Matt’s review of The Caine Mutiny > Likes and Comments

Another winner, Matt. Lovely analysis: "Queeg is Wouk’s greatest creation. A paranoid Ahab." and "Wouk never allows you to get too comfortable." and "The Caine Mutiny is a turducken of a book."

Your insights have shoved me toward the conclusion that it has been too long since I last read this classic. Thanks!

HBalikov wrote: "Another winner, Matt. Lovely analysis: "Queeg is Wouk’s greatest creation. A paranoid Ahab." and "Wouk never allows you to get too comfortable." and "The Caine Mutiny is a turducken of a book."

Yo..."

Thanks! It'd been a long time since I first read this, and I think I appreciated it much more the second time around. Worth another spin!

Matt wrote: "HBalikov wrote: "Another winner, Matt. Lovely analysis: "Queeg is Wouk’s greatest creation. A paranoid Ahab." and "Wouk never allows you to get too comfortable." and "The Caine Mutiny is a turducke..."

I particularly appreciated your perceptions of the differences between Mailer and Wouk........"This isn’t Mailer. A certain strand of conservatism runs through this work (and also The Winds of War and War and Remembrance). He has wiped away the “general obscenity and blasphemy of shipboard talk” in order to avoid – in his words – annoying “some readers.” The existence of sex – and talk about sex – is acknowledged as a possibility, but never described in detail. The result can be a little jarring; A story of shipboard life that feels absolutely true and, at the same time, patently false." And, despite this duality, your conclusion about Wouk's place in the hierarchy of war novelists.

My current favorite is Bernard Cornwell, but we are talking about earlier periods of war and, as I noted, it has been a long time since I read Wouk.

HBalikov wrote: "Matt wrote: "HBalikov wrote: "Another winner, Matt. Lovely analysis: "Queeg is Wouk’s greatest creation. A paranoid Ahab." and "Wouk never allows you to get too comfortable." and "The Caine Mutiny ..."

I've never read Cornwell. He's a profligate writer. Where would I start with him, book wise?

Matt wrote: "HBalikov wrote: "Matt wrote: "HBalikov wrote: "Another winner, Matt. Lovely analysis: "Queeg is Wouk’s greatest creation. A paranoid Ahab." and "Wouk never allows you to get too comfortable." and "..."

You are right about how Cornwell churns them out, Matt, but he does excellent research on his subject. See my review of Waterloo.
I think that you can make the choice of where to begin by following your interests. If it is the Napoleonic period, start with his Sharpe series (the first series he wrote). If you have some interest in England during the period when the Vikings and Danes almost dominated the entire British Isles, try his more recent Saxon Chronicles. I have reviewed some of the Sharpe series and all of the Saxon Chronicles.

Cornwell has delved deep into various periods of English history and I would be happy to discuss those further.

Read Mutiny in high school more than fifty years ago. It was one of the few books we were required to read back then that I really enjoyed and opened my eyes to the variety that exists in books. This brings back reading memories. Thanks for pulling this one off the back shelf Matt.

Another cracking review! I love the Winds of War sequence but have never thought of reading this, sounds excellent. Try The Cruel Sea if you haven't already for another book on the high seas ringing with authenticity.

Bevan wrote: "Another cracking review! I love the Winds of War sequence but have never thought of reading this, sounds excellent. Try The Cruel Sea if you haven't already for another book on the high seas ringin..."

The Cruel Sea is going on my list. Thanks for the recommendation! I'd never heard of it before.

HBalikov wrote: "Matt wrote: "HBalikov wrote: "Matt wrote: "HBalikov wrote: "Another winner, Matt. Lovely analysis: "Queeg is Wouk’s greatest creation. A paranoid Ahab." and "Wouk never allows you to get too comfor..."

I put the first Sharpe book on my list. When I get to it, no one knows, but from reading an excerpt, it seems like I'm going to like it once I finally pick it up.

You nailed it, Matt. Your second quote captures the essence of the book, as I remember it (read it in high school). The moral ambivalence of the veterans versus the arrogance of the ROTC guys is an epic conflict. Great review.

Bought this one the other day actually. Now going to the front of my tbr shelf. Another great review

turducken. ...

Vheissu wrote: "You nailed it, Matt. Your second quote captures the essence of the book, as I remember it (read it in high school). The moral ambivalence of the veterans versus the arrogance of the ROTC guys is an..."

My favorite part is how he kind of lulls you into taking one side, before Greenwald arrives to present the opposite view. I think Queeg is such a fascinating choice to present the Regular Navy point of view, since he in no way is the epitome of a great officer. It allows Wouk to be sort of preachy, and get his point across, without coming across as preachy.

Cody wrote: "Bought this one the other day actually. Now going to the front of my tbr shelf. Another great review"

Thanks! I'll be looking for your thoughts on it.

Matt wrote: "My favorite part is how he kind of lulls you into taking one side, before Greenwald arrives to present the opposite view..."

Agreed. That scene really re-frames the entire story and makes you question everything you've just read. Really brilliant.

Outstanding review, Matt. I have read the book at least twice -- maybe three times. There were some great World War II novels written by veterans of that conflict and this one easily ranks among the best of them.

Seminal review. From a 26 year Navy veteran, The Caine Mutiny is a book that engrosses you. That makes you feel as part of something bigger. I 100% agree with you assessment.

Tremendous review, Matt! Wouk is scorned by the intellectual snobs but IMO he captures the WW II experience as well or better than almost any writer who attempted to capture it. I’ve had Caine Mutiny sitting on my shelf for years. Reading your review reminds me that I can’t overlook it much longer.

good

I love reading a book and then reading your review. You put into words sooo many things I was feeling! Thanks 👌

Funnily enough I now read that Greenwald quote in the voice of Jason Clarke, who I thought was the best part of the recent Friedkin film, even though the quote must’ve been modified because the film (bafflingly and damagingly) updates the setting to the modern day.