The Last Detail

A Novel

By: Darryl Ponicsan

Narrated by: Bronson Pinchot

Length: 5 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

The acclaimed novel that was the basis for the classic movie starring Jack Nicholson.

Unlike other branches of the armed services, the Navy draws its police force from the ranks as temporary duty - Shore Patrol. In this funny, bawdy, moving audiobook set during the height of the Vietnam War, two career sailors in transit in Norfolk, Virginia - Billy "Bad-Ass" Buddusky and Mule Mulhall - are assigned to escort 18-year-old Larry Meadows from Norfolk to the brig in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he is to serve an eight-year sentence for petty theft. It's good duty, until the two old salts realize the injustice of the sentence and are oddly affected by the naive innocence of their young prisoner.

In the five days allotted for the detail, they decide to show Meadows something of the life he doesn't yet know to help him survive the long ordeal ahead, and to purge their own shame. What follows is an unlikely road trip by bus and train up the eastern seaboard, and an indelible journey of initiation and discovery, filled with beer-soaked wisdom, big city lights, revelry, brawls, debauchery, love, and surprising moments of tenderness.

©1971 Darryl Ponics?n (P)2017 Novel Audio Inc.

Surprising ending

I read the book when I was a teenager back in the 70s then I saw the movie it was excellent great writing good story

Wow! An Excellent Reading of a Unique Trip

The Last Detail kept me entertained and wanting to listen to more. I honestly listened to the whole book over the course of one day. Once Billy and Mule are given their orders, the story really takes off. the first chapter is a slow-ish start but the story really sweeps you into the narrative once they meet Larry and begin their travels with him.

The end of the story was a little unexpected. I haven't seen the movie version starring Jack Nicholson, but the introduction of the book written by the author says the film version has a slightly different ending. I really want to watch the movie now!

Broson Pinchot does an excellent reading. His ability to voice other characters is top notch in this recording. He's generally good in other books I've heard him narrate, but this one was some his best.

I'm not at all surprised that this was turned into a movie. You can clearly picture it as a movie in your head. The dialogue is well written and feels more "real world" than most.

I enjoyed the writing-style and the story so much, that I'm likely to read the sequel as well (but I'm wondering if that's maybe a book sequel to the movie-version of the story).

The epilogue was maybe not the way I would've wanted the story to end. I was sort of surprised by the last few lines, but I can't think of a better way to end it. I feel like, I want to stay in the world of the story. I want to be there, in Charlotte's house with the guys, or at the snowy picnic, or even drunk in a bar with Billy and Mule after they've gone AWOL. The story will stick with me because I didn't want it to end and I didn't want to say goodbye to those characters. I didn't want it to be The Last Detail and I certainly didn't want it to end. And loving the world of a story and not wanting it to end might sometimes be the mark of a good story.

Exceptional

Bronson Pinchot was outstanding. I truly enjoyed his delivery and portrayal of the characters in this book.
5 star all around...

Ahoy!

Good novel about crap life in the Navy. Lots of laughs and good hearted characters made me enjoy it very much

I got your review, swingin'!

just great. The movie is a must-see in my book, but the performance in this audiobook kicked ass, and the writing makes it just as entertaining as the movie.