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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
Read Killer Angels continuing to read Pulitzer Prize winning books. Micheal Shaara certainly kept my attention. Important to remember this is a work of fiction using the battle at Gettysburg and the principle participants. The book definitely glorifies war and exaggerates virtue. Recommend the writing of Bruce Catton as a very readable historian writing on the Civil War.
Loved this. Another history book that had me in tears by the end.
The second time I’ve read this book; the first time in 25 years. It is a solid work of historical fiction, but it sometimes treats Lee and the Confederates a little too kindly.
I found this to be a terrific read.
This book, about the U.S. Civil war, specifically focusses on the 3 days of the Gettysburg battle. It's about 400 pages but it took me a while to get through it since it is so dense with information.
I am not a Civil War fan. I am also hot and cold on historical fiction. Sometimes I find it good, sometimes not. This one won me over. I found it compelling to read.
Others have said that it's confusing, and I can see why they might say this. Each chapter is written from different characters' point of view. And there are a lot of characters to keep track of. Sometimes I have trouble with too many characters (think, Dostoevsky). Yet with this one, I had no trouble. At least it was written chronologically.
Since I don't know a lot about the Civil War, or the battle of Gettysburg, I can't speak to the accuracy of the story as the author tells it. Is he biased? I don't know.
All I know is that I was very engaged with this book. And learned tons.
This book, about the U.S. Civil war, specifically focusses on the 3 days of the Gettysburg battle. It's about 400 pages but it took me a while to get through it since it is so dense with information.
I am not a Civil War fan. I am also hot and cold on historical fiction. Sometimes I find it good, sometimes not. This one won me over. I found it compelling to read.
Others have said that it's confusing, and I can see why they might say this. Each chapter is written from different characters' point of view. And there are a lot of characters to keep track of. Sometimes I have trouble with too many characters (think, Dostoevsky). Yet with this one, I had no trouble. At least it was written chronologically.
Since I don't know a lot about the Civil War, or the battle of Gettysburg, I can't speak to the accuracy of the story as the author tells it. Is he biased? I don't know.
All I know is that I was very engaged with this book. And learned tons.
Really brings the Battle of Gettysburg to life. Wonderful storytelling.
This novel imagines conversations among Generals and other officers during and before the Gettysburg battle. It is powerful. I listened to it with rapt attention and found myself not wanting to stop listening when it was time to turn off the audiobook. It was so well written I kept wondering how things would work out even though I knew which side won the battle.
This was an incredibly comprehensive account of the Battle of Gettysburg. It was so real that I could feel the mounting tensions and fear of citizens and soldiers as I read. The characters, both real and fictionalized, helped to make the tale seamless. I learned more about history from reading this book than I did in all my years of schooling. Upon completion of the book, I began making plans to go to the battlefield site, and I could recognize places based on the descriptions alone. It was truly masterful in scope and style.
Absolutely redeems the disaster that was the prequel! Michael Shaara captures the depth and nuance of personality in some of the Civil War's most important characters. Chamberlain shines as the unexpected hero, but even the portraits of the Reb generals (especially Longstreet) pulled me into their shoes without even once seeming to justify their Lost Cause.
While I certainly knew the outcome of the battle, this narrative was so intense--I raced through the first day's pages because the sense of luck and timing and drive and destiny felt so monumental. The land surrounding Gettysburg becomes an important character in itself, as we see from the treetop perspective of the pompous Englishman who follows the Confederate generals. The depth of tiredness is made so evident as Chamberlain falls asleep beneath the bursting shells just before Pickett's Charge. And the utter hopelessness of the Confederate position is brought home in the end--it's a wonder the war lasted for another year beyond this.
Probably my favorite work of historical fiction I've ever read. It rests on a solid foundation of historical accuracy, but paints the vivid colors that happen in between the facts. It answers the question--how must these men have felt, living through some of the most consequential days of American history?
While I certainly knew the outcome of the battle, this narrative was so intense--I raced through the first day's pages because the sense of luck and timing and drive and destiny felt so monumental. The land surrounding Gettysburg becomes an important character in itself, as we see from the treetop perspective of the pompous Englishman who follows the Confederate generals. The depth of tiredness is made so evident as Chamberlain falls asleep beneath the bursting shells just before Pickett's Charge. And the utter hopelessness of the Confederate position is brought home in the end--it's a wonder the war lasted for another year beyond this.
Probably my favorite work of historical fiction I've ever read. It rests on a solid foundation of historical accuracy, but paints the vivid colors that happen in between the facts. It answers the question--how must these men have felt, living through some of the most consequential days of American history?