The Pacific

Hell Was an Ocean Away

By: Hugh Ambrose

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

Length: 23 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

In this companion to the HBO miniseries - executive produced by Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, and Gary Goetzman - Hugh Ambrose reveals the intertwined odysseys of four US Marines and a US Navy carrier pilot during World War II.

Between America's retreat from China in late November 1941 and the moment General MacArthur's airplane touched down on the Japanese mainland in August of 1945, five men connected by happenstance fought the key battles of the war against Japan. From the debacle in Bataan, to the miracle at Midway and the relentless vortex of Guadalcanal, their solemn oaths to their country later led one to the Great Marianas Turkey Shoot and the others to the coral strongholds of Peleliu, the black terraces of Iwo Jima, and the killing fields of Okinawa, until at last the survivors enjoyed a triumphant, yet uneasy, return home.

In The Pacific, Hugh Ambrose focuses on the real-life stories of the five men who put their lives on the line for our country. To deepen the story revealed in the miniseries and go beyond it, the book dares to chart a great ocean of enmity known as The Pacific and the brave men who fought. Some considered war a profession, others enlisted as citizen soldiers. Each man served in a different part of the war, but their respective duties required every ounce of their courage and their strength to defeat an enemy who preferred suicide to surrender. The medals for valor that were pinned on three of them came at a shocking price - a price paid in full by all.

©2010 Hugh Ambrose (P)2010 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Doing for the war against Japan what Band of Brothers did for the war against Germany, Ambrose’s history effectively immerses readers in the Good War’s second front.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Ambrose’s narrative is convincing...[he] shows the possibilities of readable and complex military history.” (Dr. Allan Millett, director, Eisenhower Center for American Studies, The National World War II Museum)

A great read

I enjoyed the book very much, learning a great deal about WWII, the Marines involvement and basically the zeitgeist of the times. Narration is involving and emotional without being overbearing. I like the format of following 5 different people through the war and their personal experiences.

Without knowing the background of the book, other than its being adjunct to the HBO series, I did not know exactly what I was in for. This book does not give a complete history of the war, but personal accounts that tie stories of the war together. It also leans heavily on the writing of E.B. Sledge and his experiences as a Marine in some horrific battles. 360 degree view of the war is not delivered and some stories depended on what happened in previous battles, encouraging/forcing me to look them up in Wikipedia to understand how they affected the current story (which was enjoyable, mostly). What is gives the listener a very personal feel of the war, the times and what these people overcame (and some did not).

Overall I enjoyed this greatly.

The Real Story of War

Every American needs to understand the story told in this book. The sacrifices given by these men and women to overthrow barbarity with freedom must never be forgotten.

Amazing

This story tells us, on so many levels, of the efforts and daily struggles our fellow Americans faced in a unselfish commitment to a nation which was made great by their actions in WWII. We are the benefactors of their glory and sacrifice. This story should make us all proud to be called Americans due solely to the courage of our youth during one of our finest hours.

Lousy

The reader talks in a monotone and it is hard to keep awake. The story is hard to follow because the events are stuck together in such a way that you get confused about who is who and where. The facts of the conflict are presented in a manner lacking veracity. There are better books on the Pacific War that give a less tainted version. This might have been good for TV but for reading ( listening ) it leaves a lot to be desired

Good read!

I would give this book 5 stars but for one thing. There are several places for the author makes assumptions about conversations that might have gone on and interjects them into the storyline. This drives me crazy. The story is good on its own. No need to embellish. All of that being said, this is such a good read, that I am sure I will revisit it again. It reads like a mixture of biographies and history, which it is. It not like written a movie script intended to titillate the reader.

The Pacific – A Flawed but Compelling WWII Epic

The Pacific by Hugh Ambrose is a sweeping narrative that focuses on the experiences of five men during World War II in the Pacific theater. While the book serves as a companion to the acclaimed HBO miniseries of the same name, it offers more in-depth stories of these real-life heroes. The book spans major events like the Battle of Midway and the horrors of Peleliu and Iwo Jima, providing a detailed look at the personal sacrifices and challenges these men faced.

For me, the book was solid but not without its flaws. The narrative jumps between characters frequently, making it hard to follow at times, especially in audio format. This back-and-forth style can be disorienting, and the lack of clear transitions adds to the confusion. However, the historical detail and the portrayal of the relentless brutality of war still make it a worthwhile listen for history buffs.

Mike Chamberlain's narration is steady, but his frequent mispronunciation of key locations and names, like Peleliu, detracts from the overall experience. While his performance wasn't entirely flat, the repetitive pacing and lack of emotional depth made it difficult to stay fully engaged with the story.

Overall, The Pacific is a decent audiobook for those already familiar with World War II history, but it may not be the best starting point for newcomers due to its disjointed structure. If you're a fan of the miniseries, this book offers a deeper dive into the individual stories, though it falls short in execution, especially in the audio format.

The movie should have another name

A bit long, but it covers several stories ans campaigns so there is alot to chew on here. The narrator has a good voice for such a book. 10/10 from me.

NOT like the Series

"The Pacific" is nothing like the HBO miniseries. Not even close to it. But that's not a bad thing at all. It's a very well paced narrative featuring five "characters" from the series who were all real veterans. The only one not featured in this book, save a few references is Robert Leckie. It jumps from narrative to narrative, but not in a confusing fashion at all. It's just their stories. And many of the stories don't overlap. The Pacific campaign was so vast and all encompassing. No wonder there have been volumes and volumes written on this campaign, but one can never learn enough. It gets the reader every time. The fortitude of the marines, pilots, commanders, and others involved is incomparable. What a story that stays with you. Thank you Hugh Ambrose and Mike Chamberlain for such excellent narration.

must read. and i listen to every WW2 book I can..

one of the best must read WW2 books out there. and I read or listen to everyone I can get my hands on.
NUFF SAID!

Too broad, not enough depth

While I enjoyed this audiobook, it was too broad and not enough depth. It's author tried to cover everything within Navy and Marine Corp during WW2. It reads like an Enclopedia and that's being nice about it. Sadly, such a broad approach only scratches the surface. The author should have dropped the Navy portion and delved MUCH deeper into Marine Corp experience.