Rating: 
Summary: A good book
Review: It was interesting to get a glimpse of Jackson, Lee, Chamberlain, and Hancock before the civil war. Whether or not the dialogue was true was irrevelant. There pasts shaped their futures and hopefully the reader could see these characters in order to understand their actions in the war. I can't wait for the movie to come out!
Rating: 
Summary: Masterfully told epic
Review: Having read the onslaught of disparaging reviews of Gods and Generals, needless to say I did not expect much going into this one. As luck would have it, I must say that I came away not only pleasantly surprised, but rather impressed with junior's ability to weave a tale that kept me enthralled from page 1. For those people who can appreciate a highly compelling and entertaining historical novel - a la The Killer Angels & Blackhawk Down - then order Gods and Generals.Shaara takes you through the tumultuous ups and downs of the first three years of the Civil War, through the many inept Union commanders from McDowell to Meade, through the bloody and tide-turning Confederate victories from Manassas to Chancellorsville while all the while keeping the reader in suspense and anxious for the next impending big battle. Shaara's gift is that of bringing his characters to life and thus endearing them to his reader - from the God-fearing and charismatic Stonewall Jackson to the tough and resilient Winfield Scott Hancock. I am eagerly anticipating the movie and highly recommend Gods and Generals to those who enjoyed the seminal and ground-breaking work The Killer Angels as well as those who are keen on military history.
Rating: 
Summary: Riding On Coat-Tails With Mistakes And Lazy Research
Review: The reason why this book was written was to make money and ride off of the popularity of his daddy in "Killer Angels." Pure and simple. Historical innacuracies from start to finish, incorrect depictions of the main characters, who are historical people, the author set out what he intended to accomplish: push this piece of garbage to the "New York Times" best-seller list. Does Oliver Stone bring a sense of deja vu? Those who read the "Killer Angels" but like this book, obviously haven't done their homework.
Rating:
Summary: Check your history bozo's
Review: For you "know-it-all's" who are claiming that Shaara is incorrect in portraying Joshua Chamberlain's 20th Maine as attacking Marye's Heights during the first Battle of Fredericksburg....you ought to check your history. Try reading Willard Wallace's bio of Chamberlain, "Soul of the Lion"; Wallace quotes Chamberlain's own words of how his regiment ascended the Heights and attacked the Rebel defenders. I know its so easy for people to criticize and ridicule historical-fiction, but before writing your complaints, check your facts.
Rating:
Summary: Wrong!Wrong!
Review: Recently at work, I was assigned Jeff Shaara's Gods and Generals for reading. As a professional Civil War historian, I was appalled at the simple historical mistakes. Now, I know the reader will argue that it is a novel, and Shaara is telling a story. True, but, Shaara built the novel around specific characters such as Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, Winfield Scott Hancock, and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. Shaara's characters lack depth and range. For example, General Lee was constantly mad in Shaara's book and that was not true. Lee as a person, was a deep man, who prided himself on controlling his emotions at all times. He also frequently thought of a set of rules that his idol, General George Washington, used for guidnace on how to deal with and treat people. Lee was a very forgiving person who did not stay angry. General Lee often laughed and enjoyed a good joke (clean), especially with his young staff officers. I could go on, but time will not allow it. I would not recommend this book, instead, I recommend Lee's Lieutenants, or some of Gary Gallagher's recent studies of Lee and his generals.
Rating:
Summary: Not even close.
Review: Not even close to the Killer Angels. I had to force myself to read half of this book and finally gave up! The author does not have the gift his father had.
