Into the Rising Sun

Vet accounts = 5 stars; Narrator = 1 star

Another reviewer was correct; the stories from the vets were amazing, but the somewhat long-winded overviews at the beginnnings of the chapters were often said again later, word for word. Add to that the narrator's monotone, constant mispronunciation of the word "corpsman" (hint: it's CORE-man) and some sloppy editing and you've got something that detracts from otherwise excellent source material: the stories of the vets themselves.

Overall, I found it worth listening to, but not a great audio production. 3 stars.

12 people found this helpful

World War II in the Pacific up close

This books gives a view of World War II in first hand accounts stitched together by a narrative that puts the events in the larger context. It is realistic, wrenching and full of every day as well as extraordinary heroics that rangers, marines, paratroopers and others in the front line brought to the war in the Pacific. It is read in the same matter-of-fact tone that the people telling the events seemed to have. Hearing it makes it even more effective because it's like the you are hearing the men themselves tell their stories. A great audiobook.

6 people found this helpful

Great idea - terribly executed.

Great idea - terribly executed. It is very repetitive covering the same ground two and sometimes three times. Also the intro says it is for Audible kids - the graphic descriptions of events within the stories being told by veterans is NOT something kids should be hearing in this way.

5 people found this helpful

Tedious and repetitive

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but each anecdote started with the narrator describing what the eyewitness was going to say. Then the story from the veteran. You have to listen to the same story, twice. This is fine for people with very short attention spans but if you're going to pay attention to your audiobook, this is not a title for you.

8 people found this helpful

Amazing and breath taking

This book is jaw dropping the stories these great men tell is unbelievable. Really makes you understand why this generation of Americans is considered one of the best. The sacrifice and heroism is 2nd to none.

Heavy Hitting and Powerful.

It is difficult to believe how horrible the conditions were for troops in the second World War. I am forever thankful for the sacrifices of our veterans.

Excellent collection of first person ww2 stories

This book has a collection of impressive ww2 stories, as told by soldiers who lived it in the Pacific theatre. The author provides context for the chapters, so that the reader/listener understands where the story took place.
My only issue is that there is no way to make sense of who is talking, author or storyteller because there are no breaks in the pace of the narrative. Too bad, this made the experience confusing.
Otherwise, great book!

A hard listen.

“You can’t handle the truth.” That is the way I felt reading this book. It is a very hard listen! These former WWII soldiers finally, towards the ends of their lives, open up some very personal feelings about what happened in the South Pacific at that time. It was not pretty. In fact, it was down right ugly. War is hell, there is nothing else that can be said. The only redeeming factor was the great love these soldiers had for one another, and often, the tender feelings they had for their enemies. But it was kill or be killed, and these survivors chose to kill. What a choice!

Great story .. ruined by :

The narrator sounds like he is gargling with gravel. Very distracting,
Just wished they would have actual stories read by the story tellers.

Hard to accept the reality of war

Hard listening to the reality of war that so many have lived through. Important for our future peace.