The vast majority of my Civil War reading has been either objective or from the Union perspective. I decided to read a book from the Confederate perspective in General Lee’s Immortals by Michael C. Hardy. It took a bit of an adjustment to view the war from the Confederate perspective, but the writing helped with… Continue reading
Author Archives → Jeff Grim
Adrift by Brian Murphy
Murphy combines great storytelling with a detailed explanation of Nineteenth Century ocean travel. An excellent story of one of the many tragedies that befell transatlantic travelers.
Continue readingWar of the Wolf by Bernard Cornwell
Cornwell is a master storyteller that is hard to beat. His plots flow easily from one event to the next. The writing is superb. The character development is excellent even with new characters being introduced with each book.
Continue readingA Fierce Glory by Justin Martin
I have read many accounts of the Battle of Antietam – most focus solely on either side or give a balanced view of the battle. Martin gives a balanced account of the battle, but he adds a new element by looking at Abraham Lincoln during the battle.
Continue readingSeptember Mourn by Alann Schmidt and Terry Barkley
Antietam (and almost every battle in the Civil War) has been analyzed and written about ad nauseam. The authors find another angle to look at the Union victory that led to the release of the Emancipation Proclamation. This angle is thought-provoking by looking at the costs of the battle not only on the combat troops that fought, but also on the civilians who were left to pick up the pieces of their shattered homes and lives.
Continue readingA Tiger among Us by Bennie G. Adkins and Katie Lamar Jackson
Adaptable. Cunning. Ferocious. Fearless. The Indochinese tiger is just one of the formidable predators roaming Vietnam’s jungle. In 1966 a small band of US Special Forces soldiers–most especially Bennie Adkins–spent four grueling days facing down the “tiger” among them.
Continue readingAhab’s Return by Jeffrey Ford
The book is part mystery (finding Ahab’s family) and part fantasy (the mythical characters). The mythical characters and the settings are intriguing. I have never been a big fantasy reader, but this one kept me interested throughout because of the strong plot and engaging characters.
Continue readingIsland of the Blue Foxes by Stephen R. Brown
The story of the world’s largest, longest, and best financed scientific expedition of all time, triumphantly successful, gruesomely tragic, and never before fully told.
Continue readingWhat Should Be Wild by Julia Fine
It is an original and intriguing story that keeps the reader captivated as Fine switches between the women in the woods and Maisie. It has serious undertones of a fairy tale with a malevolent dark figure, an innocent heroine, and magic.
Continue reading