Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
I can't quite put my finger on what I liked so much about this book. The writing was sparse, but the characters were really brought to life. I didn't want to put it down. The most fascinating thing is how this book presents "The Cause," that is, why these men picked up arms in the Civil War. Both the "Yanks" and the "Rebs" are very well represented and presented.
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
I have seen the movie "Gettysburg" several times and have known for a while that this is the novel the movie is based on. I really enjoyed reading the novel and was surprised at how closely the movie followed it, with a few minor exceptions (one being that Chamberlain reports to General Sykes in the book and merely passes by General Hancock, whereas in the movie he reports to Hancock and there is no mention of Sykes). I am somewhat of an expert/student of American history, especially from the Civil War era, so this type of historical fiction really appeals to me. I have read Jeff Shaara's four novels on major Western Theater Civil War battles and want to read "Gods and Generals" and "The Last Full Measure." Also, I intend to read Ralph Peters' Civil War novels. Overall, this is one of (if not the) the best Civil War novels I have read so far.
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Incredible read, soooooo many quotes. A lot of highlighting I would do if I bring myself to use a highlighter in a book. If you haven't read this, read it. now.
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Um ... that’s how you do that.
Shaara shows the war from both sides, high ranking officers and young boys. The confusion, the tediousness, the fog of war ... all of it is here and accessible and so well done.
Shaara shows the war from both sides, high ranking officers and young boys. The confusion, the tediousness, the fog of war ... all of it is here and accessible and so well done.
One of the best books I have read in the past ten years. I could not put it down, and it gripped me with each story, though I knew the outcome. Incredible writing. I cannot recommend it enough if you enjoy learning about history.
I do not recall learning much about the civil war when I was in school, much less Gettysburg. This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was an attempt by the author to put flesh on the people and events of that battle. It is based upon his research into documents and letters from that period. The author doesn't necessarily focus on certain players in the battle that you might expect, but having finished the book on the back porch of a witness building-cum-bed and breakfast at the base of Cemetery Hill right before a private guided tour of the battlefield, I think the author pegged it. He brought to light the people whose decisions and actions were directly responsible for the outcome of the battle and, consequently, the civil war.
I liken it to how Bill Mueller hit the clutch single that drove in Dave Roberts, who had just stolen second base, turning around game four of the 2004 MLB ALCS Series. You can't say that those two won the series by themselves, but the aforementioned event was the pivotal event that changed the momentum of the series and thus the eventual outcome of the 2004 World Series.
If one has little knowledge of the civil war, and wants to gain insight into this important period in American History, this book is an essential read.
I liken it to how Bill Mueller hit the clutch single that drove in Dave Roberts, who had just stolen second base, turning around game four of the 2004 MLB ALCS Series. You can't say that those two won the series by themselves, but the aforementioned event was the pivotal event that changed the momentum of the series and thus the eventual outcome of the 2004 World Series.
If one has little knowledge of the civil war, and wants to gain insight into this important period in American History, this book is an essential read.