PT 109 : John F. Kennedy in World War II
by Robert J. Donovan
Our Price: $13.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Robert J. DonovanEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2002-09-15
ISBN: 0071408681
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780071408684
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of PT 109 : John F. Kennedy in World War II
Book Review: Short, easy to read and inspirational
Summary: 5 Stars
I had seen the movie, but had never read the book, so when I found "PT 109..." for sale at a flea market, (© 1961, first printing, 220 pages, hardback) I decided the time had come to do so. I was 15 and too young to vote in 1960 when John Fitzgerald Kennedy ran for President of The United States, but I was aware of some of the campaign rhetoric for and against his election. In the years that followed, I was neither pro- or con- on the issue of his presidency, until November 22, 1963 when Lee Harvey Oswald assassinated him. All I was aware of was he had a fitness program that annoyed me greatly because it impinged on my teenage laziness. That is until November 22 when I, like the rest of America and the world cried at the thought that someone could do this evil thing. Since then I had considered him heroic as a martyr is considered heroic. Reading Robert J. Donovan's "PT 109..." has opened my eyes to the true measure of JFK's heroism in the 46 years he had in this life.
"PT109" is not so much about a boat, or a crew, or WW II, but about what happens when you put them together, and call forth the best they can produce. NOW I am impressed with the man. He was not the kind of hero that produced awesome stories of great events in great numbers. He was an ordinary man who was capable of heroic acts who called forth the best he had in him, who did what he had to do, and who did it impressively well. NOW I understand why he was so loved, respected and appreciated by those who knew him personally.
Donovan has produced what I consider an excellent description of courage, leadership, determination, and loyalty. Kennedy embodied all these traits in abundance, and, as a result, earned his way to the White House. "PT 109..." is also about survival, war time naval life, and the trials of military life in general. Along with these elements, the author skillfully weaves in humorous vignettes and descriptions of the flora and fauna of some of the islands and word pictures of the islands themselves. His descriptions of Kennedy shortly after his rescue is a good example of his linguistic talent:
"Here he was, bearded, gaunt, unwashed, half-starved, half-naked, blotched with festering coral wounds, castaway on a miserable patch of jungle surrounded by sharks, being greeted as if he were in his father's embassy in London." (pg. 187)
His description of one of the islands was also helpful in "seeing" the place:
"If Lumberi was a wilderness, Lambu Lambu was little more than a mangrove swamp, where green lizards a foot long glided over damp roots and scorpions dropped out of trees into PT boats moored below. Lambu Lambu Cove leads back into a small river, which is known to the natives as the Katapaqu but which could as suitably be called Styx. It is a dark, fetid stream that flows through blackened mangrove roots into heavy jungle and looks as though it may disappear eventually into a dismal cavern. The screech of strange birds pierces the foliage..."
Contrary to what was written by one Amazon dot Com reviewer, this book is not boring. It is anything but boring. While it would not rise to the level of a fast paced action thriller, it is a page turner. There is great suspense and good story telling to be found in the descriptions of PT 109's collision with the Amagiri, the Japanese destroyer that rammed her (109) and the hours just before and just after. There is likewise good storytelling and great suspense in the crew's efforts to survive and find their way to an island not covered by Japanese, avoid shark attacks, and then to get from island to island where they could be found and rescued. Admittedly this is only a part of the story, yet it is still the central part of the adventure, and this reader was well pleased with Donovan's work. Further, the author rounds out and finishes the story bringing us briefly to the White House in 1961. I am really sorry that the other reviewer found this boring. He obviously missed the point of the book, which was not to thrill and excite, but to tell an authentic story of strength and the ordinary heroism, possibly waiting to be brought out in all of us.
Therefore, I give Robert J. Donovan five very satisfied and enthusiastic stars for PT 109.
Note: This review is from the 1961 first edition, hard cover, 220 pages.
Summary of PT 109 : John F. Kennedy in World War II
NOW IN PAPERBACK
A timeless tale of heroism now available to a new generation of readers
"To me, PT 109 has always been one of the great war stories of all time.Senator Edward M. Kennedy
"In PT 109 we see a man assailed by hunger, heat, cold, discouragement, and danger rising, without dramatics or posturing, to greatness."New York Times Book Review
"This salutary book brings back the days when men heard an undeniable call to service in something bigger than themselves, and answered in kind."Daniel Schorr
Kennedy, John F. Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Kennedy, John F. Books
People Who Made History - John F. Kennedy (hardcover edition)Greenhaven Press; Published: 1999-09-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops:
John F. Kennedy (First Biographies (Capstone Hardcover))by Judy Emerson
Pebble Books; Published: 2004-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $7.99
Price in other shops:
John F. Kennedy: An Unfinished Life 1917-1963by Robert Dallek
Allen Lane; Published: 2003-09-04; Paperback; Book
A Thousand Days: John F. Kennedy in the White Houseby Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.
Mariner Books; Published: 2002-06-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.95
Price in other shops:
Story of the Assassination of John F. Kennedy (Cornerstones of Freedom (Paperback))by R. Conrad Stein
Children's Press (CT); Published: 1985-10; Paperback; Book
One Brief Shining Moment: Remembering Kennedyby William Manchester
Little Brown; Published: 1983-11-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $0.98
Price in other shops:
John F. Kennedy and a New Generation (Library of American Biography Series)by David Burner
Little Brown & Co (T); Published: 1988-10; Hardcover; Book
Price in other shops:
John F. Kennedy: The Promise Revisited (Contributions in Political Science)Greenwood Press; Published: 1988-05-17; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $126.95
PT 109 : John F. Kennedy in WWIIby Robert J. Donovan
International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press; Published: 2001-04-23; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $38.94
Mafia Kingfish: Carlos Marcello and the Assassination of John F. Kennedyby John H. Davis
Mcgraw-Hill; Published: 1988-12; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $99.99