Bullets and Barbed Wire

A Gripping Exploration of WWII in the Pacific Theater - from Guadalcanal to Cape Gloucester

By: Daniel Wrinn

Narrated by: Gary Williams

Length: 7 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Discover a newfound appreciation for the war in the Pacific.

From the shores of Cape Gloucester to the quiet atolls and islands of the Solomon Sea, the Second World War left a profound mark on this sheltered corner of the globe, which would be felt for decades to come. Caught in the center of a vicious struggle between two superpowers, these islands would form an unconventional battleground for the US Marines and the Japanese Navy.

This book offers you a new look at the WWII Pacific Theater, providing an enlightening glimpse into the battles and campaigns during the Allied offensive. With a breakdown of three significant US campaigns:

• Operation Watchtower, a riveting exploration of the spark that set off the Allied offensive in the Pacific islands, detailing the grueling struggle for the island of Guadalcanal and its vital strategic position
• Operation Galvanic, an incredible account of the battle for the Tarawa Atoll and base that would give them a stepping stone into the heart of Japanese-controlled waters
• And Operation Backhander, which offers a gripping retelling of the war for Cape Gloucester, New Guinea, and the Bismarck Sea

Each of these momentous operations are fascinating feats of strategy, planning, and bravery, handing the Allies what would eventually become a victory over the Pacific Theater and an end to Imperialist Japanese expansion.

This brilliant audiobook sheds light on this often-overlooked facet of WWII, providing students, history fans, and World War II buffs alike with a captivating breakdown of history and combat that defined the beginning of the US offensive in the Pacific.

©2020 Griffin Smith (P)2020 Griffin Smith

Great narrative

Daniel Wrinn knows how to write a concise overview of the Pacific theatre, specifically the Guadalcanal campaign and the aftermath. It’s a nonstop volley if back and forth between the US and Japan. Each chapter is well purposed. This is a great read. And Gary Williams’ narration is spot on. Well done.

A great examination of a piece of history

The pacific theater has always been of special Interest to me as my grandfather taught in it. I even have a book that was about his unit and their actions. This particular book that you are reading about now is very well written and conveys not only the pet the battles played in the war, the tech, the units, etc but it also gives many anecdotal incidents of the personal performance of many troops and their personal impacts on the battles. Perhaps the best thing I can say about this book as I listen to many of them (and force my kids to listen while I drive) is as follows. My 16 year old teen son who is not a reader: “hey dad, this one is really cool” can you pause it so I can listen from here when you pick me up from work later?” Enjoy it. We did. I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator or publisher

Excellent coverage, not to in-depth but not overly shallow.

This book covers three battles. One pivotal, one of debatable importance, and one most people haven’t heard of. Each battle gets about 2 hours of coverage and is an excellent balance between to much detail and leaving out important information. Look there are 30 hour books on Guadalcanal alone. I think Mr Wrinn did an excellent job here covering the personalities involved and the land, air, and sea aspect of the Pacific war. We know why decisions were made and what both sides were thinking and how everything played out. But it’s not just from an operational overview standpoint. There is plenty of on the ground commentary as well to keep you engaged. Would especially recommend if interested in Cape Glouster campaign.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Overview of the WWII Pacific Theatre of Operations

I really enjoyed this interesting and informative look at WWI's Pacific campaigns, mostly with regard to the marine units involved in the fighting although there is some information on the naval battles and air operations that went hand in hand with the heavy slogging in the jungles of the south Pacific. Wrinn talks about not only what happened during the war, but the major players, including how they came to figure in the battles and what happened to them after. He also provides brief information on the weapons and equipment the military forces relied upon.
There are, undoubtedly, more detailed documents on individual players, battles and military ordinance available, but this book provides an excellent overview for the casual reader or a jumping off point and overview for the more scholarly student and Wrinn has a rare talent for taking what could be a dry account of place names and body counts and bringing it to life .
I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know a bit more about American action in the south Pacific during the Second World War.

Fighting for the Islands of the Pacific

This is a gripping account of three battles for Pacific Islands during World War II. Taken together they show the evolution of Allied fighting strategy in the Pacific as the U.S. marines learned how to handle their Japanese opponents.

Despite a thick level of detail, this book reads very quickly. It’s an exciting account and often tragic as there are a significant number of men who die after we’ve followed their actions. I’ve read a lot of books on World War II and this one really brings you onto the sand and into the jungle, making you understand the stakes and the challenges as it accounts the actions of these very courageous men.

A summarized history with a terrible narrator.

it's a decent enough short history of the Pacific island hopping campaign, going into detail about the battles themselves.
The narration was rather horrendous; mispronouncing names and common words alike. Plus the microphone picked up a multitude of annoying whistling and other air noises from the narrator's speech.

Good investigation into specifics

Really enjoyed this. Unfortunately, we are on the road and having maps to follow of the areas covered would have made it more enjoyable. I can listen again once we stay put somewhere. 🙂