In Harm's Way
Doug Stanton Book Review

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Plot Summary of In Harm's Way

"The story of the USS Indianapolis, misplaced by the Navy and torpedoed by a Japanese sub just before the end of World War II, so that its crew floundered in the Pacific Ocean -- drowning, going mad, eaten by sharks -- for more than three days, has been told before (and not just by Captain Quint in the movie "Jaws"). It's a story one cannot hear too many times, though, and Stanton adds a bit to previous narratives by such writers as Richard Newcomb and Raymond Lech by filling in more of the background, from details about on-board life (what and how much the sailors consumed) to physical conditions (the nature of shark behavior, the degradation of body temperature over time when one is continually in the water, the mortal threat sea water itself poses to the human body). The author manages to get in a lot of detail without ever slowing a narrative that is crisp and reads swiftly. Although Congress finally passed an amendment exonerating the ship's captain, Charles McVay, in October 2000, the Navy has yet to expunge the conviction on his record for a disaster not of his making and in which he behaved honorably. A stunning tale, well told."
David Loftus, Resident Scholar

Review Analysis of In Harm's Way

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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Kind Of History
Time of history: - 1940's
History of military? Yes
Armed Forces: - Navy
History of disaster/tragedy? Yes
Kind of disaster: - Boat/Dicaprio event
Nationality? - American--General
Specific war? - World War II

Subjects of this Historical Account
Is the portrayal sympathetic? - Sympathetic
From a certain profession/group? - naval soldiers

Setting
Ice Caps/Sea? Yes
Where? - Ocean
Water? Yes
Water: - warship - swimming on - drowning - lost at sea - feeding sharks

Style
How much gore? - 4 (a fair amount)
How fast-paced is the book? - 7 (a good amount)
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
Book makes you feel... - in awe
How much focus on stories of individuals? - Focuses on brief history of a lot of players
How much romance? - 1 (None)
Is book humorous? Yes
How much humor? - 2 (a little)
If humorous, kind of humor - Dry-cynical
Minor characters feature lots of: - military
Pictures/Illustrations? - A significant amount
Maps necessary? - Necessary maps provided
Length of book - 250-300 pages
How much emphasis on small details? - 4 (a fair amount)

Most similar books to In Harm's Way
All the Drowned Sailors by Raymond B. Lech
The New Breed by Andrew Geer
Day of Infamy by Walter Lord
Above an Angry Sea: U.S. Navy B-24 Liberator and PB4Y-2 Operations in the Pacific by Alan C. Carey
We Flew Alone: United States B-24 Squadrons in the Pacific by Alan C. Carey

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In Harm's Way Doug Stanton Book Review

In Harm's Way
Doug Stanton Book Review