Caine Mutiny Impressions

I had read the Caine Mutiny many years ago. With the passing of Herman Wouk this spring I wanted to read it again. I got an old, old copy at a book sale fundraiser. It added to the atmosphere a little. The story held up really well.

There were some things that were anachronistic, or at least out of tune with modern times. For example, when Willie and May go to Yosemite during his leave they end up sleeping together. They both feel guilty afterward, for their own reasons. You would think that in the middle of the war they wouldn't worry about proprieties so much.

It's not until the end of the story that Willie can overcome his class instincts and try to love May as she deserves. I really liked the comment of Willie's mother that she only gave May the value that Willie gave her. I didn't expect that. The mother had been so possessive, but she was right to tell Willie it was up to him.

I was surprised how hard the story was on Tom Keefer. It's as if Wouk was criticizing that part of himself as a writer. Keefer instigated the mutiny, but wouldn't take the blame.

I don't know if I buy the idea that they (the officers) should have supported Queeg and helped him out more. The Navy bore some of the blame for putting someone in command who couldn't handle it. Or maybe not giving the subordinates a way to express their concerns was the problem? He was just sane or crazy enough to slide by to his level of incompetence.

I felt sorry for Maryck, that he shouldered the blame. I guess he should have been better at cajoling Queeg?

Reading The Caine Mutiny

It has been just a few weeks since the author Herman Wouk passed away. In most of the articles talking about his work, they always said he was an "old-fashioned" author. I took it to mean he didn't have any of the irony or cynicism we see in many modern writers. That really made me curious.

So at the Legal Aid Fund book sale at Wilson College last weekend I was happy to find an old copy of The Caine Mutiny, which was Wouk's most famous book. I'm well into the book now, with the paranoid and incompetent Captain Queeg. Kay! I'll have more to say when I finish the book.