Jeff Shaara's Latest Book

[hrobalabama]

Has anyone any comment on Jeff's latest book, THE FATEFUL LIGHTNING?
I like his books. The purists complain of historical inaccuracy's in his books but I like the story even if all the details are not 100% correct.

 

[jackt62]

I can't comment on his latest book. In fact, I have never read any of them, mostly because of my hesitation with reading historically related fiction. So I would like to get feedback on whether reading Shaara's books will be worthwhile.

 

[MajGenl.Meade]

Not a patch on... oh... Snooks North and South for example.

Must admit, I share hesitation about reading WoR fiction. I didn't like "Killer Angels" although it was better than the movie but I've not read any of the boy's books.

 

[Jamieva]

haven't read the western theater 4 parter yet. it's in the pile but it keeps getting pushed behind other books

 

[jackt62]

Doesn't sound like rousing recommendations for the books.

 

[dixieland1861]

i actually love jeff sharra's books very good storytelling

 

[R. Alex Raines]

If you want to read historical fiction, read Cain at Gettysburg by Peters, not this drivel.

 

[MajGenl.Meade]

Actually I think Trotter's book "Sands of Pride" was worth the time

 

[theoldman]

I like Ralph Peter's work and another CWT member mentioned that Peters has earlier works under the name Owen Parry. I have also read the Owen Parry books and enjoyed them. Peters does put some work into researching for historical accuracy. I have also read Jeff Shaaras' ACW books and enjoyed them. I would not recommend his WWII books however. All a matter of time and taste I guess.

 

[5fish]

Jeff and his dad's book are good reads and accurate enough. They are doorways for people to be introduce to the Civil War. If the books sparks an interest in a person, they will dig further on their own. Remember, its historical fiction it does not have to be 100 percent accurate just be good enough to support the story.

 

[dlavin]

I've read the others in the series. The Shiloh book was a while ago, so don't remember how it was. The Vicksburg saga was OK. I thought of the 3, the one on Chattanooga was the better of the three.

 

[kevikens]

I just read it a few weeks ago. If you like Shaara, as I do, you will find it a good read. No, it's not Gibbon on the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire but it's not Classics comics either.

 

[jay gale]

If you want to read historical fiction, read Cain at Gettysburg by Peters, not this drivel.

excellent book, I've also read Hell or RIchmond and just finished Shadow of the Valley. Great books, and Shadow of the Valley was REALLY great.....not sure why I liked it more, maybe it had something to do with my general unfamiliarity with Sheridan and Early's valley campaign.

 

[dixieland1861]

every book i read by jeff is amazeing

 

[nextcity]

I do ACW historical fiction via audiobooks for entertainment. Just finished this a few weeks ago. I thought it was very good. Sad to see the series come to an end.

I agree with jay gale. Ralph Peters' new book (audiobook in my case) Valley of the Shadow was excellent.

 

[James N.]

I've read Killer Angels twice and Gods and Generals once, despite my usual mantra, "Life's too short to read NOVELS." I thought they were ok, but I'll take memoirs, history, and biography most any day.

 

[hanna260]

I loved The Killer Angels, liked the Last Full Measure, thought Gods and Generals was okay, and skimmed through his book on the Mexican War and was not too impressed. I do enjoy historical fiction in general however- simply because it's nice to escape into someone's mind and life, instead of escaping into endless names and dates and places and flanking maneuvers. It brings me closer to the time period.

 

[KansasFreestater]

If you want to read historical fiction, read Cain at Gettysburg by Peters, not this drivel.

Cain at Gettysburg is magnificent. It makes you feel you are there. Including the horrible moral dilemmas that are an inescapable part of combat and are, for me, the most terrifying thing about war.

 

[hrobalabama]

What is wrong with historical fiction? Jeff says in his introduction, "This is not a history book. I never make any attempt to include the entire history of any campaign or battle......"His books include history with his story line. History books are usually dry, boring at times, loaded with footnotes so we can check his sources ( which are not always correct and usually distracting.)
The exceptions of course are Shelby Foote and Bruce Catton. Sometimes even the noted historians don't get the facts right. eg
(Stephen Ambrose on WWII.) What is not recorded as history is imagination. Einstein said,"imagination is more important than knowledge."

 

[FarawayFriend]

I also like Jeff Shaara's fiction. God's and Generals, his first, to me is the weakest, but I liked Last Full Measure a lot and "Gone for soldiers" (Mexican War) was also very interesting to me. I have some more books by him on my amazon wishlist. So I think you should give it a try.