Shaara 3 copy Box set

Rating:
Summary: Awsome!
Review: All of the Shaara books are wonderful. I have never read any Civil War novels as equally captivating. These books give you a personal look at this war that was the destruction of so much. They are heart-felt and, at times, tear-jerking. They also have their light-hearted moments. Brilliant dosn't even scratch the surface of these guy's gift. These books are masterpieces.Thanks a bunch Michael and Jeff! P.S. If any of you Shaara fans really want to make Jeff's day, you should go to his website at: www.jeffshaara.com and E-mail him!

Rating:
Summary: The series..... it didn't FLOW
Review: Although these books are easy reads which can educate you quickly in the civil war, the trilogy as a whole didn't flow. The Killer Angles was a SPECTACULAR book, but hte authors son had a totally different view than his father. ONe of the most noticable faults of this book was how each author viewed General Longstreet and General Jackson. Well the author of The Killer Angles painted Longstreet as the Man who was Lees dependable man, someone who was blamed by everyone for picket's charge except for Lee (who knew it was HIS fault, and that Longstreet was right and he was wrong). While in the other books Lee is always blaming Longstreet and holding him in contempt, one cannot see how Lonstreet is Lees "old war horse in these books". Instead Lee is always regreting over Jackson's death. Unfortunatly his son couldn't hold the novels the way his father could, and because of their differences in style and views of the Civil War the series doesn't flow the way it should.

Rating:
Summary: My three most favorite books of all time...
Review: I disagree with B. Borden's review of these books. These three books are my three favoirte books of all time. Killer Angels is absolutely the best. The writing style in Gods and Generals seemed so close to the Killer Angels that you would think it was the same author. The books cross-reference one another. After reading Gods and Generals I had to read Killer Angels again and it just FLOWED so smoothly! The Last Full Measure gave me a sense of closure by completing the saga. I would probably give The Last Full Measure 4 stars, not quite as much of a page-turner as Killer Angels and Gods and Generals, but still VERY good reading. (My wife makes fun of me because I had a few teardrops roll down my cheeks reading the end of The Last Full Measure).

Rating:
Summary: The best books I've ever read - EVER!
Review: I don't know that I could write better reviews than those quoted in these three books by prominent Civil War historians, but as a US History teacher I have never read better material to bring a story to life. It is hard sometimes to convince young minds that people and events from our past are more than just words in a textbook. These books do just that, and I plan to share them all with my classes. Though there are literally thousands of accounts of the great battles of the Civil War, these books, told from the perspective of the men who were actually there, will make you feel as if you are there with them. You will feel their frustrations, share in their triumphs, and finally see through their eyes what this war really meant to the men in uniform. As a person who reads a great deal of historical literature, fiction, and/or nonfiction, I can truly say that these three novels are the best books I have ever read on any subject, Civil War or otherwise. This is brilliant work. I only hope Jeff Shaara will continue his writing career and take us even farther back in time to when these men all fought on the same side, in the Mexican War.

Rating:
Summary: Very enjoyable
Review: I found these books a nice change of pace from my originial reading. Though fictional history, I found them very enjoyable. The author takes you into the thoughts and lives of Lee, Jackson, Chamberlain, and Hancock in the first book, which starts before the outbreak of war until "Stonewall's" death. The second is on Battle of Gettysburg, and the third is from that battle until the wars end, adding U.S. Grant to the pages. These books are deffinately worth your time.

Rating:
Summary: Truly genius works!
Review: I had never been much of a civil war buff until after I saw the film Gettysburg. The movie was so good that I ran out and bought the entire trilogy. I must say the the father and son duo have a gift for prose rivaled by few. The most intriguing aspect about these novels is not only are they a great story but that they are inhabited with factual characters and events. They do not read like history books rather more like a fictional novel and they are so well done you can almost believe that this is the exact way everything transpired. What ulimately gets me about these books is not the great storytelling but at the characters the Shaara's develop. The battle descriptions and plotline is adequately described but the interactions and conversations held between the main characters is amazing. Plus the Shaara's obviously studied hard and every character is based upon a historical figure. Even down to some privates. This is a unique trilogy in that it began with the middle book (The Killer Angels) written by Michael. After his death and the development of the film Gettysburgh, Jeff took over and wrote the first and last novels. Jeff not only captures his fathers writing style and character development but he also furthers it. The original novel by Michael was rather short yet still compelling. Jeff's prequel and finale are much more in depth, longer, and full of more detail. At times Jeff struggles a tad to keep some emotions in line with his fathers work and while these are not bad they tend to appear out of place in his own books. Jeff's battle descriptions are also much more in depth than his fathers. One finaly aspect that may hinder your enjoyment of Killer Angels is that the movie was pretty much taken from the book verbatim. Therefore there aren't many scenes in the novel that never made it to the big screen. This may be a let down if you are looking for more out of the novel but it still is a great read. If you are into the civil war or just like to read great novels these are a must read.

Rating:
Summary: Truly genius works!
Review: I had never been much of a civil war buff until after I saw the film Gettysburg. The movie was so good that I ran out and bought the entire trilogy. I must say the the father and son duo have a gift for prose rivaled by few. The most intriguing aspect about these novels is not only are they a great story but that they are inhabited with factual characters and events. They do not read like history books rather more like a fictional novel and they are so well done you can almost believe that this is the exact way everything transpired. What ulimately gets me about these books is not the great storytelling but at the characters the Shaara's develop. The battle descriptions and plotline is adequately described but the interactions and conversations held between the main characters is amazing. Plus the Shaara's obviously studied hard and every character is based upon a historical figure. Even down to some privates. This is a unique trilogy in that it began with the middle book (The Killer Angels) written by Michael. After his death and the development of the film Gettysburgh, Jeff took over and wrote the first and last novels. Jeff not only captures his fathers writing style and character development but he also furthers it. The original novel by Michael was rather short yet still compelling. Jeff's prequel and finale are much more in depth, longer, and full of more detail. At times Jeff struggles a tad to keep some emotions in line with his fathers work and while these are not bad they tend to appear out of place in his own books. Jeff's battle descriptions are also much more in depth than his fathers. One finaly aspect that may hinder your enjoyment of Killer Angels is that the movie was pretty much taken from the book verbatim. Therefore there aren't many scenes in the novel that never made it to the big screen. This may be a let down if you are looking for more out of the novel but it still is a great read. If you are into the civil war or just like to read great novels these are a must read.

Rating:
Summary: Civil War Trilogy
Review: I read all three books and I thought they were amazing. I learned more about the Civil War through these books than through any history class I have ever taken. You will actully feel you know these characters and when one dies you will feel the pain. My favorite character was Joshua Lawernce Chamberlin. You follow him from when he volunteers for the army until the end of the war. You will also follow Lee, Longstreet, and Jackson for the Confederates. You follow Buford, Hancock, Grant, and of course Chamberlin for the Union.It is a story or normal men caught up in amazing times. It is an epic journey through America's darkest period when friends fought friends, when brothers fought brothers, and when Americans fought Americans.

Rating:
Summary: Tears for What's Right
Review: I'm 13, and I adore these three books. I've read them countless times. Every time, when I get to certain parts, I completely break down. Especially in The Last Full Measure, when Jeff Shaara so accurately tells the feelings of Robert E. Lee just before he surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia. I love these books.

Rating:
Summary: So very very wrong
Review: If you want to read Civil War fiction, read "The Killer Angels," but don't waste your time with the other books. This remains fiction, and far too many people accept this as truth when it is rife with inaccuracies. Read a real book by someone like Bruce Catton, not some novel that takes huge liberties with the material.