Author: David H. Jones
Format: Hardcover
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 978-0979689857
Publisher: Staghorn Press
Date of Publication: September 1, 2008— Available now!
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
(“Two Brothers: One North, One South” pg 7)
I have to say that I love the opening paragraph above. Sometimes when I go back to reread a book and I’m looking for a few good lines to use in my review, I have to look for quite awhile. In this case, it’s the first thing you read- and they’re perfect. As I mentioned in one of my recent reviews about another author, this is what Creative Writing teachers strive to pull from you. The imagery is fantastic. You can picture the capitol! Or perhaps it’s even those first two words- “Moonlight glimmered“– a perfect descriptive hook.
The story itself is pretty good. The title is pretty self explanatory, it’s the story of two brothers during the American Civil War. I’ve not read much historical fiction set during this time. The only thing that comes to mind is Ann Rinaldi’s “The Last Silk Dress“, but that is a completely different type of book (still good though!). “Two Brothers….” is based upon acutal historical events which is what I think really makes it work. As you can see from my interview below with the author, he did a tremendous amount of research- and I think it really shows in the story. (Not that I would know differently, as my knowledge in this area is lacking… but I’ll take his word for it that most of the details and dates and such are historically accurate!)
What I liked most about this book is that it didn’t read like a boring history book. I’ve come across so many historical fiction novels that put too much emphasis on history and not enough on fiction. They attempt to write nonfiction disguised as fiction. In this case, “Two Brothers…” is the perfect balance. There’s action and dialogue. The history is there, but you can tell that you’re reading fiction. Hopefully you understand what I mean!
I would indeed recommend this to anyone looking for historical fiction set during or around the American Civil War. For that matter, I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a good story! Thanks to David H. Jones and Trish from TLC tours. See below for my interview with David, and for details on how to win your own copy of this book.
Q. I love the cover art, the split uniform showing the uniforms for both the North and the South. It works extremely well with the story. I’m always interested in how much influence an author has over the cover art. So my question is are you pleased with the cover, and were you directly involved in the process of choosing an image?
Q. From the jacket I can see that you’re a “lifelong student of the Civil War”. What first interested you about the civil war? What’s kept you so focused and interested on it, as opposed to say, the American Revolutionary War?
A. American history is my passion, all phases of it, from the first colonization to more recent times. However, the Civil War has special meaning to me as my father told stories during my childhood that he heard from his grandfather, personally linking me to the horrendous event that wrought our nation from a loose collection of states. My dad lived a long and good life, and I knew him well. He knew his maternal grandfather, Jacob Eckes, who served as a private in the 10th West Virginia Infantry. Thus, as a 68-year old man, I knew people, who knew people, who fought in the American Civil War, proving that it happened not so very long ago.
Q. What did you hope to accomplish by sharing “Two Brothers…” with the world?
A. Great question! I found the Prentiss brothers story while researching my ancestor’s regiments in past wars. My great great grandfather James Touchstone served in the 6th Maryland Infantry with Clifton Prentiss. Fascinated by the story, I compiled voluminous notes over three years of research and determined that it was the quintessential story of the Civil War. It was clearly a story that needed to be told! What I hope to accomplish is recognition by readers of Walt Whitman’s conclusion–that the soldiers of both sides were American patriots and that their stories must not be forgotten.
Q. How has your life changed since you wrote “Two Brothers…”, and do you have any plans for writing another novel sometime in the future?
A. The research phase and subsequent book tours have included a number of trips back East (we live in California) to Baltimore, Washington, Richmond, and Petersburg–all places that are among our favorites to visit. Next week we are doing a book signing at the Museum and Visitor Center at the Gettysburg National Military Park. We have visited the graves of all of the main characters and many sites where important events in the book took place. Dian and I were honored to unveil the new Veterans Administration gravestones for the Prentiss brothers at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, where they’re buried side by side. These have all been great departures from our typical routine and things that we have thoroughly enjoyed.
The next writing project–that’s another great question. A memoir of a 6th Maryland officer which describes in great detail his experiences throughout the war has recently come to light. If permission to publish can be achieved, I may write a history of the 6th Regiment of Maryland Infantry, or a new novel, based on this journal. Time will tell.
Q. This kind of goes along with the previous question, but what do you like to do when you’re not writing?
A. Dian and I enjoy travel and spending time with family and friends. I’m also still actively involved in business.
Q. Let’s finish with my usual bookish questions! What kind of books do you like to read? What is your favorite book? Who is your favorite author? Finally, what are you reading right now and why?
A. I like both fiction and non-fiction. On a recent trip to Florida I read the novel “Down River” by John Hart and enjoyed it very much. My favorite book of all time is “Lonesome Dove” by Larry McMurtry. Presently, I’m about one-third into the just released “Now The Drum of War: Walt Whitman and his Brothers in the Civil War” by Robert Roper. It’s excellent and provides great insight into Whitman’s Civil War experiences.
A big thank you to David for joining us. I’m sure my readers enjoyed our interview as much as I did. Don’t forget to check out David’s Blog here!
