The Last Full Measure by Jeff Shaara
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Book Reviews of The Last Full Measure
Book Review: Nice conclusion to the series
Summary: 5 Stars
I learned a lot from Shaara's books as well as the movies Gettysburg and Gods and Generals. Unfortunately, this book was meant to become a movie, but apparently Gods and Generals was not a smashing success at the box office, and the movie was not funded. Thus, I set about reading these novels after I took a two-week trip this past summer that had me visit some important Civil War sites. I enjoyed both of Jeff's books, though I did not read his father's original book--I let the movie speak for itself for that one, but perhaps I'll read it at some later time.
Overall, I thought the book was long on details, which sometimes made the reading a little tedious, but I did enjoy the set-up of the scenes and the characters. I think the author did an excellent job with character development, especially with Lee and Grant. I really felt like I knew these characters, and I recommend this book for the person wanting to better understand what really was a complicated war.
Book Review: a respectful finish to THE KILLER ANGELS...
Summary: 5 Stars
I've just finished THE LAST FULL MEASURE and it is a wonderful bookend to the Civil War trilogy started by the author's father in the Pulitzer Prize winning THE KILLER ANGELS and so respectfully finished by his equally talented son. THE LAST FULL MEASURE takes off where KILLER ANGELS ends as Lee brings his troops home from Gettysburg and brings us to the end of the war. I found this book to be the most emotional of the three, there were times where I literally had to stop to take a breath as the scope of the horrors of the war are so vividly brought to life. That's good writing. Jeff Shaara like his father has a gift of getting into the heads of the characters to the point where the reader has no doubt that this is actually who they are and what they said. Lee, Grant, Chamberlain, Longstreet are all brought to life and fleshed out to be the larger then life heroes we have always imagined them to be. Wonderful stuff!
Book Review: If You Think History is Dry...Buy This Book!
Summary: 5 Stars
I was never interested in reading about the Civil War until I read Killer Angels. That book changed everything. All three books of this Shaara father-son Civil War trilogy are tremendous, and Last Full Measure is the best of the three. (I suggest reading them in order...in fact, read Gone for Soldiers first to experience how these future foes fought together as young officers in Mexico.) Perhaps it was Shaara's maturing as a writer, or just the nature of the latter half of the war, but this book is simply awesome. Shaara puts you right in the room with Grant and Lincoln as they discuss the progress of the war. You feel Lee's troubled thoughts as Grant's juggernaut bears down on his valiant but doomed army, and share his angst at losing many of his best generals. I'm looking forward to reading Shaara's Revolutionary War books next (another topic I never had much interest in, but I know Shaara will change that, too).Book Review: The Last Full Measure
Summary: 5 Stars
The Last Full Measure by Jeff Shaara is a great historical novel describing the horific details of the last few years of the Civil War. Shaara helps make this book great, because he does not pound the Confederate side into the ground, and make the soldiers sound worse than they were, but presents both sides of the story in a clear and understandable manner. Shaara also does not tell the story as just one character, but switces between several. This allows the reader to understand both sides of the conflict, and alows Shaara to describe to parrallel events. Shaara adds the finishing touch to his novel by using many of the literary elements to make the novel more describtive and enjoyable. After reading this book, I felt that I understood the hardships that the "rebels" had gone through to try and get what they believed in. This is a extremely well written book, and a necessary read.Book Review: THE LEGACY OF MICHAEL SHAARA CONTINUES...
Summary: 5 Stars
...through his son Jeff. THE LAST FULL MEASURE may never live up to THE KILLER ANGELS, but this novel is compelling in it's own right. As Michael Shaara was able to do with the battle of Gettysburg, Jeff Shaara puts us on an emotional and spiritual level with the men who fought in the last two years of the Civil War and beyond, while once again making sure that the real-life events are told with almost 100% accuracy! You're with Robert E. Lee on his death bed; you're with Joshua Lawerence Chamberlain as his men storm the defenses of Petersburg; and you're with U.S. Grant at Cold Harbor. Jeff is a fine novelist, and his father's legacy will never be forgotten! Followed by the novels GONE FOR SOLDIERS and RISE TO REBELLION, all of which were preceded by Jeff's first novel, GODS AND GENERALS! Grade: A+