Rating: 
Summary: Read this book!! You won't regret it.
Review: I'm just going to keep this short and sweet: 1812 is a fabulous book! I read it over a year ago and I still rave about it to anyone who will listen!! My brother and I bought it as part of a gift for our father but he never got it because neither of us could put it down. We read it so many times the jacket is ruined. Whether you're a history buff, just someone who likes to read, or someone who wants to be reminded why they should be proud to be an American, you won't regret picking up this book. It is so down to earth, so real, and so vibrant you can't help but be moved by arguably the most important yet little remembered war in America's history, and the people who believed in America enough to win it against all odds. Beautiful book.
Rating: 
Summary: Pee-Uuuu!
Review: I've just read over the reviews here on Amazon and at the risk of having things thrown at me I am going to swim against the current and say that I HATED this book (what I could read of it while holding my nose). It is not only the worst I have (tried to) read all year but definitly one of the worst I have ever (tried to) read in my life.
Anyone who knows anything about history, about how people effected history and vice versa, for people who enjoy good writing-- meaning writing so good you don't notice it-- people who enjoy all these things will want to huddle up in a ball under a table after trying to read this book.
It's hard to imagin the same gene that gave us Pearl S. Buck ("Imperial Woman"), Katherine Winsor ("Forever Amber"), Robert Graves ("I,Claudius") and P.C. Wren ("Beau Geste") et. al. also kicked up this writer.
Any story that ends Chapter One with the famale character scrambing up into the hay loft for a little nooky with the lead character (in this case Andy Jackson),opening her arms wide and going, "Darling,darling,darling." is in BIG trouble.
Rating: 
Summary: Ghastly drek!
Review: It is at times like these that I regret my resolve to finish any book I begin (no matter how bad it seems to be at the start) so that I have given it a fair chance to prove itself. There is not enough time or paper for this book to prove itself to be of value. It is mired in dreadful, soap opera-like dialog, confusing time lines, ridiculous characterizations, annoying name-dropping and just plane poor prose. Nevin was constantly adding characters to the mix for no other apparent reason than to let us know that he knew the names-they did not seem to figure in significantly (though, I believe, in actual history they did) and in fact simply bogged down the story even more than it already was. He left out so much valuable information that should have been presented yet he would rehash foolish little pieces of (he must have thought) interest, for no good reason beyond that of self-indulgence.
The book was too short to tell the story of the War of 1812 and too long for the story it did tell. I managed to slog through this foolishness only to find no redeeming value in the whole or any part of it. I am dismayed that others might be persuaded to read it expecting something worth their time. Proceed with this read only if you have alot of time to kill.
On the other hand, the cover was attractive.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: Mr Nevin has done a stellar job of combining fact and fiction into a thoroughly enjoyable, entertaining and informative novel. It takes us through the war of 1812 through the eyes of luminaries such as Jackson, Scott and Madison, great leaders of the day. I was a little surprised at the long buildup to the eventual Battle of New Orleans towards the end, but I have to assume that was intended, as it was a summation of the whole characterization of Jackson. Overall, one of the best pieces of historical fiction I have read
Rating:
Summary: Excellent explanation teachers don't teach
Review: Our public schools (I have no information on the private sector here) are woefully inadequate on teaching this subject. The only things I knew from my history classes about this war were: It happened in 1812 [it actually lasted several years], Andrew Jackson became famous for leading a fight in New Orleans and winning it after the war was over [wrong], and they scorched the White House [a drastic understatement]. No one taught the reasons the war started. No one explained what it meant. Many years after college, I finally picked up a few more pieces of information, such as them kidnapping our seamen. However, I was still unhappy with the lack of integration with the rest of our history. David Nevin finally explained it to me. He used a style similar to John Jake's Bicentennial series (The Bastard, The Rebels, etc.). In a fictional setting, he explored the motivations and character of historical personages, as well as the political realities of the time. The story is fairly well told and he keeps it interesting throughout. I would have liked it if he had paid a little more attention to the political and diplomatic side rather than focusing almost strictly the military side, but he sprinkled enough in to keep the overall picture coherent. Definitely worth a read. If you like this one, try Aztec for an even better historical fiction.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Novels I have read.
Review: Overall, this was one the most entertaining books I have read. I learned more about James Madison than I had during Advanced Placement History in high school. The story writing was fantastic, and I had a hard time putting the book down at night. If you enjoy this book, I would highly reccommend Texas by James Michener or The Eagle and The Raven by James Michener. The Eagle and The Raven is a short novel describing the efforts of Andrew Jackson against Santa Anna.
Rating:
Summary: And I thought the War of 1812 would be a dry read...
Review: The main reason I like this book so much is that I came away with the feeling that I now understand a rather murky period of American history from ground level. I've read lots of Civil War books and a Mexican War book or two but the War of 1812 always seemed, well, boring and dry. The author has effectively balanced the geopolitics, the personalities, and the military aspects of this period and put forth an entertaining book. I went out and bought his other book, "Eagle's Cry" also. I hope that the author will continue to fill in the gaps in his collection and extend them into the pre-Civil War years.
Rating: 
Summary: Good history in a slightly melodramatic setting
Review: The War of 1812 is rarely accorded the importance it deserves as a seminal event in America's history. It brought the U.S. to the forefront of world events and showed the willingness of Americans to defend their rights on the world stage. Nevin applies his knowledge of the event and its participants to the task of explaining the war's importance with mixed results. James Madison and his wife Dolly come off well as Nevein shows "Little Jimmy's" rising to the occasion bolstered by Dolly's fierce and loving determination. Winfield Scott comes to the forefront as a soldier who changes the way the U.S. looks at tactics, but serves, oddly, as a love interest for an imaginary character. Andrew Jackson gets a bit too much time as the raging lunatic who is calmed by his wife's gentle influence. I don't find fault so much with the presentation of Jackson as it took away from Madison and Dolly, who I found to be the more intriguing pair.
That being said, it is the battle scenes that really make this book one of interest. New Orleans has been discussed a multitude of times but Nevin makes it fresh and the battles on the Niagra frontier were vividly presented. Here Niven's obviously strong research truly comes to light. 1812 may be a novel but it is one of excellent insight, occasionally plagued by melodrama, but worth the time of any fan of this genre.
Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest books i've ever read
Review: This book took you inside the minds and the hearts of the major players in the war of 1812. I am an avid historical fiction reader, but this was the one war i didn't know much about. After reading this book i becasue inthralled in the war, and the amzing people involved. The most captivating side of this book, was home the author integrated love and war and everything inbetween. This book kept me flipping pages from start to finish, andi recomend it to history lovers and those who are just looking for a good book.
Rating:
Summary: SUPERB!!
Review: This is a great story! The neglected War of 1812, why it happened, the politics of the time, and most importantly the people of the time, are all here. While the personalities are fictional, the author explains that he has taken great pains to create personalities for the Madisons, Winfield Scott, the Jacksons, and others that are consistent with facts reported at the time. He includes some fictional characters, which he identifies and explains that they are used to present perspectives that could not otherwise easily be included. for instance, one fictional character is in the Whitehouse when the British arrive to plunder and burn it. (How else to describe what is happening?) The point of all this is that this is an exciting page turner. It will grab you keep you reading this technically fictional account. The history content however is so magnificent in its grandeur, it is overpowering. The descriptions of the military and naval engagements are well-presented and easily understood. Great stuff, especially that of the Battle of New Orleans. Fascinating characterizations, again based on fact, of both the Madisons and Jacksons. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!
|
