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O'Hara's Choice
In the years following America's terrible Civil War, the fate of the U.S. Marine Corps rests in the capable hands of Zachary O'Hara. A first-generation Irish-American and son of a legendary war hero, O'Hara is the one man who can prevent the dissolution of his father's beloved "Wart-Hogs," thereby ensuring his own future as a valuable member of this proud and vital branch of his nation's armed forces. But a dark secret weighs heavily on this tormented, dedicated warrior. And the greatest obstacle to his mission is one he never Amanda Blanton Kerr, the passionate, obstinate daughter of the ruthless industrialist who's the Corps' fiercest adversary. A beautiful heiress on a mission of her own, her destiny will intertwine with O'Hara's in the tumultuous decades to follow, forcing him to confront the devastating choice no soldier should ever have to between his duty and his desire; between his country and his heart.
472 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 7, 2003
228 people are currently reading
642 people want to read
About the author
Leon Uris
87 books1,630 followersLeon Marcus Uris (August 3, 1924 - June 21, 2003) was an American novelist, known for his historical fiction and the deep research that went into his novels. His two bestselling books were Exodus, published in 1958, and Trinity, in 1976.
Leon Uris was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Jewish-American parents Wolf William and Anna (Blumberg) Uris. His father, a Polish-born immigrant, was a paperhanger, then a storekeeper. William spent a year in Palestine after World War I before entering the United States. He derived his surname from Yerushalmi, meaning "man of Jerusalem." (His brother Aron, Leon Uris' uncle, took the name Yerushalmi) "He was basically a failure," Uris later said of his father. "He went from failure to failure."
Uris attended schools in Norfolk, Virginia and Baltimore, but never graduated from high school, after having failed English three times. At age seventeen, while in his senior year of high school, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and Uris enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served in the South Pacific as a radioman (in combat) at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and New Zealand from 1942 through 1945. While recuperating from malaria in San Francisco, he met Betty Beck, a Marine sergeant; they married in 1945.
Coming out of the service, he worked for a newspaper, writing in his spare time. In 1950, Esquire magazine bought an article, and he began to devote himself to writing more seriously. Drawing on his experiences in Guadalcanal and Tarawa he produced the best-selling, Battle Cry, a novel depicting the toughness and courage of U.S. Marines in the Pacific. He then went to Warner Brothers in Hollywood helping to write the movie, which was extremely popular with the public, if not the critics. Later he went on to write The Angry Hills, a novel set in war-time Greece.
According to one source, in the early 1950's he was hired by an American public relations firm to go to Israel and "soak up the atmosphere and create a novel about it". That novel would be Exodus, which came out in 1958 and became his best known work. Others say that Uris, motivated by an intense interest in Israel, financed his own research for the novel by selling the film rights in advance to MGM and writing articles about the Sinai campaign. It is said that the book involved two years of research, and involved thousands of interviews. Exodus illustrated the history of Palestine from the late 19th century through the founding of the state of Israel in 1948. It was a worldwide best-seller, translated into a dozen languages, and was made into a feature film in 1960, starring Paul Newman, directed by Otto Preminger, as well as into a short-lived Broadway musical (12 previews, 19 performances) in 1971. Uris' novel Topaz was adapted for the screen and directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Uris' subsequent works included: Mila 18, a story of the Warsaw ghetto uprising; Armageddon: A Novel of Berlin, which reveals the detailed work by British and American intelligence services in planning for the occupation and pacification of post WWII Germany; Trinity, an epic novel about Ireland's struggle for independence; QB VII, a novel about the role of a Polish doctor in a German concentration camp ; and The Haj, with insights into the history of the Middle East and the secret machinations of foreigners which have led to today's turmoil.
He also wrote the screenplays for Battle Cry and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
Uris was married three times: to Betty Beck, with whom he had three children, from 1945 through their divorce in 1968; Margery Edwards in 1969, who died a year later, and Jill Peabody in 1970, with whom he had two children, and divorced in 1989.
Leon Uris died of renal failure at his Long Island home on Shelter Island, aged 78.
