Look Away: A Novel (Hardcover)

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!

I would recommend that fans of Civil War literature and/or war stories not be turned off by the beginning of the book (or Coyle's occassional choppy writing style: he switches viewpoints suddenly, for example). Coyle's talents are most apparent when he writes about the various battles and the life in the camps. Here, Coyle's storytelling is terrific. Each battle is told through the eyes of either James or Kevin; truly a first person account of the battles. The result was that I felt as if I stood next to James as he faced down a charge. Some of the battle scenes are so wonderfully described that my hands perspired as I read them.

I believe that the book is probably more enjoyable for people who have a basic understanding of the various policial, social, and military conflicts of the war. Coyle does not spend a large amount of time describing why Lee charged up the middle at Gettysburg, although the troops briefly debate the reason for the charge. Another example is the death of Stonewall Jackson in the Wilderness. Little is mentioned in the scenes after his death other than to mentioned what effect it had on the chain of command.

Colye isn't trying to give a history of the war, so don't expect one. This is a story of the men who fought it the Civil War. From this perspective, it makes sense that the soldiers don't see the "big picture" of a battle.

Overall, I look forward to the next book and would recommend this book to people interested in the Civil War.

It's twists like this that makes me think that this book is one plot device after another, rather than a cohesive story. True, amazing coincidences did occur in the Civil War. You'll see lots of them in this book, that's sure, as it moves towards its seemingly preordained conclusion.

In spite of this, "Look Away" is an entertaining read. The book keeps a smart pace and provides an engaging soldier-level view of the action. Coyle renders the battle scenes in particularly skillful fashion, as well as the ordinary dialog between the soldiers while in camp or on the march.