2007: #74 – Love and War (John Jakes)
Book #74 was Love and War, the second book in John Jakes’ North and South Trilogy. The back of the book reads:
The Hazards and the Mains — the first fatal shot fired at Fort Sumter divided them irrevocably with loyalties more powerful than family ties. The young would clash on the bloody battlefields of Bull Run and Fredericksburg, while in intrigue-ridden Washington and Richmond strong-willed men and beautiful women would defend their principles with their lives…or satisfy illicit cravings with schemes that could destroy friends and enemies alike.
Very few authors can write a 1000 page novel that I just glide through… John Jakes is one of them. I love his Civil War novels. Jakes states in his afterword that this book ultimately isn’t about war or slavery, but about change. This story abounds with it — some for the better, some for the worse, and some somewhere in-between. There is redemption and loss, and above all, strength and love. Many of the more recognizable features of the Civil War are barely touched upon, such as Gettysburg and the final surrender at Appomattox, but this allows more exploration of the lesser known happenings. I can’t wait to watch the mini-series and then eventually move on to the final book.
Page count: 1,087 | Word count: 378,060
2006 – Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
2005 – Hornet Flight (Ken Follett)
Whenever the discussion of the best Civil War literature comes up, no one ever brings up LOVE AND WAR by John Jakes. And I have never understood this. I consider it to be one of the best novels about the Civil War I have ever read. It’s a hell of a lot better than GONE WITH THE WIND.
I finally tried watching the mini-series, and had to turn it off after an hour. It was awful! They changed too much, like making Bent into the speculator that Ashton hooks up with. Wrong, wrong wrong.