Leon Uris's papers can be found at the Ransom Center, University of Texas in Austin. The collection includes all of Uris's novels, with the exception of The Haj and Mitla Pass, as well as manus
Leon Uris was born in Baltimore, Maryland, the son of Jewish-American parents Wolf William and Anna (Blumberg) Uris. His father, a Polish-born immigrant, was a paperhanger, then a storekeeper. William spent a year in Palestine after World War I before entering the United States. He derived his surname from Yerushalmi, meaning "man of Jerusalem." (His brother Aron, Leon Uris' uncle, took the name Yerushalmi) "He was basically a failure," Uris later said of his father. "He went from failure to failure."
Uris attended schools in Norfolk, Virginia and Baltimore, but never graduated from high school, after having failed English three times. At age seventeen, while in his senior year of high school, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and Uris enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served in the South Pacific as a radioman (in combat) at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and New Zealand from 1942 through 1945. While recuperating from malaria in San Francisco, he met Betty Beck, a Marine sergeant; they married in 1945.
Coming out of the service, he worked for a newspaper, writing in his spare time. In 1950, Esquire magazine bought an article, and he began to devote himself to writing more seriously. Drawing on his experiences in Guadalcanal and Tarawa he produced the best-selling, Battle Cry, a novel depicting the toughness and courage of U.S. Marines in the Pacific. He then went to Warner Brothers in Hollywood helping to write the movie, which was extremely popular with the public, if not the critics. Later he went on to write The Angry Hills, a novel set in war-time Greece.
According to one source, in the early 1950's he was hired by an American public relations firm to go to Israel and "soak up the atmosphere and create a novel about it". That novel would be Exodus, which came out in 1958 and became his best known work. Others say that Uris, motivated by an intense interest in Israel, financed his own research for the novel by selling the film rights in advance to MGM and writing articles about the Sinai campaign. It is said that the book involved two years of research, and involved thousands of interviews. Exodus illustrated the history of Palestine from the late 19th century through the founding of the state of Israel in 1948. It was a worldwide best-seller, translated into a dozen languages, and was made into a feature film in 1960, starring Paul Newman, directed by Otto Preminger, as well as into a short-lived Broadway musical (12 previews, 19 performances) in 1971. Uris' novel Topaz was adapted for the screen and directed by Alfred Hitchcock.
Uris' subsequent works included: Mila 18, a story of the Warsaw ghetto uprising; Armageddon: A Novel of Berlin, which reveals the detailed work by British and American intelligence services in planning for the occupation and pacification of post WWII Germany; Trinity, an epic novel about Ireland's struggle for independence; QB VII, a novel about the role of a Polish doctor in a German concentration camp ; and The Haj, with insights into the history of the Middle East and the secret machinations of foreigners which have led to today's turmoil.
He also wrote the screenplays for Battle Cry and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral.
Uris was married three times: to Betty Beck, with whom he had three children, from 1945 through their divorce in 1968; Margery Edwards in 1969, who died a year later, and Jill Peabody in 1970, with whom he had two children, and divorced in 1989.
Leon Uris died of renal failure at his Long Island home on Shelter Island, aged 78.
Leon Uris's papers can be found at the Ransom Center, University of Texas in Austin. The collection includes all of Uris's novels, with the exception of The Haj and Mitla Pass, as well as manus
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
May 11, 2013
Leon Uris was one of the greatest writers of historical fiction that ever lived. Even though it is not his best work, the present book was still absolutely spellbinding, and damned difficult to put down even to sleep at night. This was his last book; Mr. Uris died in June 2003, three months before it was published. Sadly, he apparently ran out of time and strength before he could finish it properly, which is easy to tell at the end for anyone familiar with his style. I would be willing to bet that he wrote this ending fairly early in the writing process, and put it in an envelope for his editor to open in case of his death before the book was finished. The thing that has always amazed me about Mr. Uris is that he was of East-European Jewish ancestry, yet he had a deeper understanding of the Irish soul and character than I would have imagined possible for any non-Irish person. The most interesting thing about this particular book, most of which is set in the late 1880s & early 1890s, is that the discussion about amphibious warfare provides a pseudo-historical foreshadowing of events during the mid-20th Century such as the development of the amphibious tractor, which in turn brings to mind the military career and writings of Victor J. Croizat, whose books are well worth reading in any case for a variety of reasons...
