Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Listened to the audio book, HIGHLY recommend, the narrator really brings the story to life.
3.5 stars
Okay, I am very likely in the minority here, but then again, I am probably not the intended audience for this. War maneuvers in books is just not my cup of tea. It's why, as much as I loved the Fellowship of the Rings trilogy, I had a really hard time getting through the third book. I just can't picture a battle and easily grasp the strategies behind it partly because I am directionally challenged. So I just don't get it when it comes to talking about all the ins and outs of a battle plan. What I did love about this book was in how human the author made the characters. Perhaps not surprisingly, I've always thought about Lee as the rebel who was fighting for the right of the south to own slaves, which is evil in my book. And depending on who you talk to, he is the one who was ultimately responsible for the south losing the war. But Shaara really made him, if not more accessible, at least more understandable. I had no idea he was so well loved but his men would have done anything for him, including laying down their lives (which many of them) for his ideals. The general feeling I got from the author was that his idealism was possibly the main reason why so many soldiers lost their lives and that towards the end, he just didn't pay attention to or listen to his main advisors. At one point, I felt so sorry for Longstreet as he failed to convince Lee of an alternate course of action that may have saved more lives. As much as battle books are not my cup of tea, I thought the author did a great job of trying to bring back some humanity into this bloody war as he talked about how the key players related to each other. So I'm glad I read this book, and I definitely learned more than a few things. I think this is a book that I probably have to pick up again in the future and give it another listen. Maybe I'll pick up more nuances in the future. So, well done to the author--I definitely didn't hate this book, and I learned some things AND I might give it another chance in the future.
Okay, I am very likely in the minority here, but then again, I am probably not the intended audience for this. War maneuvers in books is just not my cup of tea. It's why, as much as I loved the Fellowship of the Rings trilogy, I had a really hard time getting through the third book. I just can't picture a battle and easily grasp the strategies behind it partly because I am directionally challenged. So I just don't get it when it comes to talking about all the ins and outs of a battle plan. What I did love about this book was in how human the author made the characters. Perhaps not surprisingly, I've always thought about Lee as the rebel who was fighting for the right of the south to own slaves, which is evil in my book. And depending on who you talk to, he is the one who was ultimately responsible for the south losing the war. But Shaara really made him, if not more accessible, at least more understandable. I had no idea he was so well loved but his men would have done anything for him, including laying down their lives (which many of them) for his ideals. The general feeling I got from the author was that his idealism was possibly the main reason why so many soldiers lost their lives and that towards the end, he just didn't pay attention to or listen to his main advisors. At one point, I felt so sorry for Longstreet as he failed to convince Lee of an alternate course of action that may have saved more lives. As much as battle books are not my cup of tea, I thought the author did a great job of trying to bring back some humanity into this bloody war as he talked about how the key players related to each other. So I'm glad I read this book, and I definitely learned more than a few things. I think this is a book that I probably have to pick up again in the future and give it another listen. Maybe I'll pick up more nuances in the future. So, well done to the author--I definitely didn't hate this book, and I learned some things AND I might give it another chance in the future.
This book makes me feel empathy towards men on both sides of the war, without feeling like I shouldn't morally condemn the Confederates. Lee may be a nice old man, who faced a choice I would never want to face, but he was also failing in health and age, unable to recognize the modern battlefield for what it was and lacking in courage. It is reprehensible when people go around feeling inexorably drawn to a certain path and claim they could choose no other when they make no apparent to push history in a different direction. However, I suppose, if Shaara's portrayal of Lee's thoughts is at all accurate, then Lincoln's Second Inaugural would have resonated with both sides in viewing the war's outcome as a sign and judgment from God.
This book killed me, and I can't even appreciate it as one might normally appreciate a book that tugs your heartstrings, that strikes some cord deep inside you, that has pages wet with your tears. Because it's real. Because I can applaud Michael Shaara for writing beautifully, for writing these characters in such a heartbreakingly realistic manner, but in the end, these aren't his characters, his creations: these are people. Real people, real people who died. And that's what kills me.
Perhaps even more than the deaths, what tore at my heart was the legacy of star-crossed friends. Not tragic, star-crossed lovers. Friends, closer than anything, separated irrevocably by a war they never wanted. Friends, friends who grew up together, friends who fought together, friends who loved each other, forced to face one another in battle. Men forced to kill the soldiers they once swore to protect. Oaths broken and friendships lost by one painful, bloody war.
This book had me praying that both sides had won, as wrong and logically impossible as that may be.
Perhaps even more than the deaths, what tore at my heart was the legacy of star-crossed friends. Not tragic, star-crossed lovers. Friends, closer than anything, separated irrevocably by a war they never wanted. Friends, friends who grew up together, friends who fought together, friends who loved each other, forced to face one another in battle. Men forced to kill the soldiers they once swore to protect. Oaths broken and friendships lost by one painful, bloody war.
This book had me praying that both sides had won, as wrong and logically impossible as that may be.
Pulitzer Prize winner - very readable and engaging book about Gettysburg.
This is my second time reading this book for a bookclub. I don't remember much from my first reading several years ago, except that I was surpised how much I liked it. This second time it started out slow but soon picked up speed. What made it especially enjoyable was that my parents and sister visited Gettysburg on a vacation about the time I was reading it and I was able to visit with my sister and get a lot more information. Our very lengthy visit made the book all the more real. Maybe the second reading will stick with me better than the first. It is frustrating how quickly I forget things I read.
Historical fiction I can believe in. The writing has rhythm and just by reading the verbs you will know the story. The two sides of one war, honorable men on both sides doing their best and what they feel is right. I think I would have enjoyed the book more had I read it a little faster.
Fictionalised account of the battle of Gettysburg from both North and South viewpoints. I am not American nor an American Civil War buff, but this book managed to grip my attention solidly for the duration it took to read it.
I think I would have given this book five stars if I head read it vs. 'read' it via audio book. As it was by audio book it was hard for me to keep track of the different people. Memory wise I can always remember people/characters better if I read their names rather then just hear it spoken now and then. I never previously cared about the civil war much at all but this book made me so interested in it! Especially considering the recent anniversary of Gettysburg earlier this month (lots of interesting articles in the various newspapers), I am now find the civil war historical information very interesting. This book reads like fiction and makes true life people come alive again.