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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, War
Moderate: Cursing, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual violence
Minor: Child death
Cursing was used throughout (sh**, bi***, ni**er, fu**ed (1), da**). Almost always, if not always, used in dialogue, so it never seemed forced, but very realistic in the way that people would have spoken. Still present though, so if sensitive to it, just a warning.
Because of the plot & time of the book, racism is prevalent throughout, sometimes in graphic description of thoughts. War, violence, death, & evil are also heavily described.
One scene is sexual assault is thwarted, but the image is described. In another scene, rape is described from the point of view of the rapist. Made me very uncomfortable.
A love story is woven throughout, but not the traditional kind. More like a love born out of war & destruction & suffering.
All that to say, the narrative is beautifully written & gives a glimpse into the horrors of war. Were it not for the way in which the story was written & my curiosity as to how it would all turn out, I probably wouldn't have finished it because of my sensitivity to the graphic content it contains.
for me, this was an interesting historical event bogged down by the fictional story that was forced upon it.
I was so bored I went upstairs to wake the baby for something to do.
I love the premise and that it's a true story, but it didn't hold my interest.
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well, you get an interesting look at the aftermath of the Civil War in the South on a local level. It's also very good to see a little-known historical figure remembered. However, I find that the widow came across as more 'somewhat demented' than grieved or depressed.
Reminders of the war between the states are everywhere. I can’t even drive to the grocery store or library without crossing battlefields and this story fleshed out the stark signs, memorials, and left-behind iron cannons with a melancholy reverence, bringing life and truth to what could easily become background noise to my day-to-day distractions. Living in the location of the book definitely brought a new layer of interest but I would have loved the story of Carrie McGavock and her charges even if I lived in Sheboygan.
August 2013 book club selection.
Got about 100 pages into the book and invoked my 100-page-rule. It was not holding me so I stopped. Other members of the book club said it got better after that. Guess I'll never know.
This was a nice solid historical fiction novel based on a real person from the Civil War (oddly enough a widow). Her property became one of the largest burial grounds for soldiers who died near her home. There is still a museum dedicated to her in operation today.
Didn't quite live up to the hype. I enjoyed reading about the battle of Franklin and some of the history of the Carnton plantation but I felt like the author took too much on. He wasn't really able to garner much sympathy or empathy for the characters though I felt he tried. Enjoyed the history and the descriptiveness of the battle and the soldiers. The love story on the other hand was mediocre and not really convincing.