September 16, 2008
Really, really disappointing, and the plot twist at the end was contrived and poorly set up.
March 9, 2019
I thought it would have some battles and action and the like. But it was a romance story I was tricked and I think it was my first romance novel. Story about a father and son, both whom were US marines. A tycoon ship builder and his daughter. The merry go round love affair they have, in the end they get sensible see the light and I kind of think they love each other. Had some memorable lines which made me laugh, couple ones in particular, were..in the marines we'll eat mashed monkey shit and drink buzzard puke.Haha that was funny. Another one is describing Irish women who had a strong outlook on life and banded together and grabbed young men to join them in the misery of marriage that caused me to roar out laughing. It was interesting because it mixed little tib bits on history and beginning of amphibious warfare, it has a shocking twist at the end of the story, and in the end I really enjoyed my first romance story.
June 1, 2019
I recommend the book. I liked the history of the book of things present, future and past. The main characters were fictitious according to my research. I spent some time in Wikipedia because some events did not mesh with history as I knew it. The War Between the States and the rise of the Marine Corps in decades following the war were basic to the storyline, but the industrialization of America was not overlooked. I like historical fiction with a little love on the side, but the love story in this book had a real message. Amanda, daughter of a wealthy industrialist, and Zachary, a second generation Marine, loved each other beyond life, but the outside world was their enemy. Now, why would the author devote so much time to an ill fated love affair? Sometimes people are not adequate to their passions. Sometimes they are not adequate for each other. I took that conclusion to every aspect of life and came away a little wiser.
In my ecopy of the book, there were no paragraph signals, and there were spelling and grammatical errors. Otherwise, the writing mechanics were excellent. If it were possible, I would urge the author to watch his coarse language. Sadly, he had the final say on that point, and I am bereft that there will not be a 'new Uris book!'
Thank you, posthumously, dear author, for a final good read.
In my ecopy of the book, there were no paragraph signals, and there were spelling and grammatical errors. Otherwise, the writing mechanics were excellent. If it were possible, I would urge the author to watch his coarse language. Sadly, he had the final say on that point, and I am bereft that there will not be a 'new Uris book!'
Thank you, posthumously, dear author, for a final good read.
April 6, 2023
I have liked all of the Uris books I have ever read. My first was Mila Eighteen when I was in high school. As with all others, I learned from this one. I never knew of the rivalry between the Navy and the Marine Corps. The strong characters of the early Marines led to its very survival. Set in the late 19th century, the people faced the difficulties of the times. Human ambition, desires, strengths and weaknesses were all part of the story.
While this would not rate as my favorite Uris novel, I would still recommend it.
While this would not rate as my favorite Uris novel, I would still recommend it.
March 21, 2022
Like all of Uris' books, O'Hara's Choice was well researched, both historically and culturally. However, I found the author's attempt to impart his 21st century take on race, gender, and sex onto his characters rather clunky. For the most part, the book was interesting. However, the last quarter of the book was weaker than the rest. This was due, I think, to the novel being unfinished at his death.
October 21, 2022
Disjointed story line. Adolescent description of superficial love story. Inadequate depiction
of the history of the Marines.
Disappointing from a wonderful author.
of the history of the Marines.
Disappointing from a wonderful author.
October 20, 2016
Ohara's Choice Leon Uris In a junk store with a few paper back books I spotted this novel. I've read several of his books so picked it up. A story of the saving of the Marine corp after the civil war, I was expecting battles and war stories but I was fooled it was actually a love story about a lieutenant Marine and the daughter of a ship building magnate. Not really into romance stories I continued reading and was pleastly pleased with the book. I probably want become a reader of romance novels but I was ok with this one. P. S. it has a shock ending.
January 15, 2023
It’s by far my least favourite of Leon Uris’s novels.. the story has its high points and is entertaining but some parts feel disconnected and the ending was just strange…
January 30, 2009
I forgot how much I like Uris' writing style in the years since I've read any of his books.
I enjoy his kind of history, which is saying a lot because history is very rarely something I want to read about. I have no idea if this story is one-sided or riddled with inaccuracies as some claim about his other books. I know that while I was reading it I was feeling history come alive for me - which was rare and enjoyable.
I enjoy his strong and vivid characters, which were as strong in this book as in others. Perhaps stronger than in QB VII and not quite like Ari from Exodus.
