Review: The Good Shepherd

I learned about this book through trailers for the upcoming movie "Greyhound," starring Tom Hanks.

Written by C.S. Forester in 1955, it tells the story of a U.S. Navy commander in charge of a convoy that is crossing the Atlantic Ocean during World War II.

The book has only three chapters, which I found to be an interesting decision. Chapter two is the one with all the action, and describes the 48-hour running battle between the convoy escort and a "wolf pack" of German submarines.

I like the book because I can identify with the insecurities of Commander Krause. Although he is an experienced seaman, the U.S. is new to the war and he has less experience than the captains of the foreign vessels under this authority.

Professionally, he is struggling to make sense of a recent snub -- he was deemed "fitted and retained," which apparently means he would have been retired if it weren't for the war. This causes him to question his competence.

And privately, he mourns his divorce from his wife, which has him questioning his usefulness. Do all these people know something about him that he doesn't?

Throughout the book, Krause alludes to Scriptures, which ties in to the book's title. The son of a Lutheran minister, Krause is the good shepherd who lays down his life for those in his care.

I look forward to seeing the movie, and wonder how many times we'll hear the line, "Very well."