Rating: 
Summary: Gripping!
Review: "The Last Full Measure" by Jeff Shaara is the final installment in the Civil War trilogy started by Michael Shaara (Jeff's father) with the award winning book "The Killer Angels". I know comparisons are natural especially when both father and son are writers, they both authored books about the Civil War and they both wrote their stories using very similar styles. However, I liked all three books. I believe that the Civil War is worthy of many views and Jeff Shaara tells his story well."The Last Full Measure" takes place during the last years of the civil war, the story begins after the horrific battle of Gettysburg. Shaara focuses upon the war in Virginia and primarily upon the battles between General Robert E. Lee and General Ulysses S. Grant. He tells his story through the eyes of the combatants, Grant, Lee, Chamberlain, and to a lesser extent Hancock, Stuart and Longstreet. Grant's war by attrition and Lee's efforts to evade the Union forces are the focal points of the novel. There is no need to concern myself with spoilers I believe everyone know the outcome...the North Wins but at a huge cost. One of Shaara's main points is the terrible cost of the war, the ruin on the battlefield as well as in the minds of participants. I enjoyed this novel immensely. If I had to find anything wrong with the book, I would say that the book requires more maps or better maps. It's hard to picture a battle unless you can see a map showing all the players. Also, the story drags a little at the end. Shaara doesn't focus upon the Civil War reconstruction but instead gives us biographical chapters with post-war recaps. I would consider the Civil War Reconstruction just as important as the capsule biographies of the major characters and perhaps a more important end to his story. However, these are very minor points and I would not let them deter you. The is a very fine novel and one worthy of your attention.
Rating:
Summary: Another great Shaara historical novel
Review: Before reading this, the third in the Shaara Civil War trilogy, I became fairly well versed in the events described. This novel roughly parallels "A Stillness at Appomattox," the third volume of Bruce Catton's famous "Army of the Potomac" trilogy, (this third valume is still in print. The events depicted are Grant's push through Virginia, past Richmond, to the City of Petersburg where a long siege finally led to the end of the war. Grant did not win many battles in the overland campaign and indeed suffered a horrific defeat at Cold Harbor. However, after each battle in that campaign, rather than retreat, he pushed forward, winning the war by attrition. Grant's larger, better supplied army was more able to withstand loss than was Lee's. Shaara is historically accurate in describing events from the viewpoint of Grant, Lee and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. Through imagined dialogue and thought processes of these (and other) figures, we get a compelling view of the actual historic events. The end of the war is pathetic as Lee's badly depleted army tries to hang on, thus both absorbing, and causing unnecessssary losses. Lee abandons Petersburg and futilly extends the war as he retreats, finally ending up at Appomattox. I have always felt that the casualties of the last weeks of the war were the most tragic because the war had been won yet Lee allowed more death to occur by refusing to acknowledge the inevitable. Shaara descriptively captures these final days. This is the third novel of Jeff Shaara's I have read and I also read his father's "The Killer Angels." I never have read a Shaara novel that was anything less than 5 stars and I look forward to reading more in the future (Jeff has a sequel to "Rise To Rebellion" due out eventually). These novels are a great way to either learn history or to reinforce the history you have already learned.
Rating: 
Summary: The Road to Appomattox.
Review: As "The Killer Angels," this book is history written as a novel. It tells of the last year of the Civil War. Jeff Shaara uses historical figures as his main characters. The typical best-selling historical novel presents fictional main characters engaged in a fictitious story that includes bona fide historical figures and events. Authors such as Margaret Mitchell and John Jakes come to mind. Shaara's approach is unusual and effective. It enables the reader to get inside the minds of people such as Robert E. Lee, U. S. Grant, and Abraham Lincoln. The artistic license in play is arguable. Regardless, however, of the strict accuracy of the dialogue and introspection, the essence of the characters is on target, and supported by reputable nonfiction sources. The story unfolds slowly; capturing some of the tedium of a conflict that seems endless. There are no ruffles and flourishes or tacky appeals to patriotism here. Only a grim determination to persevere. Sprinkled along the way are maps of the battles described. This is also unusual in a novel. Thankfully, Shaara doesn't re-write history. Consequently, there isn't much suspense or surprise plot developments. The violence is only of the battlefield. Flying in the face of historical romance novels, the only romantic love mentioned is of husband and wife. No heaving bosoms to report. Presenting the human side of history without artificial melodrama compensates the reader for the lack of fictional devices typical of popular novels. The book is good as entry level reading for readers new to Civil War history, including young adults. History buffs that already know the facts can enjoy the book as entertaining reading that breathes new life into a familiar subject. ;-)
Rating: 
Summary: Too dense to work, but compelling
Review: Jeff Shaara's final addition to the Civil War trilogy begun by his father is somewhat of a disappointment, because his style begins to drift significantly from his father's, and even from his first book, which was considerably better. He attempts a little too much, diving in the minds of the characters with excessive zeal, leaving us with heavy paragraphs that are often too deep to be successfully comprehended, then instantly inserting historical facts, as a result of which the reader ends up being bombarded by a confused and confusing mass of information. A new touch is added as Shaara strategically places several stories of common soldiers in the key situations, making this book even more different than the previous volumes. To its credit, the novel is written as powerfully as its predecessors, and by the end of it you do feel you understood everything conveyed to you. Shaara has great skill and talent, and, except for the astoundingly bad maps, his hard work pays off.
