While unbelievably long, detailed, even mundane at times, this book is the best way imaginable to digest the history of the era leading up to America's entry into World War II. Herman Wouk's work is amazingly detailed, and provides so many different perspectives into the global climate that produced "the winds of war." My parents were of the WWII era, I lived one year in Germany (1968), and visited Pearl Harbor, and I was a history major in college. This book is real, humbling, eye-opening and passionate. It is a perfect summation of all I have read, heard, and seen of the juxtaposition of people, places, and politics that forever changed the World.

After weeks of having Mr. Wouk and Mr. Pariseau (who is nothing short of brilliant) in my car with me - I'm looking forward to more by diving into "War and Remembrance".

Kevin Pariseau is fantastic and makes this book come to life. The way he switches between, characters, accents and genders during the dialogue portions of the book is incredible. Even though this book is really long, I've enjoyed every minute of it!

Great story, keeps you interested. I really enjoyed the perspective. My only complaint is the narrator speaks too slow. This is easily fixed by changing the talking speed to 1.5.

yes

PUG

very talented voice actor

yes

Wouk seems to capture the essence of the 1940s americana. Great storytelling - cuts right through all the fluff usually associated with retelling WW2 and gets to how people were thinking and feeling. Very entertaining and interesting

I am so amazed by Wouk's ability to write a GOOD story. It was so very complete and well structured. The story flowed so very easily. I am really, very impressed. This book takes a lot of time, but if a book keeps me up late, hurting myself to find a stopping place so I can sleep, it gets 5 stars. Well done.

The story was really interesting, informative and captivating. Little by little, you're drawn in to this world and to the characters. You want to know what happens to them because you've gotten to know them and you care about them.

Character development and the descriptive settings and events in the story. You hear from different characters through their own unique perspective.

Kevin Pariseau gives everyone a different voice and accent. I liked FDR's character as I heard him given a voice by Kevin. It was excellent work.

As I listened to the noose tightening around Natalie and Aaron's living situation, I kept thinking that I wanted to tell them to get out, get out of there, right now!

I've already purchased

So many things. Great story to begin with, and a great narration made it so very listenable.

Byron-because he grew so much in the story-but this also has to include War and Remembrance.

No, but he is very, very good. I love the way he can impersonate famous characters, and even songs of the era.

I think the name is too good to change.

Don't miss this!

Herman Wouk is a master both of the history of his period here, and of storytelling. Although as an American Jewish writer, he must have very painful feelings about the wartime events in Europe - especially in Poland, Russia, and Germany itself - he is able to inhabit the point of view of all his characters, whatever their nationality: the American family, the American Jewish family, the English family, and many other characters. One even sees Hitler and Roosevelt as real people - and in a slightly different light. This is astonishing because it enabled me to experience much more clearly than in a fictional film or documentary a little of what it meant to be alive in those various countries during WW2.

In its scope and focus on a handful of families involved, it might by some people be compared to Ken Follett's Fall of Giants about the First World War

This was the first time I heard Kevin Pariseau as narrator. Male and female characters were equally convincing, I thought. He also made a very good shot at the various European accents as well as giving Pug Henry exactly the warm strength that I felt he would have.

A major part of the book for me, was just how involved I felt with these people. Unlike us, they have no overview of the years they are living through, day by day. They can only guess at what is going to happen and hope for the best. There are even certain key points when you know more than they do and yet are unable to warn them or give help when they are powerless. The way the author ensured I felt empathy for the heightened experiences of war -the characters' ambitions, passions, fear, guilt, terror, powerlessness, fury, but also their humour, courage and love - this seemed to me to be the triumph of this book. The various strands of their stories did more than keep my interest all the way through - it kept me as anxious and hoping for a happy outcome as if these were people really known to me.

Superb story & narration

Pug Henry. The story is told thru his eyes.

No. He's not the very best I've ever heard, but he kept a very long story enjoyable. Other than some small mispronunciations, I'd be hard-pressed to criticize his performance. Very strong.

Pug

Was planning to wait quite awhile before listening to the sequel before I listened to the first one. Loved this so much that I will probably get it in the next few days.

Yes, I rated this book 5 Stars in all three categories.

But, there are two stars here; Herman Wouk and Kevin Pariseau. The story Wouk tells is incredibly compelling and engaging. Just when I though I might have had enough of one character or situation he switched gears and always left me wanting more.
Pariseau, I think, is brilliant. So many characters, nationalities, accents and ages; but he does them all and does them well. He brought those characters to life for me in a way I may not have done reading the book.

I can't wait for War and Remembrance.