Submarine Commander

Biography Through Sub Command

Would you consider the audio edition of Submarine Commander to be better than the print version?

Didn't read print version so can't say

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

I found the narrator's style a bit stoic for my taste. Also, being a retired Naval Officer (not subs) a found a few Navy vocabulary not the way a sailor would have said it.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Mentioned how a shipmate who had been home for one day after at 2-yr-ish absence made the mistake of disciplining his [tween-age?] child. Hey, the instant dad returned home all was not as though he never left.

Any additional comments?

This was the real story of a real Naval Officer basically from commissioning through relief in command. It's not all general quarters and action. It's a lot of long monotonous time too. Painted a decent picture of the family separation and it's impact.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Engrossing Memoir

I have toured a number of WWII Gato class WWII fleet boats and have been fascinated by them and the men that manned them. Captain Schratz provides the lay person with an interesting exciting view of life as a submariner. Schratz also provides a look at the life of a Navy family and how difficult it can be for a wife particularly during wartime.

The author provides lots of anecdotes and insights into the life of the men on board as well as Navy bureaucracy. I particularly enjoyed Schratz’ occasional forays into the strategic and overarching military concerns of the day most helpful in understanding more about WWII submarine warfare. Most of the book deals with WWII but I found the section about life after WWII in the navy most interesting particularly with the creation of the new Porpoise class of submarines. Schratz was the first commander of the USS Pickerel and set a number of world records with the boat.

The book is well written and easy to read. The back and forth between discussions of the men he served with and information of War patrols and the equipment kept the book moving. John N. Gully did an excellent job narrating the book. The book was moderately long at 15 and ½ hours. If you are interested in Submarines or the Navy this book will provided good insights.

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

Story is Okay, Reader apparently sedated.

Would you try another book from Paul R. Schratz and/or John N. Gully?

Probably not. The author doesn't really bring us in with the experience nearly as well as others have done on this same subject. It's more like a series of reports and personal experiences laced together.
I would not consider trying anything else by this reader, even for free. There was no change in tempo, voice or intonation whether fighting a surface battle or studying navigation.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Can't say. I'm returning it after four hours of tortured listening. Even tried skipping forward several times, but no joy. It may be okay in print version, but only if you have not read any others like Thunder Below or The Bravest Man which are much more interestingly written.

Would you be willing to try another one of John N. Gully’s performances?

NO!

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Submarine Commander?

It either needs about a third of it edited out, or else a lot more technical detail and experience added.

Any additional comments?

One of the worst audio books I have ever tried.

6 of 8 people found this review helpful

Could have been.

Not well written. Add to that a narrator that shows as much spark as a lobotomized person on ambien. Maybe the material wasn't that good. I don't know. Possibly it's because the author comes off pretty square as compared to Mush Morton, Dick Okane or Gene Fluckey. My advice spend your credit on "War below"

7 of 10 people found this review helpful

Starts a Bit Slow, But Patience Really Pays Off!

It took me a little while to get fully sucked in, but I'm so glad I hung in there. This is a harrowing, well-written and very personal account of the submariner's life, full of interesting, very real people caught in unimaginable circumstances. The narration is down-to-earth and natural, almost like one of the participants is telling you the story in a living room next to a burning fire. If you enjoy books about submarines and their real-life crews, this is one of the better ones. I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Blast.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Superb

This is a fantastic accounting of Life on board a submarine. it also offers a great deal about Navy life during World War II and postwar. Excellent narration throughout.

Great book, bad narration

An amazing and gripping account of an incredible submariner. Well written and exciting. The reading however was terrible. They made exciting war action seem like an insurance seminar. Still, on ballance very good listen.

Narration lacked punctuation

It would have been better if the narrator had paused for punctuation and paragraph changes.

Interesting, wished for more technical detail

Interesting book, I wish the author had explained more of the physics and technology of submarines. Maybe this wasn't allowed.

Fantastic

Really enjoyed this book. As a former military spouse was able to relate to many events finding myself laughing at times. Good listening.