Rating:
Summary: Work of a Genius
Review: Mr. Shaara is a genius who has been misunderstood. His work is not that of historical fiction, but of science fiction. He has created a parallel universe just like in an episode of Star Trek. In his universe, people have the same names as people in our world, but they have different personalities. For example, Robert E. Lee in our world is a man in control of his emotions rarely voicing anger. In Shaara's universe, Lee is always mad at someone. In our world, "Stonewall" Jackson serves God. In Shaara's world, God serves Jackson. Shaara reveals the long hidden truth of how Jackson is constantly supplied with fresh lemons - God personally delivers them to Jackson. Shaara's parallel universe has different laws of nature than our world. It snows when temperatures reach 60 degrees, for example. Jackson we are told is able to play and talk with the little Corbin girl in the spring of 1863 who in our world had been dead for several weeks. The calendar is also different from ours in that November has at least six weeks instead of about four and April comes before March. Shaara's parallel universe also differs from that created by his father. We learned in his father's book "Killer Angels" that Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was the hero of Gettysburg. In our world, Chamberlain does not participate in the attacks at Fredericksburg, but importantly covers the Union retreat. The younger Shaara's Chamberlain is no hero. He stumbles forward in a bloody assault at Fredericksburg and then walks away from the field. This is a fascinating book that needs to be recognized as it really is - the work of a brilliant writer of science fiction.
Rating:
Summary: What a piece of junk
Review: It is generally thought that Mr. Shaara, because he had no prior writing experience or knowledge of the Civil War, hired a ghost writer. That does not seem to be the case since logically he would have hired either a competent writer or someone knowledgeable about the war. This book is both bad writing and even worse history.
The book consists of a series of episodes in the lives of several men who fought in the Civil War. Some of the history is accurate, but much is not. For example, Joshua Chamberlain and his unit the 20th Maine, did not attack Marye's Heights on December 13, 1862. Instead they simply came up after the fighting stopped that night and occupied a position on the field. They did not retreat on the 14th, but instead played a critically important and difficult role in covering the army's retreat on the night of the 15th. Many examples of known history being altered could be cited.
The author fleshes out the personalities of his main characters with boring dialogue. His characterization of Robert E. Lee certaintly lacks credibility. Lee was a deeply religious man, but Shaara would have you believe he is a religious fanactic. Lee prided himself on always being in control of his emotions and it is well known that he rarely got mad or criticized his subordiantes. Shaara paints Lee as a man always mad about something or at somebody. He stretches credibility with the legendary unusual behavior of "Stonewall" Jackson by having him delightfully play with little Janie Corbin in April of 1863, especially since she had been in her grave by then for several weeks...or maybe that was just another historical inaccuracy.
No doubt, Mr. Shaara's name (his father wrote an excellent historical novel) and connections will make this a popular seller and the upcoming movie a big hit - a poor reflection on the taste of the American public. With so many good novels and history books available, why waste your money on such trash? Mr. Shaara has several times publicly stated that he conceived the idea of writing the book after a conversaton with me. I am sorry.
Rating: 
Summary: History Un-told
Review: A wonderful job of misrepresenting the facts and characters involved in some of the Civil War's most pivotal events. Remember when you read this that is is historical FICTION. There is much that is overlooked, misrepresented, embelished or just downright made up. It's a novel, not a history of the Civil War, and that is something that everyone who reads this book needs to remind themselves every time they turn a page. As a novel it is fine, but don't take it for gospel. For the real story head to the non-fiction section
Rating: 
Summary: a difficult balance
Review: I've finally gotten around to reading Gods and Generals, while Jeff Shaara contines to write about the Civil War and now the Revolutionary War. I read the Killer Angels when iIwas in about eight grade, which has been a few years. I just saw the movie version again a few weeks before reading this novel.
Its not an exhaustive account of the time period it covers, Shaara chooses the main characters of the Killer Angels and adds others like Jackson that are an important part of the novel. Shaara does skip some events or just explains them in a few paragraphs like Jackon's Valley Campaign. Its a good novel to introduce someone to some important people of the Civil War, especialy showing that they are human beings of varying degrees. I'm no historian, but I think the depictions of Lee, Jackson, Longstreet, etc. are generally acurate and if anything reading Gods and Generals should provide an interest to find out more about these fascinating people.
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