The Steel Wave: A Novel of World War II

A superb history lesson and a great read to boot!

I thrive on historical novels and Jeff Shaara is my favorite author in this respect. I was fascinated with The Rising Tide (the first in this trilogy) and thought it was the best historical novel I'd ever read. Rising Tide has been supplanted by Steel Wave. I found myself 'googling' time and again the real characters in this novel (Eisenhaer, Patton, Rommel, Montgomery, Bradley) to further expand my knowlege of what REALLY happened at Omaha Beach and Normandy. Can't wait for the last in this series. Then I hope Shaara takes on WW II in the Pacific Theater!

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

It was like he was there!

This book is a must read for all combat veterans. Jeff Shaara writes so close to reality it is as if this book is nonfiction! I have fought in two wars 'Korea and Vietnam' and felt goosebumps come as he entered the very soul of combat with his heart wrenching and sometimes heartwarming narrative that indeed tells it just like Master Sergeant Jack Vinson related WWII and his jump into St Mere E'Glise with General Ridgeway's troops. It was the motivation behind my asking MSG Vinson to be John Wayne's personal technical advisor during the filming of 'The Longest Day' during the early 60s in France.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Good for those looking for a good read regarding the D-Day invasion

I really like how Mr. Shaara focuses on a few characters involved in the D-Day invasion. This is from the infantrymen to the Commanding General. All had their problems and found unique ways to solve them. It was interesting to see the view from Eisenhower's desk and his thoughts about the people he had to deal with every day (Churchhill, Patton, Bradly, Montgomery, etc.).

I am looking forward to the final chapter of the European part of this war and was delighted to see that he will be writing about the war in the Pacific also. No history of WWII would be complete without it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great Read

I have read most of this author's books. Gods and Generals was excellant. This book and the second of the series, Steel Wave are excellant reads. I corresponded with the author and he said that the 3d of the series will be out in probably late summer of 2009 he hopes. Research on going and other works on going at this moment.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Historically accurate. Mesmerizing!

Gift for husband. He was immersed in the book at once. Loved all the accurate history of WWII. Jeff Sharra can't be beat when it comes to wartime historical novels.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

If you like the rest of his books you will not be able to put this down. As always he gives a great point of view from both sides of the line. You can feel the emotion's of each charicter as if they were your own.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A great way to engage with the men who fought the War

The book gives the reader a true since of men from both sides of WWII.

Good Book

These are nice easy reads that I have enjoyed. Jeff has taken a very well known event and given you a sense of being there during the time.

Loved it

I have read all his WWll books except The Final Storm and I am reading that now. Loved it. Would highly recommend all his books.

Good series

Enjoying this series quite a bit

"Gripping"

This book was an unstoppable read from cover to cover. I am no history buff but could not put this book down. Shaara's vivid portrayal of the men, the battles and the Normandy Invasion give an experience to the reader of an historical event they could not have unless they had been there. A masterful achievement! I am ordering the other WWII books now!

A great read)!

Although I have read a number of books on this aspect of WWII, I enjoyed this book the most. The detail ... the soliders... the pain... the victory...this is one of the great books about written about D-Day. I really felt like I was there - couldn't put it down.

The Steel Wave

This book had a little more action than the first in the series. Again, too much general politics and strategy discussion and not enough action to my liking. I also thought there should have been a little more equal time in the action sections to get both German and Allied character views. Still a good book.

Shaara makes history come alive

His treatment of history through the eyes of individuals who were involved in the events makes the story much more meaningful. You can almost feel that you are a part of the event.

Great historical fiction

Shaara artfully blends "story" and "history". His novels about the Second World War brought that conflict to life as few books of fiction have. He now applies the same eye for character and detail to the period leading up to the Normandy Invasion. If you want a very readable refresher on that event, here's your book.

Epic

This book is great. I read the first one not knowing anything about the author and was thrilled. I have read many good WWII books but none compare to this. The historical fiction content, although controversial is very accurate. I enjoyed every second of it.

History with a twist

In This secound book of three about World War II, Jeff Shaara takes the reader through the period leading up to D-Day throuth the breakout from the Normandy beaches. His novel uses actual historic facts, but as seen and experienced throth the eyes of fictional slodiers. This makes for a very readable book, but retains all the facts surrounding this time in history. For any World War II buff "The Steel Wave is a must.

In depth view of WWII from a closer look

I found this book to be an excellent view of the war in a way that I could relate to the feelings and fears of the characters the author uses to bring it to life. I really enjoy the style of the author and have read all of his books so far. I really felt disappointed when I read the last chapter. I would have wanted even more. I am looking forward to reading the third part of this WWII trilogy when it is finally in print.

good

A very thrilling edge of the seat book with twists and turns on every turn

Can't Miss Read!

If you would like to experience the feel of what the veterans of World War II went through and what they thought as they experienced the horrors of war this is the book for you. Jeff is a chip off the old block. I have read his and his father's books and would highly recommend them.