Official Review: When Life Doesn't Turn Out the Way We Ho...

Post by **Kibet Hillary** » 21 Dec 2020, 09:40

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "When Life Doesn't Turn Out the Way We Hoped It Would Volume 3" by Tom Wick.]

2 out of 4 stars

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When Life Doesn’t Turn Out the Way We Hoped It Would: Volume 3 was authored by Tom Wick. It is the third book in the series and is approximately 364 pages long. The forthcoming memoir starts with the initiation of the new sailors, pollywogs, into hardened seamen, shellbacks, during the Shellback Initiation Ceremony aboard the USS Gridley. The author provided a very precise description of the origin and importance of the sacred ceremony, and thus I understood its significance. The traditional ritual was replete with amusing activities. Some were disgusting, of course, but the result was worth everything. The extended voyage at sea continued to various islands after the ceremony, which was performed upon crossing the equator.

This is not only a story of sea voyages from one island to another but also fascinating adventures. It is a story of great struggles, resilience, positivism, hope, and triumph. It is the account of a person who encountered numerous challenges, was haunted by traumatic memories, and had to find a way to live fully. The author poured his life experiences into the book. His candor cannot be estimated. He honestly narrates how he injected hard drugs to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder. These hardships and determination to emerge victoriously made his set of circumstances relatable. Despite being abused while young, the author still desired only the best for everyone he met. Undoubtedly, Tom’s life was not what he had expected, but he was determined to lead an intentional life.

The vivid descriptions in the book were mind-blowing. The photographs were so lovely that I was mesmerized by the scenic features from various places in the world. These exotic pictures included those of buildings, animals, rivers, streets, and other geographical features. They added a touch of authenticity to the book and were appealing to the eyes as well. Consequently, reading the book was a pleasant experience. Further, the author utilized local accents and thus making each person distinct. I, therefore, appreciated the diversity of all individuals.

I liked several things about the book. To begin with, the vulnerability of the author was commendable. His heartfelt desire for the intimacy he shared with his father before his demise was palpable. He went in quest of this kind of connection using many ways. He cried himself out at times after every fleeting moment that reminded him of this father-son love. Besides, I enjoyed the adventures and travels as well. The historical sections of the book were also very informative and educative. The only thing that I disliked was the repetitive nature of the book. Many phrases and paragraphs were repeated and thus making some parts redundant. I was tempted to skip those sections severally. Many grammatical errors comprised unspaced words, and hence the book may require another round of editing.

I rate the book two out of four stars. Another round of editing to fix the errors and conflicting dates will guarantee a better rating. The book is suitable for all mature readers of memoirs. It contains numerous sexual innuendos and a few cuss words and hence is unsuitable for anyone averse to them.

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When Life Doesn't Turn Out the Way We Hoped It Would Volume 3
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Deval Sodha · Post by **Deval Sodha** » 22 Dec 2020, 08:47

This sounds to be a fascinating book filled with sea voyages adventures and amazing journey.
Indeed a great review.

Shahina C A · Post by **Shahina C A** » 23 Dec 2020, 01:57

I think it would be an interesting read. But I personally don't like this type long titles . Thanks for the review

Amy+++ · Post by **Amy+++** » 23 Mar 2021, 06:57

It's great to see all 3 volumes be the book of the day back to back, but sadly I'm not interested in this genre.

Leen282 · Post by **Leen282** » 23 Mar 2021, 07:16

Glad to find also the third volume as BOTD. It is interesting to see the different reviewers and their opinions - and despite a different rating, the same positive comments remain: vivid descriptions, honesty, informative nature.

Post by **Bertha Jackson** » 23 Mar 2021, 07:38

The continuing saga of Tom's time in the military and the many adventures he had. I found the section o Equador interesting. Thank you for your review.

Yvonne Monique · Post by **Yvonne Monique** » 23 Mar 2021, 07:56

With 3 books in this series, Tom Wick must have led a very interesting life to be able to write so much content.

Mvictoria · Post by **Mvictoria** » 23 Mar 2021, 08:03

I did not like the sample of this book and I will not read it. I think the author does commendable work overcoming some serious obstacles, but I am not interested in memoirs very often and I’m not interested in the naval commentary or history.

AntonelaMaria · Post by **AntonelaMaria** » 23 Mar 2021, 08:21

I read the first two books samples and I had the same impression of repetitive writing style. It seems it stays that way in this book too. I agree it needs more editing. Good for the author to preserver to all the troubles life throws at him. Good job with the review.

Aan Granados · Post by **Aan Granados** » 23 Mar 2021, 08:23

Book 3 of Tom's story, is a continuation of his life in the Navy and his struggles with PTSD. Seems interesting. Thanks for your review.

Asma Aisha Ansari · Post by **Asma Aisha Ansari** » 23 Mar 2021, 08:24

Glad to see the third book in the series as the BOTD.
Though it is the third and the final book in the series and certainly interesting, and motivational in nature, it's regretful to know that it's got some significant editing errors. This book must be edited thoroughly and reviewed and rated positively.
My good wishes to the author.

And thanks for this wonderful review

Sou Hi · Post by **Sou Hi** » 23 Mar 2021, 08:37

Thanks for your review. It looks like Tom's voyage still continues with him on the USS Gridley, the warship that appears in the second part of the memoir.

Etienneza · Post by **Etienneza** » 23 Mar 2021, 08:41

Tom's maritime travel adventures! An entertaining read for maritime and biographical detail enthusiasts. Well done with BOTD.

Etienneza · Post by **Etienneza** » 23 Mar 2021, 08:42

Tom's maritime travel adventures! An entertaining read for maritime and biographical detail enthusiasts. Well done with BOTD.

ViviVivid · Post by **ViviVivid** » 23 Mar 2021, 08:47

The reviews of the previous two books also mentioned the numerous errors in them and I also noticed how the rating has gone down. It seems like an amazing story of a brave person but these little things kill a good story. A great review though!