Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Two Brothers: One North One South

David H. Jones


Walt Whitman feared that the real war would never get in the books—the true stories that depicted the courage and humanity of soldiers who fought, bled, and died in the American Civil War...











My Take:
Rarely have I ever read such a polarizing book as "Two Brothers: One North One South".  This book reads like a text book early on, and, if you are interested in the Civil War, I think this just may well become one of your all-time favorite books.  However, if you are looking for less military history, or the Civil War just isn't your bag, you might find this book dry as dry can be.  I myself, really enjoyed the text booky feel .  This book is impeccably researched, and the characters are solid, relatable, and interesting, they are very well explored and fleshed out.  The dialogue at the beginning of the book did feel a bit strange.  There was no narration, so filling the contemporary reader in on current events was up to the characters, and it felt more like a newscast, or a formal letter, rather than dialogue.  Like I said, this book was extraordinarily polarizing, and as such I will assign a dual a rating.  Again, if the America Civil War is your thing, you enjoy military history, or you are in an American History class, and you are looking for historical accuracy (aside from the fictional main characters of course) I recommend a 1, Pay at Full Price.  You definitely get your money's worth. and will find this a wonderful addition to your permanent library  However, if the Civil War is not your thing, I give this book a 3, Find a Used Book Store, if anything, its a great history lesson.

Do you agree with my review?  Do you think I'm totally off base?  Either way I'd love to hear from you, be sure to leave a comment and tell me how you feel!

If this book were a movie, it would likely be rated PG for some combat violence.






Now a few words with the author, David H. Jones:

The Book Buff:: I think the title concisely and effectively tells the reader what your book is about, how did you come up with it?

David H. Jones: Walt Whitman wrote about the Prentiss brothers in "Memoranda During the War".  The title of his article was "Two Brothers: One South, One North" . . . I merely reversed "South" and "North" to retain the flavor created by the poet.
  
TBB: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? 

DHJ: Very much so! I want readers to understand that soldiers who fought on both sides were American patriots and worthy of our respect and appreciation. .

TBB: I absolutely love the cover of your book, who designed it?

DHJ:  The cover of "Two Brothers" won the 2008 Benjamin Franklin Award for cover design. This outstanding design was created by Charles Brock of faceoutstudio (formerly The Design Works Group).

TBB: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

DHJ:  My sincere wish for my readers is that they are both entertained and educated while reading "Two Brothers" . . . it tells the quintessential story of the American Civil War.

TBB: What is your muse?  What inspires you?

DHJ: The Untied States of America . . . an exceptional, historic nation.

If you are interested in learning more about the author, David H. Jones, or his book, Two Brothers: One North, One South, please check out: http://www.davidhjones.net/ or http://davidhjones.net/blog/

If you are interested in purchasing Two Brothers: One North, One South, please consider supporting The Book Buff by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thanks!















**The Giveaway featuring this book is closed, please check the side bar for current giveaway :)**


48 comments:

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I follow by google reader.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I think this would be a great book to win and read.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

LuAnn said...

I've been a follower for a while now and truly enjoy your reviews.
The Civil War has always interested the social scientist and journalist in me. And I've always been fascinated by the aspect of it written in this book. Families were divided not only by the war, but by their personal convictions, as well. And, indeed, brother fighting against brother must have been the ultimate sacrifice to give for your nation and your beliefs.
That said, I'd love to win this book. Thanks.

reading_frenzy at yahoo dot com

Jennifer Mathis said...

as a civil war interested person this book sound awesome to me and as this is the first I have heard of it I would probably missed it if not for the Book Buff thanks :)

meandi09@yahoo.com

brokenteepee said...

I truly do enjoy - if that is the correct word - reading about the Civil War.
I would love to read this book.
I have been a follower for a bit
thank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com

rerahre said...

Sign me up for this one !
dlpisaacson at gmail dot com

Fokxxy said...

I became a follower and have joined your ranks!! Thank you


ssummmer(at)gmail(dot)com

Emidy @ Une Parole said...

I love your review of this book! I'm not American and don't really enjoy history, so I doubt I'd like this book. But I think the cover is cool! It's very eye-catching.

Rhodes Review said...

I'd love to read this. It was a very pivotal point it seems in our nation's history. Having read Team of Rivals, and how Lincoln handled things, it would be interesting to see perspectives from the non-political side also.

Rick (at) Rhodesreview (dot) com

I'm a new follower.

Paula said...

I am a follower and looks like a good read

darkangelny@comcast.net

Mari Barnes said...

I'd like a chance to win this one.

mbfturtle at gmail dot com

SomedayWifey said...

Would love a chance to win this one. I have been following you for a few weeks now.

I LOVE reading, especially historical fiction or anything that really makes me sit back and think.

someday.wife@gmail.com

Tina said...

This looks really interesting. Please enter me. I'm a follower.

tbranco (at) hughes (dot)net

Anna said...

