While *The Winds of War*, the first book in this series, masterfully blended a captivating fictional narrative with the historical events leading up to America's involvement in World War II, *War and Remembrance (The Henry Family, #2)* completely misses the mark in balancing fiction and reality. The fictional aspect feels thin and uninspired, easily condensed into a mere 100-200 pages. (Yet, the book stretches beyond 1,000!) The overwhelming majority of this novel focuses on the history of World...

Absolutely brilliant and, at times, utterly unforgettable. Herman Wouk's *War and Remembrance (The Henry Family, #2)* is a towering achievement. A truly remarkable read for those who appreciate historical fiction and epic storytelling.

“[W]hat a target, that mess of airplanes [on the Japanese aircraft carrier] rushing up at him now in the telescopic sight, so clear that he could see white numbers on the fuselages…No other this yet; he’d go. Now his heart was racing, his mouth was parched, and his ears seemed about to burst. He yanked the bomb release, felt the jolt of lightness as the missile flew clear, remembered to keep going to make sure he didn’t throw the bomb, and he pulled up…His body sagged to the seat, his head swam,...

Reread (and a partial watch of the miniseries for now, though I haven't gotten to the audiobook yet) – this was even better than I remembered from years ago. While it's harrowing and dark, reflecting the times, I still feel that some of Herman Wouk's choices, made to force us to experience those dark times through characters we're invested in, could have been executed in a less contrived way. Looking for historical fiction book reviews? "War and Remembrance (The Henry Family, #2)" is a powerful,...

Every so often, I get a hankering for something a bit different, especially in audiobook format since my husband and I share them. And his tolerance for romance is, shall we say, limited. So, I ventured outside my usual comfort zone to give *The Winds of War* (the book before *War and Remembrance (The Henry Family, #2)*) a shot, given its reputation as the definitive WWII historical fiction novel. I trudged through *The Winds of War* during my daily commutes, alternating between utter boredom an...

"War and Remembrance (The Henry Family, #2)" absolutely deserves 5 STARS! Along with "The Winds of War," it sets the Gold Standard for historical fiction about World War II. Readers should seriously think about reading "The Winds of War" before diving into "War and Remembrance (The Henry Family, #2)" for a couple of key reasons. First, the initial book in this two-part series acts as a prequel. Understanding the story and characters beforehand makes the second book that much more rewarding. Se...

I read *War and Remembrance (The Henry Family, #2)* back in the 80s at the same time as a friend. She loved it and kind of steered me towards it (we both liked Robert Ludlum, Frederick Forsyth, and a few other authors). I can't say I liked it as much as she did. This duology focused so intensely on the romances and love lives of the characters that I was thoroughly sick of them by the time I finished. As far as I was concerned, the books basically became one long, drawn-out soap opera. The char...

I honestly don't think I'm capable of writing a review that does this incredible book justice. "War and Remembrance (The Henry Family, #2)" meticulously details the history of the Second World War, but thankfully, it avoids getting bogged down in statistics, which is perfect for me. I can always make time to understand the numbers, but it's the human stories that truly matter. Whenever I read about World War II, I want to know what happened to the individuals involved: what they experienced, ho...

This review covers both books in Herman Wouk's sweeping World War II saga, *The Winds of War* and *War and Remembrance (The Henry Family, #2)*. Together, they chronicle the experience and evolution of Victor Henry, a U.S. Navy officer, his family, and the diverse cast of characters – American and international – whose lives are interwoven with the monumental events of the global conflict. Like all truly great novels, these books aren't just for entertainment; they aim to educate and convey profo...

This book completely consumed my life for a solid two months, and I'll never be the same person. I actually read "War and Remembrance (The Henry Family, #2)" before "Winds of War," which is supposed to be read first. I'd recommend reading them in order, but honestly, I think "War and Remembrance (The Henry Family, #2)" is just a bit better. It's a sweeping story about a family during World War II, and you become deeply invested in every single character. You really come to understand all their c...