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383 reviews for:
Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever
Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard
3.85 AVERAGE
383 reviews for:
Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever
Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard
3.85 AVERAGE
Really interesting to listen to (first audiobook I’ve done in quite some time). Hearing certain things made me start digging into historical facts (how did I not know some of these things?) but overall really intriguing and makes me want to do some more reading on my own.
While written from a third person perspective that obviously takes liberties with what was going on in a person’s mind at the time, overall the book does provide facts (and speculation) in the timeline of the weeks leading up to Lincoln’s assassination and the capture/death of Booth. I also appreciate the final chapter that provides a glimpse at the future of many of the key players at the time.
While written from a third person perspective that obviously takes liberties with what was going on in a person’s mind at the time, overall the book does provide facts (and speculation) in the timeline of the weeks leading up to Lincoln’s assassination and the capture/death of Booth. I also appreciate the final chapter that provides a glimpse at the future of many of the key players at the time.
Very interesting and very readable. A good account of the events surrounding Lincon's assassination. This book was much more comprehensive than I expected, spanning details about the end of the Civil War, the capture of Booth, and the conspiracy to kill other government officials at the same time. I listened to the book and that many hours of Bill O'Reilly was a little crazy. This book was super intriguing--even though I knew the outcome--but I rated it lower because it seemed so speculative. Some of the conversations and details that were presented as facts surely can't be know. I know the 1860s weren't the dark ages but I just find it hard to believe that some historical license wasn't taken to make this book more readable. I don't know, I did just listen to it...maybe the print book has some footnotes or endnotes that provide more context/sources but I must say that I am skeptical about some of it. I did learn a lot though, especially about Booth and his accomplices! I would have liked to learn more about Dr. Samuel Mudd, as he is one of my very very distant relatives. :)
I wasn't really sure what to expect going in to this book, but I ended up really liking it!
The first few chapters detailed the final battles of the Civil War (emphasis on "detailed"), and that wasn't really my cup of tea. To be honest, I had a hard time following who was who and what was going on, but reading about battles isn't really my thing anyways.
Other than that, I enjoyed everything else about this. It was really interesting and had a lot of information I had never read about before. It reads like a narrative, and almost feels like historical fiction, so it's not just another boring nonfiction book that lists fact after fact. It was exciting and thrilling and easy to get hooked on.
Part of my love for this book definitely stems from my love for Abraham Lincoln. This review is about the book, not him, but he was such an incredible person. Seriously one of the greatest men to ever live. If you admire Lincoln like I do, you will love this (but, of course, it will also break your heart).
Overall, this was great, and I'm looking forward to reading more of O'Reilly and Dugard's books in this series!
The first few chapters detailed the final battles of the Civil War (emphasis on "detailed"), and that wasn't really my cup of tea. To be honest, I had a hard time following who was who and what was going on, but reading about battles isn't really my thing anyways.
Other than that, I enjoyed everything else about this. It was really interesting and had a lot of information I had never read about before. It reads like a narrative, and almost feels like historical fiction, so it's not just another boring nonfiction book that lists fact after fact. It was exciting and thrilling and easy to get hooked on.
Part of my love for this book definitely stems from my love for Abraham Lincoln. This review is about the book, not him, but he was such an incredible person. Seriously one of the greatest men to ever live. If you admire Lincoln like I do, you will love this (but, of course, it will also break your heart).
Overall, this was great, and I'm looking forward to reading more of O'Reilly and Dugard's books in this series!
Finished this book after a great trip to DC. I am not sure what I was expecting. It is not O'Reilly's political opinion on Lincoln, the War, or the assassination. It is written as a thriller and day by day account of the end of the Civil War and assassination of President Lincoln.
While O'Reilly may not be everyone's favorite person, this book is excellent and I would recommend to anyone who likes history- nonfiction or fiction.
Read more on this review my 2013 reading adventure blog: http://katereads100.blogspot.com/
While O'Reilly may not be everyone's favorite person, this book is excellent and I would recommend to anyone who likes history- nonfiction or fiction.
Read more on this review my 2013 reading adventure blog: http://katereads100.blogspot.com/
While it is Bill O'Reilly who is one of the authors, there is nothing really politicized in the book. I learned so much about the Civil War and the events leading up to Lincoln's death. It is just fascinating.
Let’s just say I get the hype of Bill O’Reilly.. I’m in my dad era apparently.
I did not realize the first third of the book would be a detailed account of the last days for the Civil War—from Petersburg to Appomattox. I enjoyed learning the details of those final days, I just didn’t expect it.
Once you get to section two, this story of Lincoln’s death is quite different from Manhunt. Killing Lincoln is better at quickly telling the story while bringing in interesting side notes and coincidences—Robert Lincoln’s rescue by Edwin Booth; Booth’s renting the very room that Lincoln died in just two weeks earlier. There were a lot of “you are kidding me—I didn’t know that moments.”
I did wonder, often, what source did the author use for that passage? (I was listening to it.) How did he know those words were said or that person did that thing? Were the authors taking license for the narrrative or are there contemporary sources that back these actions up? I really want to know. I picked up the print version just to check out the sources. Though there is a nice list of sources in the appendix, I would have loved footnotes throughout the text. Go figure.
I will certainly pick up Killing Kennedy and Killing Jesus now.
Once you get to section two, this story of Lincoln’s death is quite different from Manhunt. Killing Lincoln is better at quickly telling the story while bringing in interesting side notes and coincidences—Robert Lincoln’s rescue by Edwin Booth; Booth’s renting the very room that Lincoln died in just two weeks earlier. There were a lot of “you are kidding me—I didn’t know that moments.”
I did wonder, often, what source did the author use for that passage? (I was listening to it.) How did he know those words were said or that person did that thing? Were the authors taking license for the narrrative or are there contemporary sources that back these actions up? I really want to know. I picked up the print version just to check out the sources. Though there is a nice list of sources in the appendix, I would have loved footnotes throughout the text. Go figure.
I will certainly pick up Killing Kennedy and Killing Jesus now.
This books is hard for me to write a review on because it is not normally the kind of book I seek out to read, it was a book club book. Admittedly, I know very little about Lincoln's assasination. What I was taught in my history class in high school is the extent. However, I felt like this book was cold and emotionless. I felt like I was reading a script for a television documentary. As far a historical fact goes, this book is probably great. But as far as helping me to understand/love/hate/sympathize with any character this didn't do it for me. I love Lincoln because of what I have been taught growing up. But I felt nothing for Mary Lincoln to Mary Surratt right on down to John Wilkes Booth. I guess I was looking for more of an emotional character driven story than a day by day course of events.
informative
tense
slow-paced