Rating:
Summary: Impressively Accurate, Entirely Entertaining
Review: As entertaining and educational a historical novel as I have read. While not necessarily better than Killer Angels, certainly not worse, and best enjoyed as its compliment. Reader's of Civil War and American History will find this book mesmerizing. The description of Lincoln's meeting with U.S. Grant in Washington D.C. (as Grant takes command of the entire Union War effort) is one of the best exchanges of dialogue I have ever encountered -- and the most succinct description of the Union Cause you are likely to read. I cannot in good conscience write anything negative about Shaara's book or my experience with it. Wonderful.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Civil War novel
Review: It is shortly after the Confederate defeat at Gettysburg where Jeff Shaara picks up the story. The south is devastated by its first major loss while there is jubilation in the Union ranks.Could the war be ending soon? But, alas, it was not to be. Mr. Shaara follows three of the war's pivotal figures, Robert E. Lee, U.S. Grant, and Joshual Lawrence Chamberlain as the fighting grinds on. We see how Lee starts to doubt whether the Confederate cause will truly prevail. We grieve with him as he learns of the death of J.E.B Stuart and A.P. Hill and witness the shell of the once proud Pickett. We follow Grant as he begins to grind down the South with his superior numbers. We agonize with him over the deaths at Cold Harbor and Petersburg. We feel his frustration as he tries to keep the Army moving forward and on the attack. Lastly, we see Joshua Chamberlain sustain severe wounds, wounds that are nearly mortal. We're with Chamberlain as he returns to duty appalled by the many deaths. But we're also with him when he realizes he was meant to be a soldier and has never felt more alive than when in combat. Mr. Shaara has crafted a wonderful book that goes beyond the slaughter of the battlefields and into the hearts and minds of its major participants. Yes, it is fiction, but solidly grounded in fact. Perhaps these men come across as excessively noble at times but 19th century man was more noble and less cynical and it is believeable. I recommend this book highly. My only other recommendation would be to read the trilogy from the beginning to get the full benefit of both Mr. Shaara's and his father's writing.
Rating:
Summary: Too little dialogue
Review: One of the best things about The Killer Angels was the large amount of dialogue in the book. In The Last Full Measure Jeff Shaara has very little dialogue, instead there are many long paragraphs describing the action and telling what the character is thinking. After awhile this style becomes tiring, more talking would've helped. The endless describtions of the battles all sound the same after awhile. Despite those flaws, I still enjoyed the book. The writing in the chapters about Appomatox is pretty good. Another thing I liked is that Shaara doesn't romantize the war. Overall the book is exceptional, but The Killer Angels is better.
Rating:
Summary: Worth reading to complete the series
Review: If you've read "Killer Angels" and "Gods and Generals", then read this book. After all, you've invested time and money on the series. Isn't it worth it to finish the series? If you haven't read either of the first two titles, then my advice is to read "Killer Angels" and forget about the two bookends by Jeff Shaara. Why? There are huge stylistic differences between Jeff and his deceased father. Killer Angels was a masterpiece. Jeff Shaara is to his father as Salieri is to Mozart. Unfair to compare father and son? Maybe. But when you propose to write a prequel and sequel to your father's finest work, you're inviting the comparison. Let's be honest here. If not for Michael Shaara's Killer Angels, nobody would ever have heard of Jeff Shaara.
Rating:
Summary: Equal time to great Generals
Review: I must say I went into this book skeptical, but then I read the introduction and I was hooked. The introduction you say? How can one feel the pace of the book, understand it's thesis in just the introduction?...Jeff Shaara's writing style does. This is a book I couldn't put down. I read it at night and thought about it all day at work. I'm not a brainiac, I'm a truck driver that loves the written word and I love this book. Some books I can read and half way through put down never to pick it up again. Not this book. I read it savoring every word, and as I read my mind opened up on visual screen everything Jeff was trying to convey to the reader. I saw the colors, smelled the smells, felt the rain, the summer breeses. I felt the concussions of the big guns and heard the report of the muskets as thousands of them went off at once into the faces of the enemy. But the kicker was at the end...now don't jump ahead read all the book, don't peek. I cryed reading of the death of Robert E. Lee. My wife walked into the kitchen where I had been reading for some time and saw me sitting at the table, book down and tears streaming down my face. I was touched, emotionally and spiritually touch by what Jeff had written and I got a good hug from my wife to boot. You will not be displeased by this book. It's the best. Tim
Rating:
Summary: Full Measure
Review: I think this book was an exiting and suspensfull. It had you in the Civil War with the North and South. This book is a great book. Jeff Sharra really knows how to put you there with the generals and armies. This book makes you never want to put it down. It is very detailed and shows what the generals are thinking and how they want to attack ar defend the enemy. Robert E. Lee shows how he feels and knows he can't win the war. Meade knows he could've ended the war but didn't and Grant comes in and takes over. Shaara also shows how Grant feels when he know his mistake at Cold Harbor.
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