Captivating Chronicle

Walter Lord's narrative technique - coloring puntiliously-researched & accurately-described historical events with personal anecdotes - works very well when discussing the events of December 7, 1941. The relatable humanity of that particular act of war is overwhelming. Lord puts his readers/listeners with Japanese strategists, pilots, and midget-sub sailors; with American signalmen desperately flashing warnings; and with servicemen trying to save their comrades. The book isn't as effective as Lord's seminal exposé on the Titanic disaster ('A Night to Remember') - but 'Day of Infamy' is both informative and pulse-generating.

Less fortunately, the unspectacular narration from Grover Gardner lets the text down somewhat. Don't get me wrong.. the recording is quite creditable - well within "acceptable" parameters - it's just unremarkable. Really any professional voice-actor could do a comparable job. Gardner reads with commendable diction, timbre, and cadence - but much too slowly (listen at 1.15X) and with a relatively disinterested tone. As I said, overall "average".

Taken altogether, I rate this audiobook 8.5 stars out of 10. If you're interested in the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and curious what it was like to plan/execute the mission or to face the terror on the ground, this book is an excellent option. I am very happy that I got it for free as a 'Plus' option - because it's actually worth a Credit if they ask for it.

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