Not Just Another War Story

By: Wayne G. MacDowell

Narrated by: Tom Lennon

Length: 18 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Not Just Another War Story transports the listener back in time in one of the most compelling World War II stories in many years. The author masterfully weaves this true-to-life story through authentic towns and places of conflict that were focal points in the war where we find all the reflections of love, conflict, and hope that wartime brings.

It's been six months since the surprise attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor.... Now, it is the spring of 1942....

Steve Carmichael has just graduated from the University of Florida. From the time he was a boy growing up on a Central Florida cattle ranch, he has been flying. His dad had purchased an old mail-route bi-plane when Steve was 11 and, within a year, the youngster was soaring with the birds in the airplane. As young men go off to fight in the war, Steve places a professional baseball career with the Detroit Tigers on hold...making the decision to join the Army Air Corps - his desire is to pilot the four-engine B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber into battle. He has no idea that ahead he will find strength he didn't know he had and a once in a lifetime chance at love. You can almost hear the roar of B-17 engines when you fly along with Steve and his crew as they do battle in the dangerous sky above occupied Europe. Each of the exciting bombing missions flown in Not Just Another War Story is an authentic 305th Bomb Group raid on the enemy.

Experience the action-packed air battles of World War II as the airmen try to survive...only to fly into battle on the next mission with the possibility of being shot down over enemy territory. Evading capture and making it safely back to England...with the help of the Dutch-French Underground would most certainly be the key to survival. This is a story of hope, dreams, and love in a war-torn world. Not Just Another War Story places you in a front-row seat as this world War II adventure unfolds.

©2015 Wayne G. MacDowell (P)2016 Wayne G. MacDowell

"Keeps your interest for the entire book"

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes I would recommend this with hands down

What was one of the most memorable moments of Not Just Another War Story?

When Steve made it back to England

Which character – as performed by Tom Lennon – was your favorite?

Steve

If you could rename Not Just Another War Story, what would you call it?

Would not change it

Any additional comments?

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author, publisher, or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review. I was NOT required to write a positive review and this reflects my honest opinion of the work.

Fantastic Realism

Would you consider the audio edition of Not Just Another War Story to be better than the print version?

N/A - never read print version

What other book might you compare Not Just Another War Story to and why?

Probably Saving Private Ryan. Not a book about the big Generals, but about every day soldiers.

Which character – as performed by Tom Lennon – was your favorite?

Steve - Perfect voice for the role. There are probably dozens of characters in a book this long and it was always clear who was speaking, some were better than others, but all were acceptable.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The entire bus trip

Any additional comments?

The book is very long - longer than the story requires, but there is so much detailed history in every chapter that the extra length is important. Reads like a memoir, not a novel.

Thank you for your service

What did you love best about Not Just Another War Story?

The complete story from recruiting until discharge.

What other book might you compare Not Just Another War Story to and why?

Not sure you can compare 2 different soldiers lives in combat.

What about Tom Lennon’s performance did you like?

He spoke clean and precise.

Who was the most memorable character of Not Just Another War Story and why?

How is was most memorable to me because it explains the bonds of brotherhood us vets form while deployed.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast.

Engrossing

Reads as a fast-paced personal account of a man who has finished college and signs up to join the US Army Air Corps in the early days of our entrance into the war in Europe. It then moves along thru his training and then active participation into deadly air combat and it's personal costs.
Very well-researched and well written throughout. The story moves along smoothly and the reader is engaged early on. There is a sense of being present with the pilots and crews whether on land or in the air because of all of the details included in the telling. An excellent read.
Tom Lennon is a real credit to the author and the material.

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."

A Novel that reads like History

Just as I was wondering how the author was going to fill all these hours with just additional bombing runs - the entire book changes. While the first half is very good, the second half which takes place in German Occupied territory is both exciting and very fascinating.A look at the lives of non-combatants I have never seen before.

The narration was excellent in that very quickly I just paid no attention to it at all. I was listening to the characters and the author, not a narrator.

Very matter of fact..

What did you like best about this story?

It no nonsense, the author tell it like it is. I know little about aircraft but how he explains it does not make you feel dumb for not knowing.

Which character – as performed by Tom Lennon – was your favorite?

The father, because I am also a father and I can relate to how proud he felt when he talked to his son.

Any additional comments?

You can feel the story was a retelling of the author life but he does not bore you with uneventful information. Everything written had a purpose. Even if you are not a history buff, this book will give you sense of what it was like during that time.

*I received a free copy of this audio book for an honest review.*

Keeps your interest for the entire book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, One of the character's in the book was the Uncle of the author. While the book is fiction it is based on many real events and facts. Anyone that says it is not well researched is just plane wrong.

What does Tom Lennon bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

There are dozens of characters in this very long novel and he gives each an authentic and unique personality.

Who was the most memorable character of Not Just Another War Story and why?

Steve Carmichael. This guy is your average guy next door who happens to be a great athlete as well as a pilot.

Any additional comments?

I found the detailed look into everyday life in Occupied France and Belgium fascinating. It is part of the War never written about.

Not an enjoyable book for me....

This is the story of a B17 pilot during WWII.

I wanted to like this audiobook, I truly did. I'm a huge history buff and WWII is one of my favorite eras. However, after 5 hours of torturous listening, I finally gave up on this one.

Another reviewer commented that this book was "well researched", it wasn't. There were two things that grated on me. During a bombing raid, the author has the tail gunner call out "Bogies at 11 o'clock!", this isn't possible. If you think of the airplane as a clock face, the front of the plane would be pointing up. Thus 12 o'clock is right in front of the pilot, 12 o'clock high is in front and above the aircraft and 12 o'clock low is in front and below the aircraft. The planes 11 o'clock position is slightly to the left of the front of the plane. At best the tail gunner can see between 4 and 7 o'clock. Maybe I'm being too nit picky, but for a book that supposed to be well researched, this is a glaring error.

Plus, every mission felt the same, the plane took off, flew for a little while, dropped it's bombs and came back. Every mission. I never once felt any tension during the mission, even during the one they got "shot up". There was very little discussion about the targets, what the plane felt like to fly while shot up, etc. etc. etc. It was all very redundant and boring.

Then there was the narration and the technical issues in the recording of the book. The narrator was ok (barely), but the overall quality of the recording was inconsistent. The audio level would get softer, then get louder, then get softer again. There were obvious sections where the narrator had to do a retake and edit in. This is no big deal, except the quality of the retakes were horrendous. They were so bad they almost sounded like a different narrator, and this would happen several times in a chapter. This is a very unprofessional recording.

I think the author was trying to create a "Winds of War" type of story, but it ultimately fails on very many levels. Don't waste your credit on this, get "Winds of War" instead and listen to a fantastic audiobook!

This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast.