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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
dark
sad
fast-paced
informative
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There was too much Lost Cause narrative in this book, I wasnt a fan.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Slavery, War
That rare thing: a historical novel that puts story before history and manages to do both proud in the process. I am not a Civil War or American history buff. I would never have picked this up if my husband had promised me a good read. But I'm so glad I did. You get the joy of feeling like you are right there, like you understand what it was like even though it was 150 years ago, and you care about the characters (who are historical figures) and what happens to them.
Historical fiction is prey to two great weaknesses: including historical detail that doesn't further the story and unsatisfying character arcs because real life lacks the shape of well-crafted novel. This book has neither problem. It reads like a rich novel, and yet has extra punch because the people and places are real, the battle really happened, and most of the action can be found in your average American history text book.
If they'd used books like this to teach history when I was in school, I would have taken all the history classes I could.
Historical fiction is prey to two great weaknesses: including historical detail that doesn't further the story and unsatisfying character arcs because real life lacks the shape of well-crafted novel. This book has neither problem. It reads like a rich novel, and yet has extra punch because the people and places are real, the battle really happened, and most of the action can be found in your average American history text book.
If they'd used books like this to teach history when I was in school, I would have taken all the history classes I could.
This is the first book I've ever read about the Civil War, so I wasn't really sure what to expect. I think the author did an amazing job of making the reader feel for the characters on both sides. I desperately wanted both sides to just walk away and for everyone to live.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
What a service to history. This "novel" is remarkable and captures the essence of the Gettysburg battle. The names that were mostly familiar to me came alive in this book in a historically accurate fashion. I had this paperback sitting on my shelf since high school (25 years). The book was thrown to me by a family friend who said I would enjoy it. They were right and I wish I would have listened to them back then. Thank you Sue Davids!
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
informative
reflective
medium-paced