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stevem0214's review against another edition
5.0
Great book that is the 2nd in the Jake Grafton Series and completes his time just after Vietnam. I've read this book many times, but not recently. I love the Jake Grafton character!!
liberrydude's review against another edition
4.0
Written in 1994 but set in 1973. This is a great glimpse into what life aboard a US Navy warship is like during a WestPac deployment. I was deployed for 15 months on two deployments from 1988-1991 aboard amphibious shipping in the same waters. It’s also a familiar glimpse into naval aviation and its allure and danger. It should be eye opening to those unfamiliar with life at sea.
Jake Grafton, a pilot, gets in a bar fight while on shore duty and is sent as punishment TAD with a Marine A-6 squadron on deployment. Two different cultures. His bombardier navigator is a seasoned combat veteran who was originally an infantry officer. He’s also African American and quite a talker. These two have quite a few adventures and near death experiences. Jake is ready to leave the Navy and wrestling with the decision to stay or leave. He’s also in love with a woman in Chicago who’s not returning his letters. The author handles his inner struggles realistically. Just a great read.
Jake Grafton, a pilot, gets in a bar fight while on shore duty and is sent as punishment TAD with a Marine A-6 squadron on deployment. Two different cultures. His bombardier navigator is a seasoned combat veteran who was originally an infantry officer. He’s also African American and quite a talker. These two have quite a few adventures and near death experiences. Jake is ready to leave the Navy and wrestling with the decision to stay or leave. He’s also in love with a woman in Chicago who’s not returning his letters. The author handles his inner struggles realistically. Just a great read.
readerxxx's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first. not enough conflict or story.
sharpness's review against another edition
3.0
I'm a lover of Naval aviation, so damn near any author of its experience could sell me a book. I read this because I enjoyed "Flight of the Intruder", but it wasn't nearly as well structured or interesting. It's kind of the beating of a tired horse.
It's worth a read for the love of the characters, not so much for the story.
It's worth a read for the love of the characters, not so much for the story.
rlh033's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jfranco77's review against another edition
4.0
Stephen Coonts finds a way to make peace interesting for Jake Grafton. After surviving Vietnam, Jake finds he doesn't really fit into the civilian world, throws a peacemonger through a plate glass window and gets assigned to teach Marines how to fly A-6s off an aircraft carrier as "punishment."
It's the height of the Cold War, so Jake and his Marines are constantly training for a war that may never come, and training is almost as dangerous as war. This book is a bit slow moving, with lots of inner monologue about what Jake wants to be, what will become of Callie, what the point of it is, etc. But there are some good action sequences, and Coonts keeps things moving.
It's the height of the Cold War, so Jake and his Marines are constantly training for a war that may never come, and training is almost as dangerous as war. This book is a bit slow moving, with lots of inner monologue about what Jake wants to be, what will become of Callie, what the point of it is, etc. But there are some good action sequences, and Coonts keeps things moving.
jeffstevens's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed the heck out of this book for the very simple reason that I love stories about naval aviation. There's not an overarching plot so much as a series of true stories that all happen to Jake Grafton or his shipmates. It gave what I felt like was an insight into the challenges of being in the dream job of so many of us. It is a life I thought I wanted at one point in my life, so I enjoyed seeing a glimpse into what it may actually be like.
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