What readers think of The Perfect Storm, plus links to write your own review.

The book is an incredibly detailed account of all intersecting aspects of the storm and does not spare the blows up to the verdict on the unavoidable outcome of this tragedy. Having been exposed to severe storm conditions off Scotland with winds force 11 and thirty foot waves I am prepared to fully accept the definitions expressed of severe conditions in the book.

The boat I was with, a bit larger than the Andrea Gail, and the skipper has been out in hurricane force 12 and I was greatly relieved when I was on the bridge and he said I had nothing to worry about. There was little left from the book to expand details of the courage of these men in trying to carry out formidable fishing operations in such extreme conditions. I could imagine the windows being blown out and the seemingly futile attempts to cover with wooden boards as the wind could easily carry man and board overboard in a single gust.

Such is the realism of the account that I felt myself experiencing many of the conditions as I read along and remembered my fishermen's training experience while diving into the water and climbing into the inflatable life having had to set it the right way up before use. The stories of life around the Crows Nest were broadly commensurate with my experience in port with outlandish crew behaviour which took me to the local police station on one occasion because a mate kicked in a car whilst unaware of the men in the police car behind waiting for trouble. I think alcohol had a great deal to do with our scrapes, but I loved being there with my mates. I cannot get over the joy of going out to sea, as detailed in the book, but with a distinct feeling you might not be coming back. All the explanations of the comings and goings of crew members ashore ring true to me and the mother one of my mates told me she was happier when her son was fishing with his father at sea than when he came home to cause problems.

The book relates to a lifestyle virtually unknown to the average town dweller. It is a totally enveloping world of almost unlimited excitement and danger on a truly grand scale. You have to be the right person to find it exactly the way you want to live.

Mark Carter (14 and live in Brisbane, Australia)

I found it incredibly interesting and before I had read this book I hardly ever read but now Im interested in His 2nd book 'Fire' hopefully it will be as good as the Perfect Storm.

Sebastian Junger has made this book thrilling and captivating to read. It pulls you in and doesn't let go until the ride is over. He makes you feel as if you are there with the fishermen at sea. Also very dramatic the way the story is told. Two thumbs up for "The Perfect Storm"

I had to read this book over the summer for the summer reading list and I really didn't find it that interesting. To be honest, until I saw the movie I didn't really understand it.

Now let me start off by saying that I am a 16 year old girl, who had to read this book for English class. This is not the best way to start off with a book. even thought i love to read, the perfect storm held no interest for me. My group and I all disliked the greart lengths at witch the author describes waves, and fish. hoping more the emotional story of the men on the Andrea Gail. over all it was a nice story, but some of the science stuff needs to go.