I will definitely recommend this book even though I haven't included in my must reads.
I enjoy his kind of history, which is saying a lot because history is very rarely something I want to read about. I have no idea if this story is one-sided or riddled with inaccuracies as some claim about his other books. I know that while I was reading it I was feeling history come alive for me - which was rare and enjoyable.
I enjoy his strong and vivid characters, which were as strong in this book as in others. Perhaps stronger than in QB VII and not quite like Ari from Exodus.
I will definitely recommend this book even though I haven't included in my must reads.
May 7, 2013
I've alway liked Leon Uris, I read Exodus when I was in 5th or 6th grade....my sister had to read it for high school, so I read her copy. This book is about the history of the Marines. Not having much military background, it was interesting to learn that they have been the after thought of the rest of the military. I picked up a copy of this book at a second hand book store. This is his last book, it was sent to print before he died.
April 3, 2021
Another great one. Gives insight into the Marine Corps back after WWII. His characters are very impelling.
July 26, 2014
kind of bored with it in the beginning, he introduced a lot of characters that didn't seem to relate - then the story really evolved and had to race to the end. would recommend,
August 5, 2014
Brilliant Uris, as usual. One of his best. That scene at the carnival was beautiful. No one writes a romantic history like Uris.
April 24, 2021
This is a terrible book! Don’t waste your time!
May 16, 2009
Bit of a soap opera, reads like a Harlequin Romance. Not up to the standard of his earlier works
February 23, 2025
I’ve learned a few hard lessons over the years while reading so many books. Here’s one: You know how when you buy a book, there’s a blurb of praise from another well-known author on the front cover? Something like: “A magnificent spell-binding tale!” – Stephen King. Well, 95% of the time, the author “giving” the praise never even read the book. This is simply a publisher’s trick to make you buy the thing. You wouldn’t think well-known authors would prostitute themselves stooping this low, but I guess business is business. Another hard lesson: Many books written by an author weren’t really written by that author. Read that last sentence again. I found it fishy that one of my favorite authors, Clive Cussler, used to generate one book every year or so, and then all of the sudden he seemed to be writing 4 or 5 per year. Each of these multiple releases had a co-author, of course, and apparently Cussler had very little to do with these books; they were all basically written by the co-author. What Mr. Cussler actually did in terms of development of the story, I have no idea. Again, it’s a business.
Well, I’m bringing this up because, in the case of O’Hara’s Choice, the author (Leon Uris) had already died before the book was released. Many times, publishers will go through the corpse’s writing desk (metaphorically of course) looking for anything the late author may have started. Another author, or group of authors, is called in to formulate a finished product. Michael Crichton is guilty of this. Well, I mean HE’S not guilty; he’s DEAD, but you know what I mean.
Leon Uris was a great writer of historical fiction way back when. My guess is many current readers have never heard of him, but back in the 1960s and 1970s, his gripping tales that took place in areas such as Berlin, Dublin, Warsaw, and the newly formed State of Israel were incredibly rewarding works of literature. This book doesn’t belong with his classics. It doesn’t come close. It’s embarrassingly bad.
It starts off with an interesting premise. It’s a few years after the conclusion of the U.S. Civil War and we meet a group of soldiers who are referred to as “marines”. We’re introduced to about 4 or 5 of these veterans, we learn of their upbringing, their participation in the awful war, and of their current situation. They’re proud of who they are, but most people are unfamiliar with the monicker “marine” and everyone wonders if this eccentric group will ever move forward or be relevant in the current United States military.
Sounds like an o.k. premise, but things spiral down in a big way. My guess is this as far as Leon Uris got before he passed away. So what do publishers do with this interesting premise? Nothing much. They should have left well alone. I’m not sure why I even bother discussing it, but one of the Marines – O’Hara – has a son named Zach who is coming into adulthood. Zach falls for a young rich sassy belle named Amanda. Amanda has gobs of money. Her parents, of course, don’t want her associating with someone beneath the family such as a marine, so we have yet another tepid tale of unrequited love.
You can probably guess the drill (pardon the pun) at this point. The lovers must stay away from each other. They date (and are even pledged to marry) others, they purposely avoid each other – Zach even requests military duty that will take him far way – but you just can’t escape love. The story isn’t terribly original nor interesting.
