The Killer Angels

Rating:
Summary: I WISH I COULD GIVE THIS ZERO STARS
Review: I guess it's not really Michael Shaara's fault that "good Civil War Novel" is an oxymoron; but it doesn't make up for the fact that he can't write. This is the worst book I've read all year (except for Cannery Row--you can see my review of that, too), and if you read it and like it you are mentally ill. I'm sorry. (Okay, no, I'm not.) The worst thing about this book and the circumstances surrounding it is that Shaara's son, Jeff, who grew up hating his father (who drank himself to death), then took advantage of his father's success with Killer Angels and wrote The Last Full Measure and Gods and Generals--sequel and prequel (not necessarily respectively). CARPETBAGGER!! (No pun intended.)

Rating:
Summary: It was a repeat of Gods and Generals
Review: This book was the same thing as Gods and Generals. Add Damn and hell to every page and you've got The Killer Angels. Jeff Shaara is a much better author than Michael.

Rating:
Summary: Good and Bad
Review: Overall this book is REALLY GREAT! But, however, there are a few minor flaws. 1. Too Much Dialogue (This is why I have been warned not to read Gods and Generals.) 2. Too Much Time in the climax between the silent campsite and the flaming battlefield (P.S. I'm a writer) Otherwise this book is great. I love when the book's major characters are thinking, James Longstreet in particular. I'd give this 3.5 stars.

Rating:
Summary: Great book, definitly worth it to read it.
Review: This book is amazing. The events and historical facts that this book presents are truely great. It's very emotional and very hard to put down once you start reading. I definitly recommend this book to anybody who likes to read.

Rating:
Summary: Kill Kill kill kill..............
Review: I Want to take the writer of this book and kill him. By putting tape on his arms and then just quickly tearing it off.And then when you think its all over I'll drop him in a giant vat of CREAMED CORN!!!!

Rating:
Summary: The Killer Angels is a masterpiece of Historical Fiction
Review: Michael Shaara had one lucid goal in writing The Killer Angels; to prove to his readers that America did in fact have a "sacred past." Shaara recreates our nations greatest heroes, and he does so with suspense and accuracy. The authors casts of characters, both the idealist and the romantic, will be engraved in the mind of the reader, whether he is a "History buff" or not. This classic Civil War masterpiece will change the way you think about America's past, and it will leave you craving jeff Shaara's sequel and prequel.

Rating:
Summary: THIS IS MY FAVORITE BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: This book is the BEST. It is awesomley written. I highly recommend reading it. Goodbye Mr. Bond.

Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites
Review: At first reading, I thought the writing was somewhat lacking, too, so I can understand where a few of the reviews on here are coming from. Recently, however, I re-read this novel and the writing is truly superb. There are passages that are short and yet beautiful. I love his portrayal of pivotal men such as Lee, Longstreet and most especially Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. In a wonderful way that even the best historical books arent able to do, he takes us back to those fateful days. A masterpiece and one that will be treasured always.

Rating:
Summary: Wooden writing sucks the life out of Gettysburg
Review: I can't believe this novel won a Pulitzer Prize. The writing is terrible, the characters one dimensional, the dialogue incredible. There are plenty of great books about Gettysburg--this isn't one of them.

Rating:
Summary: The best civil war novel ever written!!!!
Review: Shaara's novel is not only the best civil war novel I have ever read, it is one of my all time favorites, irrespective of theme. Shaara presents the Battle of Gettysburgh from a unique point of view, from perspective of Generals Lee and Longstreet from a macro point of view, and from the the perspective of Lawrence Chamberlain's Twentieth Maine regiment, a micro point of view. The book is an easy read and you won't be able to stretch out your reading time; you'll not want to put it down until you're finished with it.