A Chain of Thunder by Jeff Shaara

A Chain of Thunder by Jeff Shaara (audiobook)-562 pages in print

I enjoyed listening to this on audiobook, though the reader's presentation of some of the characters is a bit disappointing and it is 22 hours long. This is a novelization of the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi by the Union Army in 1863, culminating with the surrender of the Confederate Army on July 4, 1863. I really like Shaara's portrayal of Fritz "Dutchie" Bauer, a Private on the front lines and his portrayal of Lucy Spence, a young, single civilian woman in Vicksburg, as well as his portrayals of Generals Sherman and Pemberton. I really like Shaara's humanization of these historical events and his portrayal of the key figures involved in them. This might actually be my favorite Jeff Shaara novel so far, although I do like them all, to a degree.

The Fateful Lightning by Jeff Shaara

The Fateful Lightning by Jeff Shaara-615 pages

I enjoyed reading this novelization of Sherman's March to the Sea. The characterization and humanization of Generals Sherman and Hardee, and Captain Seeley are intriguing. Additionally, Shaara's presentation of a freed slave named Franklin is most intriguing, though a bit stereotypical. I like the way Shaara chooses a few people to follow throughout the events and attempts to humanize these historical events. In many ways, he succeeds, which is why I so enjoy reading his novels. One thing I found disappointing about this particular novel, though, is that he leaves Franklin's story hanging. He spends a lot of time developing Franklin's character and then leaves the reader hanging a bit (although he does include an ending in his Afterword). One other small complaint I have is that he includes one chapter on General William B. Hazen when it is necessary, but does not develop his character at all and includes nothing about him in the Afterword. Overall, though, I liked this novel just as well as every Shaara novel I have read so far.

The Smoke at Dawn: A Novel of the Civil War by Jeff Shaara

The Smoke at Dawn: A Novel of the Civil War by Jeff Shaara-495 pages

I enjoyed reading this one a lot. It is a novelization of the Battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge (a.k.a. the Battles for Chattanooga). I have been to Lookout Mountain and it is a sight to see. To my knowledge, the novel is as historically accurate as a novelization can be. Jeff Shaara is becoming one of my favorite authors. He takes history and humanizes it in an intriguing, attention-grabbing way. Both books of his that I have read have been page-turners. I like that he focuses on a few of the key figures and tells the story from each of their perspectives. I am somewhat of a Civil War "expert," though, so I realize his books aren't for everyone.

A Blaze of Glory by Jeff Shaara

A Blaze of Glory: A Novel of the Battle of Shiloh by Jeff Shaara-435 pages

This is Shaara's novelization of the bloody Battle of Shiloh. I wanted to read this because I have seen the films Gettysburg and Gods and Generals several times, which are based on novels written by him (and/or his father). Additionally, I was a Visitor Use Assistant/Park Ranger at Shiloh National Military Park for 11 weeks during the summer of 2010 and actually worked under and with some of the people mentioned as sources for the novel. It's cool to read a novelization on a battle I know quite a bit about and it is a pretty accurate novelization. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and really want to read the rest of Shaara's Civil War novels.