I was given this book before I left for America and as they didn’t need it back I took it with me and left it in the hotel in New York on their pile of books, it felt appropriate to me. I did read it before I left it there so I feel I can scribble a few words about it.

This is a series of articles Steinbeck wrote during WWII, they’re interesting articles and mostly different to the types of articles I’ve read. They talk about the lead up to being shipped out and then the actual journey, fairly broadly described. One article talks about the number of people on the ship and how there wasn’t much room, not much to do and you get an idea of how it must feel being on that vessel with so many men. Another talks about American soldiers being in England and drinking the beer there. Yet another talks about one driver who was playing the system to ensure he stayed a driver as he had everything sorted out very nicely for him, wherever his passenger needed to go he had made friends so was able to drop them at their destination and then go find a friend to get a very good meal and a good bed.

Steinbeck talked about the Duck Boats, vessels you could use on land as well as at sea. They made about 2,000 of them which I believe were never used. We saw them in use as tourist buses and they’re most annoying to everyone else as they give out duck call toys which the kids just love using. I did get a photo but I can’t find it among the many photos I took.

The author talked about secrecy in his introduction and how journalists adhered to that code to the extreme despite some secrecy not being needed. It was so ingrained in his psyche that years later when he was putting this book together he found himself unable to put in the details that would make no difference to the war that was over.

I wavered between loving this book and being rather disturbed by it. I’m not excited by war and that aspect worried me but the writing was very good and I enjoyed it greatly.