Giveaway details: David as well as Trish from TLC tours have sent me an extra copy of “Two Brothers: One North, One South” for me to giveaway to one lucky commenter. The book is even autographed! If you’d like to win it, comment on this post telling me about your favorite Civil War book. If you don’t have one, tell me why you want to read this one. You have until the end of the month, November 31rst, and like my other contests, this is open to anyone- not just the US and Canada. For an extra entry, you can blog about this contest, but make sure to tell me about it!
I haven’t read a Civil War book but I have a teenage son whose two loves are reading and history. He would love this and I would enjoy giving it to him.
I don’t remember the last time I read a Civil War book, but I am sure I’ve read one sometime. I should probably read one, because I really don’t know much about the Civil War (I am more into World War 2 books).
[…] November 7th – Kathleen’s Book Reviews (review, interview, and […]
The last Civil War book I read was Gettysburg: A Graphic Novel. I received it from HarperCollins First Look. I can’t remeber the las Civil War Novel I read though. I have read MANY Vietnam War and Korean War Novels. And also quite a few WWII Novels.
Please enter me!
TheBookworm
http://www.inthecurrent.blogspot.com
emailthebookworm(at)yahoo(dot)com
I haven’t read any but my husband is a big history buff! I would love to win this for him he would really enjoy it! I enjoyed the interview.
photoquest(at)bellsouth(dot)net
Thank you so much for hosting “Two Brothers: One North, One South” on your blog and writing such a nice review. I very much appreciate it. I also enjoyed doing the interview: the questions were great and providing the answers was a lot of fun. Your comments on the opening paragraph brought a smile to my face as I wrote and re-rewrote it many times, then fine tuned the words through several iterations until the moment when I exclaimed . . . “that’s it!” If any of your blog visitors have any questions, I would be happy to answer them.
Cordially,
David
Thanks for the great review and interview. I’m definitely putting this book on my TBR. I love the Civil War time period and you sold me on this book.
Hi, Kathleen! No need to enter me. Lisa at Books on the Brain dropped me a note about your contest, so I posted about it at Win a Book. If we can ever help you get the word out about other book-related fun, drop us an e-mail. This is what we’re here for.
My favorite Civil War book is The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane.
akreese (at) hotmail (dot) com
Recently I read Cold Mountain, if it can be called a ivil War book. And I have read Gone with the Wind long time time bak. Do they count?
Enter me, please!
gautami.tripathy[at]gmail.com
My favorite Civil War book is actually non-fiction and a series….the Civil War series by historian Shelby Foote. The man was a veritable encyclopedia of knowledge about the Civil War, but could write about it in the most conversational way. He was wonderful at creating an interest in this important time period!
Thank you for hosting the giveaway!
I haven’t read any books on the civil war but would love to start with this one.
I haven’t read very much about the US Civil War. I am Australian, so we don’t study it at school, and the only books I can recall reading about that period are Gone With the Wind, and I also read John Jakes Kent Family Chronicles, so there would have been one that covered that time too. I do have Cold Mountain and Widow of the South by Roger Hicks to read too.
I would like to win this book for my husband. He loves, absoutely loves all things Civil War and he is an avid reader…the library can’t keep him in books! He would be so surprised and delighted to have a book come in the mail for him.
Please?
Thanks so much,
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com
I would love to win this book! My favorite civil war book is Gone With the Wind. I love the movie as well.
I blogged about your giveaway here:
http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/2008/11/this-weeks-giveaways-galore.html
Note I put the deadline as November 30 because there is no November 31st. LOL!
teddyr66(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would love to win this book! My favorite civil war book is Gone With the Wind. I love the movie as well.
I blogged about your giveaway here:
http://teddyrose.blogspot.com/2008/11/this-weeks-giveaways-galore.html
Note I put the deadline as November 30 because there is no November 31st. LOL!
teddyr66(at)yahoo(dot)com
I haven’t read many books on civil wars. The only book that i have read and loved is ‘Half a yellow sun’ based on Biafra civil war.
I like good opening para’s too. This one sounds great. I have read a lot of great reviews of this book. Do enter me…
I have not read any Civil War books, only the articles about them so this will be a great start 😀
I’m very interested in the Civil War since I was a teenager — I started reading about Civil War because I had to write an essay on it.
Please enter me in the contest. Thanks.
avalonne83 [at] yahoo [dot] it
I don’t remember the last time I read a Civil War book, but I’m always interested in books with war themes. This one sounds well researched, and from the passage you shared, the writing style seems like something I’d enjoy. I’ve been interested in the Civil War since a family trip to Gettysburg years ago. What a great giveaway! Thanks!
diaryofaneccentric[at]hotmail[dot]com
The only book I can remember is the book – I’ve got a home in gloryland about the underground Raidroad
My favourite civil war book is “March” by Geraldine Brooks. I enjoyed this novel so much because “Little Women” has always been a favourite of mine and “March” is about the wartime experiences of an otherwise mysterious Mr March.
I haven’t read any Civil War books since junior high really but it’s a time period that really interests me so I think I’d like this book’s approach
Great review and interview Kathleen! I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that takes place during the civil war. I’d love to start with this one.
I’ve always enjoyed Civil War novels starting with A Yankee Stranger that I read over 40 years ago. Of course GWTW is a favorite, and more recently I read and loved The Killer Angels. This book sounds so interesting, esp. the inclusion of Walt Whitman.
My favorite civil war book is March by E.L. Doctorow. Thanks for the review, I will have to check this one out.
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