There’s an attempt at a subplot with Amanda’s father, who is very rich, trying to wheel and deal with the leaders of the government that would actually help the future of the marines. This makes things more complicated since his daughter is in love with one of them. Yes, her father admires the marines; as long as they keep their grubby hands off his daughter. Again, though, this never really goes anywhere.
This was a painfully stupid story. It might have worked had Uris actually done the writing, and even then, I imagine he would have taken the story in a different direction and not made this thing so unbearably sappy. This was an injustice to the legend of Leon Uris. On a happier note, he’s written some great books that have been forgotten by many. I would recommend titles such as Exodus, Trinity, Mila 18, Battle Cry, and The Haj. Those were great. This one was not. Rest in Peace Mr. Uris. I’m sorry something like this was done to you.
Well, I’m bringing this up because, in the case of O’Hara’s Choice, the author (Leon Uris) had already died before the book was released. Many times, publishers will go through the corpse’s writing desk (metaphorically of course) looking for anything the late author may have started. Another author, or group of authors, is called in to formulate a finished product. Michael Crichton is guilty of this. Well, I mean HE’S not guilty; he’s DEAD, but you know what I mean.
Leon Uris was a great writer of historical fiction way back when. My guess is many current readers have never heard of him, but back in the 1960s and 1970s, his gripping tales that took place in areas such as Berlin, Dublin, Warsaw, and the newly formed State of Israel were incredibly rewarding works of literature. This book doesn’t belong with his classics. It doesn’t come close. It’s embarrassingly bad.
It starts off with an interesting premise. It’s a few years after the conclusion of the U.S. Civil War and we meet a group of soldiers who are referred to as “marines”. We’re introduced to about 4 or 5 of these veterans, we learn of their upbringing, their participation in the awful war, and of their current situation. They’re proud of who they are, but most people are unfamiliar with the monicker “marine” and everyone wonders if this eccentric group will ever move forward or be relevant in the current United States military.
Sounds like an o.k. premise, but things spiral down in a big way. My guess is this as far as Leon Uris got before he passed away. So what do publishers do with this interesting premise? Nothing much. They should have left well alone. I’m not sure why I even bother discussing it, but one of the Marines – O’Hara – has a son named Zach who is coming into adulthood. Zach falls for a young rich sassy belle named Amanda. Amanda has gobs of money. Her parents, of course, don’t want her associating with someone beneath the family such as a marine, so we have yet another tepid tale of unrequited love.
You can probably guess the drill (pardon the pun) at this point. The lovers must stay away from each other. They date (and are even pledged to marry) others, they purposely avoid each other – Zach even requests military duty that will take him far way – but you just can’t escape love. The story isn’t terribly original nor interesting.
There’s an attempt at a subplot with Amanda’s father, who is very rich, trying to wheel and deal with the leaders of the government that would actually help the future of the marines. This makes things more complicated since his daughter is in love with one of them. Yes, her father admires the marines; as long as they keep their grubby hands off his daughter. Again, though, this never really goes anywhere.
This was a painfully stupid story. It might have worked had Uris actually done the writing, and even then, I imagine he would have taken the story in a different direction and not made this thing so unbearably sappy. This was an injustice to the legend of Leon Uris. On a happier note, he’s written some great books that have been forgotten by many. I would recommend titles such as Exodus, Trinity, Mila 18, Battle Cry, and The Haj. Those were great. This one was not. Rest in Peace Mr. Uris. I’m sorry something like this was done to you.
August 21, 2018
*Sigh* I was so excited when I found that there was a Leon Uris I hadn't yet read. Now I'm wishing I hadn't found it.
O'Hara's Choice was a quick read, and I suppose reasonably entertaining, but it never seemed to get off the ground and teach me anything. I have loved Uris's works for the same reason I love James Michener--they entertain me with a good story and interesting characters while providing me with some good solid background knowledge on some area of history. As his last published work, this book sort of entertained, but gave me very little knowledge.
