Rating: 
Summary: War at its worst, written at its best
Review: I liked this book for the simple reason that the author did not glorify the war at all. She made it as horrible as we know it really had to have been. Especially in the Western theatre, to the women, elderly, children, etc. who tried to stay out of it or were involved innocently and became guilty of circumstance.
I did not care for the story where it is written in sort of a bizarre way; call me old fashioned, but I like to see quotation marks when the characters are talking. This must have been in prose or poetic form---right?
The whole story is sad, too. Not just the war part, but the entire story itself. Call me a romanticist, but I like happy endings.
War, war, war. How hard it must have been back then in Missouri. I didn't even finish the book, got about three quarters through. It brought me down. Maybe someone else could appreciate it for what it does----it does accent all tragedy and humanity. The story is practical and true to life. But I like a little more upbeat. For what it made me feel, obviously its a good book. But for someone else to wallow in.
Rating:
Summary: A Civil War story that got better and better
Review: An interesting Civil War love story/adventure written by Paulette Jiles.First, let me say that I felt some concern in trying to write a meaningful review on this novel; this is because of what I perceived as different degrees of writing excellence in this book. Let me explain.....I really wanted to like this book, as I have a great interest in stories involving the era surrounding the American civil war. Also the tantalizing review on the front cover, which reads " 'Enemy Women' deserves the Pulitzer Prize", had me drooling to get into this story. However, I don't think I could honestly say that it deserves a Pulitzer because I found that the quality of writing of this work seems to fall into two categories: initially average, and then terrific. The first third of the book seemed to be somewhat slow and ponderous. Coincidental happenings seemed all too predictable, so much so, that I almost discarded this book at this point but persevered on, and I'm glad I did. The latter part, however, was a tour de force of intriguing and suspenseful story telling of the finest quality and the book become difficult to put down. I found here an imaginative, addictive style of writing that seemed far removed from the techniques used at the beginning of this work: a narrative approach that at times reminded me of Charles Frazier's " Cold Mountain". (Another magnificent Civil War story of epic proportions) It just kept getting better and better. All in all a good read. . Recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a Page-Turner
Review: This book left me wishing that the author would have offered up more historical fact than she did. Obviously, her research was extensive, based on the references and quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I found those to be extremely interesting. I loved Adair's plight into the unfamiliar terrain, her drive and determination to make everything right again for her family, but I was put off by the hokey romanticism that was entirely unnecessary, in my view. The ending left me hanging also. Nothing happened.
Rating:
Summary: Not exactly a page-turner
Review: This is a piece of historical fact that very little is known about, women prisoners of war, and "enemy women" could have been a vehicle of enlightenment for many of us. I was disappointed that there was not a lot more historical data about the subject. The writer could have left out the romantic piece of the story and elaborated on the women in prison, and it would have been a much more readable book for me. I did enjoy Adair, the young beautiful herione. She was spunky, filled with determination and righteousness. But I should have been able to draw a mental picture of her and could not. Except for her cascade of black hair and black eyes, there was no image I could conjur up. And, whatever happened to her poor sisters? I did find all of the reference material in the beginning of each chapter, however, very interesting, and would like to go further into the Civil War chronicles and journals mentioned here to uncover more information about these women who were so called "enemies" of the Union.
Rating:
Summary: Not what I had hoped for
Review: Jiles starts her book excellently and utilizes her poetic style throughout the story. Unfortunately for her, pretty words and extensive research (both of which the book has) don't make for a good historically based romance novel if the plot is lacking. After Adair is released from prison (about halfway through the novel), the story takes a sharp turn for the worse. Interesting events are few and far between and the story's sense of direction is lost. Highly unlikely events occur and characters I assumed would return in the story simply disappear. The ending is confusing, jumbled, and extremely disappointing, especially after such an emotional and exciting first half. This book may be worth renting from the library if you have time, but I wish I hadn't spent my money on it.
Rating:
Summary: The Civil War Made Personal
Review: I bought this book on tape before I took a long road trip a few weeks ago. The story is one that I have never heard told before -- that of a female taken prisoner during the Civil War. I never even knew about such women, or the prisons that housed them, until this novel. It is therefore an intersting perspective on the war and its devastating effect on the county, its families and the individuals who not only fought in it, but who were left behind. Adair Colley is a young Missouri woman comes from a family whose father, a judge, is apolitical and who hopes to keep his family protected and apart from the war. This is not to be the case, of course, and his family is torn asunder when he is beaten and taken prisoner, the family home ransacked, the barn burned and the children set out to survive as best they can. Adair is a feisty 18 year old who is taken prisoner when she is betrayed by a family of fellow travelers while she is on the road searching for her father. Her saga thus begins; she will struggle to find her way back home while battling illness, loneliness and sorrow. Her romance with the Major who is in charge of the prison (until he is transferred, at his request, to the battlefield) is abrupt but believable, considering the fact that many a wartime relationship began and developed quickly, and Adair is a winning young woman with guts and beauty. A bit like Scarlett O'Hara, but more likeable by far. Each chapter begins with historical facts and commentary, as well as journal entries made during the time of the war. This provides a vivid backdrop to the action of the novel, as well as an historical perspective that makes it all the more realistic. Adair's journey home parallells that of Major Neumann, her love interest. They seek each other and a future,during a time when nothing was certain and so many lives, dreams and hopes were lost. Interesting perspective, a vital and admirable female character. I have heard this book compared to Cold Mountain, but they are really not similar, except that they take place during the Civil War. Cold Mountain was a much more literary novel with more depth, well written and thought provoking. This book I would consider to be more of a popular fiction, historically accurate but without the literary depth. Entertaining nonetheless, and the perspective was fascinating.
Rating:
Summary: Great start...boring middle....allusive ending
Review: I heard a lot of great things about this book although it looked like a historical romance. The first third of the book was great, even the romanc part. The writing is lyrical and beautiful also. After Adair is released from prison is where problems started. Maybe I thought she was going somewhere but the last half of the book is her wandering around Missouri. The ending was nothing that I hoped it would be and left a lot of loose ends. Overall is was an ok book, I would check it out from the library though before buying it.
Rating: 
Summary: This Novel's Grit Glitters and Gleams
Review: I am no fan of historical novels, and I do not voluntarily pick up books on the Civil War, but this book is exceptional, brilliant, really, from its subject--one never explored, completely unknown to most of us--to its lyrical, lively style. I would call this an important novel, portraying aspects of this war we didn't know, and giving us an unusual female character with admirable spunk and guts. Jiles' research seems impeccable, and provides an underpinning to this book that makes its tension just that much more gripping. And that this author is also a fine poet is clear--the prose flows like water in rivers so clear and swift we realize we've forgotten how beautiful, how muscular they can be. A marvelous book, garnering well-deserved attention!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and Exciting
Review: Beautifully written with an exciting story, Enemy Women should be on everyones reading list. The main character, Adair Colley, is a spunky, resourceful 18 year old that we all wish we had been or could be--a strong southern woman.
Rating:
Summary: A Page Turner in the Best Sense
Review: Part historical novel, part love story, part quest novel, the tale of a young girl trying to save her father and then herself gives a perspective on the Civil War that captivated me from first to last. Despite the context, the horror of war inflicted on an innocent wrongly accused, Paulette Jiles' descriptions of the Civil War in the Missouri Ozarks left me enriched just by the poetry of the images. Unlike the characters in Cold Mountain to which it has been compared, the characters in Enemy Women have life and depth. Paulette Jiles makes the events dance before your eyes.
|
