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beingshort's review
adventurous
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
jhouses's review against another edition
3.0
Una premisa que a primera vista parece absurda como puede ser el intento de.conquistar California por un Káiser envalentonado tras una corta y victoriosa Guerra Mundial ( menos absurda si se tiene en cuenta que en la realidad intentó convencer a México para invadir EEUU) da lugar a una historia entretenida sin más en la que vemos involucrarse a varios de los futuros protagonistas de la 2ª Guerra Mundial como Patton, Eisenhower o Rommel.
rcthomas's review against another edition
3.0
My feelings about this book are a bit conflicting. On the one hand I have always enjoyed Conroy's easy to read and absolutely loved "1901" when it came out. However, while this book was (mindlessly) enjoyable, there are parts of the novel that are almost lifted exactly word for word from his previous novels. I'm fairly certain the description of Luke and Kristen (sp) are nearly identical to the ones from 1901 (and all the successive Conroy novels). It's just a bit grating to get the same characters again and again when the premise and exploration of these alternate worlds are so engaging.
The world is also less engaging than previous novels, in my opinion. It's basically a rehash of 1901 just two decades later and instead of New York it's Califronia. The Germans and Mexicans are both cartoonishly evil and the subplots are fairly predictable if you've read Conroy's (or similar) works before.
In any event, the novel is still engaging enough to keep you reading to the end. It's also a quick read so that is also a bonus.
The world is also less engaging than previous novels, in my opinion. It's basically a rehash of 1901 just two decades later and instead of New York it's Califronia. The Germans and Mexicans are both cartoonishly evil and the subplots are fairly predictable if you've read Conroy's (or similar) works before.
In any event, the novel is still engaging enough to keep you reading to the end. It's also a quick read so that is also a bonus.
ad000's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting concept that's relatively believable and decently well executed. I just couldn't get into the stories/ 1 dimensional characters.
karlou's review against another edition
2.0
Some of the best books I've read have been set during the First and Second World Wars, Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks, Pat Barker's Regeneration trilogy and The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monsarrat immediately come to mind. Therefore I was looking forward to this alternative history which imagines Germany won a swift and decisive war in Europe in 1914 then shipped a huge army to Mexico to support a puppet government before staging a bold invasion of America in 1920, with the intention of making Texas and California the permanent property of Imperial Germany.
An interesting premise then, but unfortunately it wasn't a book that really engaged me.
I think the main issues for me were the scale and by necessity the number of people in the book. I like to be drawn in by a character, to empathise with them, care for them and in the case of books set in war time to fear for them and I didn't have that with this book. I felt the action swapped from one scene to another too quickly meaning as a reader I never really felt involved. I would have preferred the book to have concentrated on the characters of Luke, Josh, Kirsten and Elise as I found them the more interesting and engaging protagonists. The book also featured several real life people and whilst I think some made sense I did feel it was rather overdone. Ultimately I expect a book set in wartime to set my pulse racing, to really make me feel for the characters, to mourn those lost and to experience a sense of relief for the survivors. Sadly I didn't get that with this book, I never really doubted the outcome and it personally left me cold.
After finishing it I realised I was reminded of a big budget Hollywood action movie with lots of special effects and drama but less in the way of characterisation. I know there are plenty of people who love films like that and likewise I believe there are many readers who will thoroughly enjoy this book, it just wasn't for me.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publishers through Netgalley in return for my honest review.
An interesting premise then, but unfortunately it wasn't a book that really engaged me.
I think the main issues for me were the scale and by necessity the number of people in the book. I like to be drawn in by a character, to empathise with them, care for them and in the case of books set in war time to fear for them and I didn't have that with this book. I felt the action swapped from one scene to another too quickly meaning as a reader I never really felt involved. I would have preferred the book to have concentrated on the characters of Luke, Josh, Kirsten and Elise as I found them the more interesting and engaging protagonists. The book also featured several real life people and whilst I think some made sense I did feel it was rather overdone. Ultimately I expect a book set in wartime to set my pulse racing, to really make me feel for the characters, to mourn those lost and to experience a sense of relief for the survivors. Sadly I didn't get that with this book, I never really doubted the outcome and it personally left me cold.
After finishing it I realised I was reminded of a big budget Hollywood action movie with lots of special effects and drama but less in the way of characterisation. I know there are plenty of people who love films like that and likewise I believe there are many readers who will thoroughly enjoy this book, it just wasn't for me.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publishers through Netgalley in return for my honest review.
jameseckman's review
3.0
A bit better than the other two I read, less gratuitous sadism. Also a fairly plausible alternative history since the real Germany did have thoughts of conquering the US until Kaiser I was shown how big it was.
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