I was left wondering, "What am I supposed to have learned here?" OK. I got a little bit of background on the early struggles of the Marine Corps to simply survive. Definitely something I was unaware of, but there was not enough detail to help me really see the conflict or why it mattered. There was a lot of demonstration of the class-consciousness of the country. Unfortunately, it was over-simplified and presented in a way that made me think Uris must have thought his readers to be not-so-bright. How did that happen?
Ughhh. And the romance? Bleh. Hate them both. The final thing that I guess was meant to be a plot twist? Lame. I didn't care enough about any of the characters for it to matter.
I'm sorry Mr. Uris. Perhaps this book, published a few months after your death is not what you meant it to be. So I'll tell you what. I'm just going to pretend I never read it, OK?
O'Hara's Choice was a quick read, and I suppose reasonably entertaining, but it never seemed to get off the ground and teach me anything. I have loved Uris's works for the same reason I love James Michener--they entertain me with a good story and interesting characters while providing me with some good solid background knowledge on some area of history. As his last published work, this book sort of entertained, but gave me very little knowledge.
I was left wondering, "What am I supposed to have learned here?" OK. I got a little bit of background on the early struggles of the Marine Corps to simply survive. Definitely something I was unaware of, but there was not enough detail to help me really see the conflict or why it mattered. There was a lot of demonstration of the class-consciousness of the country. Unfortunately, it was over-simplified and presented in a way that made me think Uris must have thought his readers to be not-so-bright. How did that happen?
Ughhh. And the romance? Bleh. Hate them both. The final thing that I guess was meant to be a plot twist? Lame. I didn't care enough about any of the characters for it to matter.
I'm sorry Mr. Uris. Perhaps this book, published a few months after your death is not what you meant it to be. So I'll tell you what. I'm just going to pretend I never read it, OK?
September 25, 2017
Hadn't read any Leon Uris for a long time. Had this one in paperback. This book may have been his last published work. Uris is a writer of sweeping, epic, historical novels. this one is no exception. An epic historical novel set in the post Civil War US. While swooping thru the last half of the 19th century, the story focuses on the US Marines and their fight to stay a legitimate fighting force and the advent of amphibious warfare. A young marine of, at best, modest means, with the potential for greatness; falls in love with the heiress of an east coast robber baron industrialist. Uris does a great job using the characters to explain the forces shaping and driving the country at the time. Slavery, industrialization, the gilded age, the industrialists, the rise of a middle class and women suffrage to name of few. He does it relatively well with the history. The love story could have been a bit better. Seems like, Uris decided to end the story, and he did. Suddenly.
July 18, 2020
This was the last book that Uris wrote...in fact, he died before it was actually published. It was an okay read but nothing as deep, interesting and emotional as "Trinity" or "Exodus".
Young Zachery O'Hara is determined to keep his father Paddy's dream of keeping the Marines a viable military group after the Civil War ends....he is actually obsessed with this drive and works very hard to finish work, attain his goals and erase a memory he has of his father....which turns out to be not the kind I thought.
Into this emotional mix is Amanda Kerr, debutant, spoiled, rich and determined to get what she wants. Her father is a very rich industrialist who doesn't think much of Zachery so there is a on and off relationship for the young lovers.
The ending was such a surprise to me...had to read the last few pages again to make sure i didn't misunderstand. Still could only give it 3 stars.
Young Zachery O'Hara is determined to keep his father Paddy's dream of keeping the Marines a viable military group after the Civil War ends....he is actually obsessed with this drive and works very hard to finish work, attain his goals and erase a memory he has of his father....which turns out to be not the kind I thought.
Into this emotional mix is Amanda Kerr, debutant, spoiled, rich and determined to get what she wants. Her father is a very rich industrialist who doesn't think much of Zachery so there is a on and off relationship for the young lovers.
The ending was such a surprise to me...had to read the last few pages again to make sure i didn't misunderstand. Still could only give it 3 stars.
July 19, 2023
I hope I never see nor hear of this book ever again. It was given to me by my FIL. Don’t know where he got or why he gave it to me other than he saw that it was about a Marine.
I’ve never read anything from this author.
I thought it would be a story filled with action and battles and it turned out to be a romance novel and the ending was horribly laid out it really made no sense and just ended. That’s it…boom… then end. Apparently this book was the author’s last and he didn’t really finish it? IDK? But like most folks someone gives you a book you try to read it… especially since I had nothing lined up, I picked it and slogged through this story.
