Rating: 
Summary: Never has Wouk's sexism been more apparent
Review: None of the female characters in this book fare well. The only beautiful, cultured, deeply intelligent woman, Iris, is villanized for being a beautiful, cultured, deeply intelligent woman, who drinks heavily and can only find true love with married men. Iris's biggest crime is that she's not Jewish. She has a love affair with Norman Paperman, then conveniently dies after a binge that reveals puffy eyes, and a mean temper. (The only other casualty is a gay man, killed by a police officer simply for being gay). The other women include Norman's wife Henny, who tolerates his affairs and spends most of the book in bed with a mysterious malady, leaving Norm free game for Iris. When Henny recovers she's appealingly thin, in contrast to Iris's alcoholic bloat, a lively do-gooder always ready to forgive her husband's indiscretions. In a modern film adaptation, she'd be re-named Hillary, her slim ankles a miracle of liposuction. Their daughter Hazel, pretty enough to make her own father drool, is a fool. The African/Caribbean women (and men) are either ethnic stereotypes or poseurs. Shame on you, Herman. Did you hate your mother? Did a tall blonde woman spank you in nursery school? I'd like to read your analyst's review of this book.
Rating: 
Summary: a keeper
Review: This is one of very few 5 star books in my opinion. It certainly transcends time and its sense of place is so inviting. A philosophy of life that states "in the end you are who you are."Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: A Most Excellent Piece of Work!!!!
Review: I too was captured by Jimmy Buffetts' Musical score of this Carribean Adventure, and wanted to read his inspiration. Herman Wauk is now one of my favorite authors. I could really sympathize with Norman Paperman, and I found myself falling in love with Iris as the story went on. Hats off to you Mr. Wauk I will pursue the rest of your works and read them all!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic read from the past
Review: This book is characteristic of the people of the Caribbean. Slow to move but eventually you'll get there.After hearing Jimmy Buffet's version I wanted to find out more and was not dissapointed. The book flows very well in this readers mind and is one of the better book I've read
Rating: 
Summary: Insightful view of an earlier time
Review: Wouk has captured the spirit of the islands, but in a simpler time unfortunately long past. While many of the frustrations of life in paradise are amusingly presented, the serpent has been in the garden and the apple has been tasted. There are few instances of "quaint and gentle island culture" remaining today. There are quite too many demagogues and modern politicians here now. It was refreshing to read how it once was and to be able to see around us the remnants of a kinder and gentler time past. Wouk has remarkable ability to make us laugh at our foibles and see ourselves in his characters. Thorougly enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: TIME TRANSCENDING, BRILLIANT
Review: I read this adventuresome tale after hearing Buffett's soundtrack. I was expecting a predictable yet descriptive 'Buffettesque' tale of the tropics. I was pleasantly surprised and extremely taken back by this novel. It is very descriptive, Herman Wouk's way not Buffett's, but what made it an absolute masterpiece was Wouk's ability to introduce and familiarize the reader with so many unique characters. Although written in the 60's, an attentive reader can sense that Wouk has generalized the storyline enough to fit ANY time.
Rating:
Summary: A dated, puerile and inaccurate view of today's Caribbean
Review: Having lived in the Caribbean for many years I can only say that Wouk's rather childish view of the US Virgins was the result of a shallow look at Caribbean island life. The storyline is quite good and some of the 'island style', 'island time' happenings show accurately the frustrations that are a fact in almost every kind of meaningful endeavour that one tries to accomplish in the islands. But Wouk didn't get into the heart of the Caribbean people or their culture (well, a steel band, I suppose) and the fact that the book is set amongst tropical islands. He could have made much more of the water, the beaches, the yachting, the sport fishing that give the islands their vibrancy. The problems that he encountered with the renovating of 'The Gull Reef Club' are accurate and sometimes amusing in a corny sort of way but the ending was weak. Altogther disappointing
Rating:
Summary: A great book to take on vacation
Review: Took this book to Cancun and could not put it down. After listening to Jimmy Buffets music regarding the soundtrack I throughly enjoyed it.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read
Review: If anyone is interested in working in the hotel business, this is a must read. It was written as fiction, but it could be a textbook for the hospitality industry. As a hotelier, if anyone says to me, "What is it like doing what you do?", I tell them to read this book. If you work in a hotel, you will experience all that Norman does, and probably then some. Of course, some of us psycho's thrive on this stuff.
Rating: 
Summary: Severly dated simplistic
Review: I read this following the 10 books for a deserted island from Jimmy Buffet's "A Pirate Looks at 50". (any one who includes West With The Night is Ok with me) I have lived in the tropics. I found the book to be a dated cliche ridden piece. I know it was written to reflect 1959 but it does not translate in to the present. It is the vision some want to have of a wonderful complex culture and life style.The ending was weak predictable.
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