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Product Description
At the heart of the story are two brothers, sons of a prosperous New Jersey businessman whose growing wealth and power are dependent on his ability to avoid choosing sides as the issue of states' rights threatens to divide the nation. James and Kevin Bannon, who have always shielded each other from their father's tyrannical outbursts, see their fierce loyalty abruptly shattered by their rivalry over a woman ... and her shocking, violent death. James is sent to VMI (Virginia Military Institute) to make something of himself, while Kevin attends college in the North. Soon they will find themselves on opposite sides in every great action of the war, with a stunning conclusion at the Battle of Gettysburg.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback
Harold Coyle, in this sprawling novel of the American Civil War, attempts to tell the fictional story of the Bannon brothers - Irish immigrants who, due to the machinations of their father, find themselves on opposite sides during the conflagration of 1861-1865. In this he is only partially successful, as the characters are not terribly well fleshed out, even though Coyle spends more than 600 pages writing about them.
There is a great deal of repetition - I lost count after seven instances of description of soldiers retreating by walking backwards in order to avoid being shot in the back, and this is only one of the areas of narrative that is repeated. Further, the editing/proofreading is abominable. A character's diary becomes her "dairy," for one example. This is not a novel published by a penny ante press - the errors that have been allowed to slip through are the result of sheer laziness.
Having said this, I confess that I have already started reading the sequel, Until the End, because I want to find out what happens with the other characters. While James and Kevin Bannon are not particularly compelling, the supporting cast - Harriet, Mary Beth, Edward, Marty and others, are extremely interesting, and so I continue in order to see their stories come to fruition.
Look Away is recommended for American Civil War historical fiction completists only. It is slow going, and not particularly rewarding. For truly great historical fiction, albeit focusing only on the three days of Gettysburg, re-reading Killer Angels by Michael Shaara is a much better bet.
There is a great deal of repetition - I lost count after seven instances of description of soldiers retreating by walking backwards in order to avoid being shot in the back, and this is only one of the areas of narrative that is repeated. Further, the editing/proofreading is abominable. A character's diary becomes her "dairy," for one example. This is not a novel published by a penny ante press - the errors that have been allowed to slip through are the result of sheer laziness.
Having said this, I confess that I have already started reading the sequel, Until the End, because I want to find out what happens with the other characters. While James and Kevin Bannon are not particularly compelling, the supporting cast - Harriet, Mary Beth, Edward, Marty and others, are extremely interesting, and so I continue in order to see their stories come to fruition.
Look Away is recommended for American Civil War historical fiction completists only. It is slow going, and not particularly rewarding. For truly great historical fiction, albeit focusing only on the three days of Gettysburg, re-reading Killer Angels by Michael Shaara is a much better bet.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
23 reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Great fictional account of the war as it might have been!
12 Aug 2004
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Coyle uses documentation of real events and people to create this fictional account of "Brother vs Brother" in the War Between the States. This tale of Kevin and James Bannon, who are both manipulated into fighting by the machinations of their greedy father, is an excellent story of soldiering on both sides of the war as it might have happened. An entertaining read for the fiction fan AND students of the War.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Amazing
18 Aug 2001
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Phenomenal. I got so involved with the characters that it was like being a part of history. This novel depicts the horrendous rift that separates two brothers and a family as they pick sides in the American Civil War.
It was emotional, gut-wrenching and beautiful all in one. The second installment was even better, if that can be believed.
This is a must read for all civil war buffs or even everyone who loves a great read. Pick it up, you won't be sorry!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
You can almost smell the gunsmoke
2 Mar 2005
Format:Mass Market Paperback
You can almost smell the gunsmoke of the battlefield while reading this book. It's one of my all time favorite novels about the Civil War. I've bought copies and given them to my friends- that's how much I liked it.
Coyle has a gift for making you feel like you are right on the battlefield with his characters. I didn't always know exactly where the action was taking place or why, but that's just about how the soldiers lived it then, I'd say.
Terrific!
Coyle has a gift for making you feel like you are right on the battlefield with his characters. I didn't always know exactly where the action was taking place or why, but that's just about how the soldiers lived it then, I'd say.
Terrific!
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