Finally read Iron Coffins an now Das Boot

Packlife · 08-17-13, 08:16 AM

I know some have been critical of Iron Coffins, but I liked it a lot it killed me towards the end of the book when Werner was on that train going to see if his family was ok after he couldn't get in touch with them, just to run into a friend of his sister on the train who pretty much breaks the news to him that they're all gone. But I thought it was a good book over all. I'm now reading Das Boot an it's long lol, but definitely like it just now getting to the chapter first attack finally lol, it does seem like a lot of the beginning of the book is the author describing what the sky an Atlantic looked like. You can tell they changed the Captains a lot from book to movie, "The Old Man" as he's called in the book almost seems like he's depressed or bi-polar most the time, until now that they're racing to intercept a convoy.

Platapus · 08-17-13, 11:27 AM

One of the things that makes me think that the author of Das Boot is a good writer is his ability to accurately describe an environment where nothing in happening.

That is not easy to do in writing. I hope you enjoy both books.

Neither was intended to be a technical or historical academic work. They were intended as memoirs recording human experiences. Both of these books did a good job in capturing the human aspects.

About once a year, I re-read Iron Coffins and I enjoy the read every time.

Jimbuna · 08-17-13, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Packlife

I know some have been critical of Iron Coffins, but I liked it a lot it killed me towards the end of the book when Werner was on that train going to see if his family was ok after he couldn't get in touch with them, just to run into a friend of his sister on the train who pretty much breaks the news to him that they're all gone. But I thought it was a good book over all. I'm now reading Das Boot an it's long lol, but definitely like it just now getting to the chapter first attack finally lol, it does seem like a lot of the beginning of the book is the author describing what the sky an Atlantic looked like. You can tell they changed the Captains a lot from book to movie, "The Old Man" as he's called in the book almost seems like he's depressed or bi-polar most the time, until now that they're racing to intercept a convoy.

If your happy with what you've read and enjoy the book then that is more than half way to it being a good book.

Packlife · 08-17-13, 03:30 PM

That's why I wanted to read these books, I've read the technical an historically accurate type books already an now I wanted to read those personal experiences. Especially since most movies made about the U-boot war are mostly propaganda making the crews an Cpt's out to be fanatical nazis which we now know isnt true. Plus my ma asked me what game I was playing which was SH5 an she hit me w/ a bombshell. When she was in school she asked her dad my grandpa if they had any family still in Germany, my grandpa was born on the boat coming to America in the 20's. An my Grandpa told her that he had an aunt who was married to some guy an they had 3 boys. An far as he knew they'd all died in the war his aunt n her husband died in the bombings an 2 of his cousins died fighting in the Wehrmacht an the 3rd served on a U-boat. She told me she didnt ask anymore about them cuz she could see he wasn't comfortable talking about it, he also fought in WW2 an in Korea. He passed away in '98 so I couldn't ask him if I wanted to. It really puts new meaning to the phrase it's a small world.

Jimbuna · 08-17-13, 03:34 PM

Rgr that

Packlife · 08-17-13, 03:39 PM

An I liked both authors, for me if I can picture in my mind what I'm reading then I think that author is good, I hate books that are dull or blank an I cant see the story or characters in my mind. But both books are similar an different in the same way, Werner was trying to put his entire experience of WW2 in a book where as Buchheim was describing 1 patrol an trying to give us each an every detail of that patrol. In my opinion you get the best of both worlds with these two books. But there are other books written by U-boat men like the laughing cow by Metzler an some others I want to look up an read.

Jimbuna · 08-17-13, 03:44 PM

You might want to look here:

http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=94071

Packlife · 08-18-13, 11:28 AM

Many thanks

I've meant to check that thread out before but always forget lol, already wrote down some books from it

Jimbuna · 08-18-13, 01:10 PM

Your welcome

08-17-13, 08:16 AM	#1
Packlife Gunner Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 91 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	Finally read Iron Coffins an now Das Boot I know some have been critical of Iron Coffins, but I liked it a lot it killed me towards the end of the book when Werner was on that train going to see if his family was ok after he couldn't get in touch with them, just to run into a friend of his sister on the train who pretty much breaks the news to him that they're all gone. But I thought it was a good book over all. I'm now reading Das Boot an it's long lol, but definitely like it just now getting to the chapter first attack finally lol, it does seem like a lot of the beginning of the book is the author describing what the sky an Atlantic looked like. You can tell they changed the Captains a lot from book to movie, "The Old Man" as he's called in the book almost seems like he's depressed or bi-polar most the time, until now that they're racing to intercept a convoy.

08-17-13, 11:27 AM	#2
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,369 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	One of the things that makes me think that the author of Das Boot is a good writer is his ability to accurately describe an environment where nothing in happening. That is not easy to do in writing. I hope you enjoy both books. Neither was intended to be a technical or historical academic work. They were intended as memoirs recording human experiences. Both of these books did a good job in capturing the human aspects. About once a year, I re-read Iron Coffins and I enjoy the read every time. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

08-17-13, 03:34 PM	#5
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,539 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Rgr that __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

08-17-13, 03:44 PM	#7
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,539 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	You might want to look here: http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=94071 __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

08-18-13, 01:10 PM	#9
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,539 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Your welcome __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

08-17-13, 03:30 PM	#4
Packlife Gunner Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 91 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	That's why I wanted to read these books, I've read the technical an historically accurate type books already an now I wanted to read those personal experiences. Especially since most movies made about the U-boot war are mostly propaganda making the crews an Cpt's out to be fanatical nazis which we now know isnt true. Plus my ma asked me what game I was playing which was SH5 an she hit me w/ a bombshell. When she was in school she asked her dad my grandpa if they had any family still in Germany, my grandpa was born on the boat coming to America in the 20's. An my Grandpa told her that he had an aunt who was married to some guy an they had 3 boys. An far as he knew they'd all died in the war his aunt n her husband died in the bombings an 2 of his cousins died fighting in the Wehrmacht an the 3rd served on a U-boat. She told me she didnt ask anymore about them cuz she could see he wasn't comfortable talking about it, he also fought in WW2 an in Korea. He passed away in '98 so I couldn't ask him if I wanted to. It really puts new meaning to the phrase it's a small world.

08-17-13, 03:39 PM	#6
Packlife Gunner Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 91 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	An I liked both authors, for me if I can picture in my mind what I'm reading then I think that author is good, I hate books that are dull or blank an I cant see the story or characters in my mind. But both books are similar an different in the same way, Werner was trying to put his entire experience of WW2 in a book where as Buchheim was describing 1 patrol an trying to give us each an every detail of that patrol. In my opinion you get the best of both worlds with these two books. But there are other books written by U-boat men like the laughing cow by Metzler an some others I want to look up an read.

08-18-13, 11:28 AM	#8
Packlife Gunner Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 91 Downloads: 35 Uploads: 0	Many thanks I've meant to check that thread out before but always forget lol, already wrote down some books from it