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   Jan Bartosik (janbartosik@witter.cz)'s status on Wednesday, 18-Oct-2023 04:37:33 JST Jan Bartosik

   Das Boot by Lothar-Günther Buchheim.

   A must-read, no excuses.

   #books #amreading #reading #kindle #literature #bookwyrm #booktoot #book #books #knihy #ww2 #atlantic #war #navy #submarine #U96
   @bookstodon

   • Embed this notice
     David Megginson (david_megginson@mstdn.ca)'s status on Wednesday, 18-Oct-2023 17:51:21 JST David Megginson

     in reply to

     @janbartosik Yes, I really enjoyed the book too, and will probably read it again, but there are a couple of important reader caveats:

     1. The book plays fast and loose with the technical details.

     2. There is a risk of cheering for the U-boot crew, despite the fact that their branch was a critical pillar of fascist power.

     (Naval officers weren't allowed to be members of the Nazi Party at the time, but the Nazi Party couldn't have held onto power without the support of the U-boots, so ...).

   • Embed this notice
     Jan Bartosik (janbartosik@witter.cz)'s status on Wednesday, 18-Oct-2023 17:51:21 JST Jan Bartosik

     in reply to

     • David Megginson

     @david_megginson I've had 30 years gap between the first time I read it and now. Even better this time around, I'd say.

     Cannot judge the tech aspect. It is not relevant to the story, imho.
     Well, it is the writer's skill which makes us cheer for an u-boot crew. Many a book hero was in fact a bad guy.

     It is interesting how both the book and film are popular with military/war fans (and with some right-wing elements too, perhaps), despite the author having always considered his work "anti war."