Customer Reviews

Look Away

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Coyle uses documentation of real events and people to create this fictional account of "Brother vs Brother" in the War Between the States. This tale of Kevin and James Bannon, who are both manipulated into fighting by the machinations of their greedy father, is an excellent story of soldiering on both sides of the war as it might have happened. An entertaining read for the fiction fan AND students of the War.

Phenomenal. I got so involved with the characters that it was like being a part of history. This novel depicts the horrendous rift that separates two brothers and a family as they pick sides in the American Civil War.

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!

You can almost smell the gunsmoke of the battlefield while reading this book. It's one of my all time favorite novels about the Civil War. I've bought copies and given them to my friends- that's how much I liked it.
Coyle has a gift for making you feel like you are right on the battlefield with his characters. I didn't always know exactly where the action was taking place or why, but that's just about how the soldiers lived it then, I'd say.
Terrific!

I have not read any other works by Harold Coyle, thus I am unable to compare 'Look Away' to anything else he has written. I'm not sure that here I'm at a disadvantage or an advantage, but what I do have is a view based on this book alone.

'Look Away' follows a much written about theme, that of brothers fighting on opposite sides during the Civil War. In this case it's the Bannon brothers - James and Kevin. Both are ostracised by their communities and spend much of the novel struggling not only against the enemy but also the prejudices of others.

I enjoyed the book, not for offering me a great insight into the war but rather as simply a well-written piece of fiction. At times the plot is a little predictable, as is the conclusion but I feel that this didn't take away from the core of the book which entertained me.

The book moves at double speed with hardly a moment spare and while this builds a sense of momentum it can at time leave the reader wanting something different. I would have liked a little more historical scene setting to give the events a context. This can be applied to a general level for example perhaps to include something about the political and social background of the war and on a specific level with regards to particular battles or campaigns. This was omitted during the story line and could have left those new to the war and its history a confused. Despite this the battle scenes are well written if a little familiar - read a few novels regarding the war and you will come across a full description of how to load a rifle musket - 'Look Away' wasn't inaccurate with such descriptions but nor was it unique.

Sometimes I don't want to read deep, meaningful books full of symbolism and hidden metaphors. If this is something you want then 'Look Away' may not be the book for you but on the other hand if you want a novel that is refreshing in the simplicity of the story telling with no frills and fancy edges, then I'd encourage you to read 'Look Away'.

Could not put this book down! Great story line, and very vivid picture of the battles. can't wait to read the sequel. Rock on Harold!

A few additional thoughts to add to the reviews below. Coyle's beginning is the clear cut weak point in the book. The premise of the book is tried and true: two brothers on opposite sides of the Civil War. Coyle's attempt to create a believeable conflict capable of dividing the two brothers onto opposite side seems forced. I just don't buy the beginning of the book. Additionally, it takes over 300 pages before I felt that either brother had much of a personality. Both James (the Reb) and Kevin (the Yank) are indistinct from each other and seem like rather bland people. The supporting characters are far more interesting.

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.

Could not put this book down! Great story line, and very vivid picture of the battles. Can't wait to read the sequel, can only hope it is as good as the first. Rock on Harold!

Generally I don't read fiction, 98% of my reading is non-fiction, might read one fiction book a year. But this was given to me by a WW2 buddy and I read it all the way through.

Since the War Between the States is one of my areas of interest, I am not a good audience for lousy, unfactual books.

This is an excellent book with fictional characters set against a very real background of events. Even got out my West Point Atlas of American Wars to verify the actions as related in "Look Away".

Coyle is to be complimented on his research and writing style, I would recommend it to all audiences, no graphic sex parts, very well done.

This book really makes the era come to life. There is excellent plot and character development. Unlike other books, this one has a sequel that is actually BETTER than the original. As good as this book is, it gets better. It's a shame it was only a 2-part series. Look Away has it all - Action, suspense, drama, romance (this IS a clean book, sorry harlequin readers.).

I thoroughly enjoyed this work by Harold Coyle. I couldn't wait to find a copy of the sequel so that I could learn the ending for the characters, yet it lead only to a new beginning for them both. The interplay of the northern 'old money' influences in the course of the war, the attitude toward the Irish, the gentleness of the relationships between the main characters and their companions in combat and in love were all done with masterful strokes of the artists brush. I have read many Civil War histories and what is missing from them is a sense of life. They speak heavily of death and are strong on statistics or what such and so general should have done or what who ever didn't do, but they don't provide a sense of what the combat soldier in the field thought, felt and had to live through to survive daily. This is the Civil War equal of "Saving Private Ryan" and should stand to remind us of why they fought and why they died and where courage draws its strength, from the heart.