I'm a new follower, glad to have stumbled upon your blog. I've had my eye on this book for awhile. I haven't read all that much about the Civil War, but this one sounds fascinating.

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
diaryofaneccentric at hotmail dot com

Mystica said...

I know very little of the American Civil War and maybe this book is what I need to expand my knowledge.

mystica123athotmaildotcom

fredamans said...

I am already a follower!!

freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

Barry said...

I follow on google

anamchara(at)gmail.com

http://gnostalgia.wordpress.com

KIKA said...

Thanks for the gift on book blogs! So good to meet fellow bloggers! I became a follower and love your blog! wooohoo!

Dr. Bill (William L.) Smith said...

I am currently reading the most recent U.S. Grant bio... this fits well.

Bill ;-)

billsmith2003 (at) gmail (dot) com

Hope you'll check out my book giveaway:
http://drbillsbookbazaar.blogspot.com/2010/03/book-giveaway-back-to-homeplace.html
http://thehomeplaceseries.blogspot.com/

EmilyBryan said...

Thanks for the invitation to your blog. I enjoy your rating system. Very original.

misskallie2000 said...

I follow via google


misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

misskallie2000 said...

I love stories that tell both sides of a subject. There is so much we don't know about the War between the States but this book can show us this side.
The review was great and the authors interview helped us see how this book came about.
Thanks for this great giveaway.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Barbara J. Smith said...

I'm a follower and also very interested in the Civil War. Would love to receive this book.
Thanks for a great review!
Barbara

barbarajsmith1@gmail.com

Martha Eskuchen said...

I love Civil war stories and this sounds wonderful! I am a new follower. You have different books on your blog. That is refreshing!
Thanks for a chance to win.
mesreads at gmail dot com

Wyn said...

I love history stories. I am a follower of your blog.

wyndyc at gmail dot com
http://wynsbooks.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

I am a folllower and I would love to win the Book Thief.

wiseowlreviews@aol.com

Edna said...

I love anything to do with the civil war, my great-grandfather was lost in action in it. So this book would be so great.


mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

Stephanie Suesan Smith, Ph.D. said...

I would very much like a copy of this book. Our family had a one shot the other incident after the Civil War. My email is stephaniesuesansmith@gmail.com and my blog is http://blog.stephaniesuesansmith.com.

Emily said...

You knew exactly how to catch the eye of a historical fiction addict!

I'd like to be entered for a chance to win.
emily.smirl@gmail.com

Debbie F said...

I'm a new follower! count me in! thanks

dcf_beth at verizon dot net

gerea111 said...

It sounds like a very interesting book. Would like to give it a try. My e-mail address is: gerry.chambers@londoncapital.com. Thanks again.

Anonymous said...

Fellow Book Blogs member here. I now follow your blog and will follow on Twitter!

This book seems like it will be interesting.

kzupancic(at)yahoo(dot)com

Carol L. said...

I enjoyed and liked your review. You were very clear and specific. I love, love the cover. I also love History, Military and anything at all to do with the Civil War. I'd love to win this one. Thanks for the opportunity.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com

Carol L. said...

I forgot to mention I've been a follower or a bit now.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com

Books In The Attic said...

I have just joined your blog and so far I am enjoying your reviews. I always enjoy reading others opinions of books. I have a book review blog site myself, however it is very new and I am still tweaking it, http://booksintheattic81.blogspot.com
Anyway, this is exactly the type of storyline I have been looking for in a book recently, so I would really love to win it and review it on my blog.

kellocks81@gmail.com

A Musing Mother said...

Thank you for providing ratings! That REALLY helps!

I'm in!

Nancy

ntaylor228 at yahoo dot com

traveler said...

I am fascinated with this wonderful book and the review has interested me greatly. Thanks for feturing this great novel. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

Sarah E said...

Please enter me in this giveaway!

I am a follower.

familyhistree at yahoo dot com

Sarah E

KY Warrior Librarian said...

Sounds very interesting. Love your site. I'm now a follower.

readandlead@yahoo.com

lisareen said...

I joined the ranks!

lisareene@gmail.com

Marie (MUM) said...

Thanks a bunch for the giveaway! I'd love to read this book.

New follower.

Marie
utah91960[at]yahoo[dot]com

Anonymous said...

I would love to win this book.

I'm a follower

readingatthebeach(@)gmail(.)com

Anonymous said...

I am a new follower! I would love to win this book for my DH! He would love, love, love it!

Brande

bookjunkie@ymail.com

Marty said...

I'm a new follower :)

The book sounds very interesting to me!

poetees at gmail dot com

sharon54220 said...

I would love a shot at winning this. Sounds very interesting.

I follow via GFC

sharon54220@gmail.com

Ashley said...

I'm a follower.

hewella1 at gmail dot com

Elise said...

I am seriously the biggest historical fiction fan. Can't get my hands on enough of those. My Favorite!
caliblue7@gmail.com

DK's Book Reviews said...

I liked your review. It sounds like a great book. I would love to win this.

Dkay401@gmail.com

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails