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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
4.3/5 stars...
Organization : 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Enjoyment of subject/ideas: 5/5
Organization : 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Enjoyment of subject/ideas: 5/5
To be accurate, the book is about four WHITE women. Interesting stories, yes, but I couldn't help but think of the stories of women if color that are only half-told here.
This book had a fascinating premise and was at times quite engaging. I would recommend it to anyone interested in historical fiction, the Civil War, or the history of women in espionage.
I was thrown at first by the lack of footnotes and how this book seemed to jump between people. However, once I figured out who was who I really enjoyed flitting from person to person. If you are hesitant about a non-fiction history book, this is for you. It does not read like a non-fiction book (and I am sure there are some people who did not like it because of that). But I enjoyed it and learned about some very interesting historical figures.
Some good history, a lot of generalization and hyperbole. Well-balanced North and South with interesting stories and anecdotes. Author states that anything quoted has been taken from first source materials and cites those references.
Not sure why my review of this got deleted but this is one of my favorite books and it NEEDS to be made into a TV show.
The Civil War, despite knowing its facts, is always somewhat of a human behavioral mystery to me. Divergent actions throughout the years of battle are protrayed in this book which follows the lives of four women who are deeply entrenched in the war. Extreme violence and brutality are softened by remarkable southern charm and unwise chivalry throughout. The bravado of women on both sides of the war, although at times primitive, is quite commendable yet always tiptoeing on the insane side. The spoken word of the time was much more "civilized" and I found myself practicing a more formal arrangement of my words as I was influenced by the women within the pages. A good, challenging read for those not used to NF as well as those who seek out new works about the Civil War.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced