What do you think?
Rate this book
Frigate: November
United States Naval Commander Marlon Smith is a renegade. After striking another naval officer, he is sent to command the USS November. She's a ship full of problems. But after taking command, he finds out she's more than she appears to be. The November hides secrets Marlon hadn't counted on and with a Navy SEAL in charge of the ship's self defense Force, an US Air Force Sergeant in charge of intelligence, a Jewish Chaplain, and a supporting cast of other crazies, he'll be taking her out on a wild pirate hunt. Come along on an adventure you will never forget aboard the Frigate November!
480 pages, Paperback
First published December 11, 2009
26 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 5, 2010
There's so much I want to say about this one I don't know where to start. First off I didn't think I'd like a Navy book as much as I did! I know little about the military and have never has a particular interest in understanding how the military works. But since I love to read and will rarely turn down a book I agreed to read it in hopes that something would be interesting about it... And there was some interesting things in it, like the whole book!
The book is well written, even when "navy" words are used I still was able to understand what was going on. Plus it's a fairly humorous book there were a few times when I'd read a passage to whoever was around because I didn't want everyone to think I was nuts for laughing while reading a book with a picture of a ship on the front (How humorous could a book about a boat be?)
I really liked the cameos in this book. And I only use cameos because I don't know what else to call it. You'll have to read it to figure out what I'm talking about :-)
The book is paced really well. Even though it did take me a while to read this one it wasn't because the story moved slowly, I just kept getting called away from it... The chapters are also pretty short, which is good for when you have to keep setting it aside....
There really isn't anything I didn't like about this book. The characters were well developed. The speech was realistic. And the end was a surprise. While I already let Robert know how I thought it should have ended I have to say that the ending he used works very well....
Overall a good story. I think I'm going to have to read some of Wacaster's other works (which is good since I already have a few sitting here!)
The book is well written, even when "navy" words are used I still was able to understand what was going on. Plus it's a fairly humorous book there were a few times when I'd read a passage to whoever was around because I didn't want everyone to think I was nuts for laughing while reading a book with a picture of a ship on the front (How humorous could a book about a boat be?)
I really liked the cameos in this book. And I only use cameos because I don't know what else to call it. You'll have to read it to figure out what I'm talking about :-)
The book is paced really well. Even though it did take me a while to read this one it wasn't because the story moved slowly, I just kept getting called away from it... The chapters are also pretty short, which is good for when you have to keep setting it aside....
There really isn't anything I didn't like about this book. The characters were well developed. The speech was realistic. And the end was a surprise. While I already let Robert know how I thought it should have ended I have to say that the ending he used works very well....
Overall a good story. I think I'm going to have to read some of Wacaster's other works (which is good since I already have a few sitting here!)
March 7, 2010
The strength of this military novel lies in its dialogue. This flows so fluidly that I felt that I was it part of the conversations. "Frigate: November" is a book which is difficult to put down. A barn-storming, outspoken no-nonsense commander Marlon Smith finds himself in charge of the Frigate: November, a new ship with major problems and generally considered to be a "ship that will never sail."
As well as a serious horizontal list, its entire crew would seem to be a volatile mix of "problem personnel" offloaded by other commanders. Smith has enough disciplinary skeletons in his own cupboard which when compounded with his efforts to resurrect his own failed marriage, leaves him with a daunting job on his hands while attempting to instil some basic order into the motley crew.
I read it on a nightly basis and looked forward to hearing the black humour in what this outrageous mismatch of a crew would be falling out over next.
Wacaster's dialogue is strong, realistic, fluent and littered with that kind of humour that only military personnel can get away with.
For me the banter in the build-up was as good as the action itself.
A book for adults, but a book for all adults to enjoy. I'll now be looking to read the other titles by Robert Wacaster and I hope there will be more to come from this new novelist.
As well as a serious horizontal list, its entire crew would seem to be a volatile mix of "problem personnel" offloaded by other commanders. Smith has enough disciplinary skeletons in his own cupboard which when compounded with his efforts to resurrect his own failed marriage, leaves him with a daunting job on his hands while attempting to instil some basic order into the motley crew.
I read it on a nightly basis and looked forward to hearing the black humour in what this outrageous mismatch of a crew would be falling out over next.
Wacaster's dialogue is strong, realistic, fluent and littered with that kind of humour that only military personnel can get away with.
For me the banter in the build-up was as good as the action itself.
A book for adults, but a book for all adults to enjoy. I'll now be looking to read the other titles by Robert Wacaster and I hope there will be more to come from this new novelist.
January 23, 2016
FRIGATE NOVEMBER is an excellent sea story with rich characters and plenty of action and humor.
CDR Marlon Smith is given command of a crew of misfits aboard a ship in such bad shape that it may never leave the pier. Through old fashioned leadership, he instills a sense of pride and family that any sailor would be proud of, and then takes them into harm's way on a seemingly impossible mission.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book's rich characters. From the crazy SEAL to the alcoholic XO to the renegade main character, they add a depth to the book that most first-time authors can't create. I also really enjoyed the dialogue; it was not only realistic but at times really funny.
My favorite part of the book was the leadership lessons taught by two of the main characters; CDR Smith and Warrant Officer DeGeorge. Both lead by example, and espouse fairness and crew well-being above their own careers. As a professional Naval officer myself, these are the things I would look for in a leader or a commanding officer.
True naval enthusiasts may find that the book is highly inaccurate from a military standpoint, but action lovers will enjoy it from cover to cover. Highly recommended!
CDR Marlon Smith is given command of a crew of misfits aboard a ship in such bad shape that it may never leave the pier. Through old fashioned leadership, he instills a sense of pride and family that any sailor would be proud of, and then takes them into harm's way on a seemingly impossible mission.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book's rich characters. From the crazy SEAL to the alcoholic XO to the renegade main character, they add a depth to the book that most first-time authors can't create. I also really enjoyed the dialogue; it was not only realistic but at times really funny.
My favorite part of the book was the leadership lessons taught by two of the main characters; CDR Smith and Warrant Officer DeGeorge. Both lead by example, and espouse fairness and crew well-being above their own careers. As a professional Naval officer myself, these are the things I would look for in a leader or a commanding officer.
True naval enthusiasts may find that the book is highly inaccurate from a military standpoint, but action lovers will enjoy it from cover to cover. Highly recommended!
March 26, 2010
Anyone who has been in the military will enjoy this story full of old fashioned very colorful dialogue between senior officers and subordinates. A great storyline about a the ship USS November which was used as a disciplinary ship. Commander Marlon Smith after striking another officer. Now he is in charge of a ship full of disciplinary cases under his command. He's got his hands full with all the problems that arise and learns a lesson or two about human nature. After discovering the true condition of the ship, Cdr Smith finds out from the Admiral the real reason for his assignment to command the USS November. Then a Navy S.E.A.L. was assigned to the November for some discipline which was surprising but turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the Commander. Lots of twists and turns, including the Admiral's daughter getting to know Cdr Smith.
March 6, 2010
The dialogue is this book is so cleverly written, I am taking my take to enjoy it fully. I'll post a full review shortly.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews