is an historical account that keeps the reader engaged, especially with the heroic stories of rescue. Unfortunately, six men lost their lives on the Andrea Gail thirteen years ago; however, the memory of these men live on through their friends, family, and community, as well as this book which serves as a fitting tribute.
Rating: 
Summary: The Perfect Journalism
Review: Regardless of personal choice, this book is an outstanding piece of journalism.The loss of the men in which you began to love as brothers, sons or friends; The tragedy of the fisherman; The bravery of the rescue services and the relentlessness of the most powerful force on Earth are all drawn together in a devistating and incredible tale. Forget the film - it's more than just disappointing in comparrison. The Perfect Storm is a modern classic and i'd recommend it without hesitation.
Rating:
Summary: Like to learn when you read?
Review: You'll learn about the swordfishing business, meteorology, oceanography--and the science of drowning. I read the book in one sitting--a long sitting. (Perfect for a rainy day).
Yes, the author makes his own story of the happenings on the Andrea Gale but it made sense to me. The author's story rendition brought to life what must be one of the most frightening things to experience and to not live to talk about.
The only thing that bothered me is that the author was able to go to press with some glaring errors in the book--especially one page near the end where he either misnames a nuclear plant (it should be the Seabrooke plant) or mislocates the one he names (Pilgrim is in Plymouth, MA) and misspells "Scituate, MA." Also, some of his sentences don't agree in verb tense... and sometimes his pronoun uses maddeningly doesn't match the antecedent...and once the punctuation was wrong!...but you can tell I'm a nerd...
Read it! It's good for you!
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