I’m giving it two stars because there are some parts of the story where you really get into it, the civil war, even the story line of the industrialist, but other than that.. what a bore.
I’ve never read anything from this author.
I thought it would be a story filled with action and battles and it turned out to be a romance novel and the ending was horribly laid out it really made no sense and just ended. That’s it…boom… then end. Apparently this book was the author’s last and he didn’t really finish it? IDK? But like most folks someone gives you a book you try to read it… especially since I had nothing lined up, I picked it and slogged through this story.
I’m giving it two stars because there are some parts of the story where you really get into it, the civil war, even the story line of the industrialist, but other than that.. what a bore.
March 20, 2022
It took me a while to get into this story. Eventually I became invested in the characters and cheered for them as they handled the challenges that seemed insurmountable. Finally, against all odds, the fairy tale ending arrived and it seemed love had conquered all. But wait, Amanda had one final surprise for us as she ruins everything by proving that her selfish ways are more important than anything. I'm shocked and appalled that I didn't see it coming and mad as hell that Zach threw away everything for such a spoiled brat. Bravo to the author for dropping such a bombshell at the end. Although I hated being fooled, it was a crafty surprise.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2018
Leon Uris refuses to spell out for us exactly what is happenings at times, especially in the climactic contest for the heart and devotion of the last, best hope of the US Marine Corps at a time when it was threatened with extinction, in the late 19th and early 20th century. I chose one interpretation that satisfies me, but I can see how others would work. Uris brings us inside the creation of the amphibious war doctrine that will guide the US to victory in WWII some generations later on the beaches of Pacific Islands and Normandy.
October 16, 2021
4 1/2 star read. My friend recommended this book as it is her favourite Uris novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the read. This book is about the origins of the Marine Corps with a personal story entwined. Starting out with Paddy O'Hara who saved a bunch of fellow Marines' lives and his son Zachary, who becomes a Marine to follow in his Dad's footsteps. Zach falls in love with Amanda, daughter of a ruthless industrialist. And therein lies the story, A very good read and a great story.
January 1, 2022
Uris joined the Marine Corps during WW2; this is his second book about the Corps, focusing on the earliest days and development of the Marines as a fighting force.
I enjoyed the references to the NY Yacht Club and the America’s Cup.
Zach O’Hara is a great hero and role model for the Marines.
Amanda Kerr is a selfish tart and spoiled brat.
The ending was a surprise, not a good one.
Not a book of Uris’s usual high standard.
I enjoyed the references to the NY Yacht Club and the America’s Cup.
Zach O’Hara is a great hero and role model for the Marines.
Amanda Kerr is a selfish tart and spoiled brat.
The ending was a surprise, not a good one.
Not a book of Uris’s usual high standard.
February 11, 2017
I listened to this book on CD and it was a well-told story. It is the story of the development of the US Marine Corps after the Civil War. It is also the love story of the brilliant corpsman Zachary O’Hara and a beautiful intelligent heiress, Amanda Kerr. Well-developed characters and interesting to learn more about the Marines.
October 4, 2017
Oh how I struggled to read this. It was like two completely separate stories where happening at the same time...and quite frankly...neither one of them interested me. It was a challenge to get through it....and I won't be adding much to the conversation when we review this book (it was a book club pick) as I barely paid attention to what my eyes were seeing on the pages.
May 9, 2018
Not what I expected at all after reading the book jacket! This is much more of a romance than anything else. The story follows a military family through the creation of the marines. A tale of civil war, racism, love, family and social status/rank. I enjoyed it on audio narrated by Jack Garrett of radio/tv fame. Be ready for the ending -- also not what you would expect!
January 9, 2019
Random and illogical plot twists make this easily Uris' weakest novel. I've truly enjoyed all the rest. I wonder what he was thinking when he put this confused mixture together. If you're looking for better Uris, try just about anything else, especially Exodus or The Haj. Maybe even Topaz but skip this one.
July 16, 2020
The start was slow, but gradually the characters and plot pick up. the intricacies of history and battle strategies are interesting. I found the end abrupt and felt the two protagonists character should have been delved a bit more to make the choices clearer. there seemed more focus on the peripherals.
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