I got this book because I love to read about the Civil War and was looking forward to reading about what I knew was a bad situation near the end of the war. It was educational but at the same time horrifying. The conditions at Andersonville prison where awful. The author warns the reader prior to the start of the book that some of what they are about to read is disturbing. I found that to be so even though the author was telling the story of a historical event.
I found the book hard to read for long periods of time and several times I almost did not finish the book but I am glad that I did. I had a hard time making a connection with any of the the characters so that I was really cared about their personal outcome.
I found the book hard to read for long periods of time and several times I almost did not finish the book but I am glad that I did. I had a hard time making a connection with any of the the characters so that I was really cared about their personal outcome.
It seems kind of trite to say that "this is my first Tracy Groot story, but it won't be my last" - yet that is certainly true in my case. Tracy says on her website that she has found her niche writing stories built around historical events, and while I haven't read her earlier books, I would have to agree with that statement. If you, like me, want Christian fiction that challenges, confronts, inspires, motivates, and entertains at the same time, then The Sentinels of Andersonville is for you.
I was drawn to this book because I enjoy character-driven drama, as well as southern fiction, and The Sentinels of Andersonville takes place in my own state of Georgia - but little did I know of the atrocities that took place there. Tracy begins her narrative with these cold, hard facts:
"During the last fourteen months of the Civil War, Andersonville Prison in Sumter County, Georgia, was a place of unimaginable suffering. In fourteen months, 45,000 men passed through the gates. Of those, 13,000 died, primarily from starvation and exposure."
Characterization centers around three Southerners - Sentry Dance Pickett, Corporal Emery Jones, Southern belle Violet Stiles - and Union prisoner Lew Gann, with whom Emery formed an "uncommon friendship." That friendship is at the heart of this story, and it reflects the kind of love to which Christ calls us.
But the main character is the Andersonville military prison located outside the South Georgia town of Americus. Andersonville was a place where politics reigned supreme, and any kindness or sympathy toward the Yankee prisoners was perceived as treason. "If hell is a province or a state or a country, Andersonville is a town in it," according to Dance. Such was the depth of bitterness and hatred for the North that the town of Americus was able to forget these men were human and turn a blind eye. Dance says: "They are not men, according to General Winder. They are a species called 'Yankee,' and woe to the one who thinks he sees in them a form like unto humanity."
But in this story, Tracy has taken what could potentially be an uncomfortable read, infused it with naturally-flowing wit and humor, added some wonderful plot twists that come out of left field, and made it highly entertaining - and that's a great gift. Spiritual themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and the desire to risk all in order to make a difference will speak to any reader.
Who, indeed, is my neighbor? The Sentinels of Andersonville asks this question in a pointed way and lets readers determine the answer for themselves. Thank you for a moving and compelling book, Tracy Groot! Highly recommended to all readers.
Thank you to Tyndale for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I was drawn to this book because I enjoy character-driven drama, as well as southern fiction, and The Sentinels of Andersonville takes place in my own state of Georgia - but little did I know of the atrocities that took place there. Tracy begins her narrative with these cold, hard facts:
"During the last fourteen months of the Civil War, Andersonville Prison in Sumter County, Georgia, was a place of unimaginable suffering. In fourteen months, 45,000 men passed through the gates. Of those, 13,000 died, primarily from starvation and exposure."
Characterization centers around three Southerners - Sentry Dance Pickett, Corporal Emery Jones, Southern belle Violet Stiles - and Union prisoner Lew Gann, with whom Emery formed an "uncommon friendship." That friendship is at the heart of this story, and it reflects the kind of love to which Christ calls us.
But the main character is the Andersonville military prison located outside the South Georgia town of Americus. Andersonville was a place where politics reigned supreme, and any kindness or sympathy toward the Yankee prisoners was perceived as treason. "If hell is a province or a state or a country, Andersonville is a town in it," according to Dance. Such was the depth of bitterness and hatred for the North that the town of Americus was able to forget these men were human and turn a blind eye. Dance says: "They are not men, according to General Winder. They are a species called 'Yankee,' and woe to the one who thinks he sees in them a form like unto humanity."
But in this story, Tracy has taken what could potentially be an uncomfortable read, infused it with naturally-flowing wit and humor, added some wonderful plot twists that come out of left field, and made it highly entertaining - and that's a great gift. Spiritual themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and the desire to risk all in order to make a difference will speak to any reader.
Who, indeed, is my neighbor? The Sentinels of Andersonville asks this question in a pointed way and lets readers determine the answer for themselves. Thank you for a moving and compelling book, Tracy Groot! Highly recommended to all readers.
Thank you to Tyndale for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is a novel about Andersonville, a prison in Georgia that held Union soldiers during the Civil War. It mainly revolves around three main characters- Southern belle Violet, prison sentry Dance, and Corporal Emery. Each tries in their own way to help the inmates.
I found the book interesting, but somewhat gruesome. This is a war story, and the author warned the reader at the beginning that there were "disturbing descriptions of prison life and conditions". The overall story was decent but seemed disjointed. There were too many characters for me to keep track of and I couldn't get into the story like I had expected.
I found the book interesting, but somewhat gruesome. This is a war story, and the author warned the reader at the beginning that there were "disturbing descriptions of prison life and conditions". The overall story was decent but seemed disjointed. There were too many characters for me to keep track of and I couldn't get into the story like I had expected.
(Fiction) I have read books that referred to or mentioned Andersonville prison and the horrific conditions. This book centers on the town of Americus, near the prison, and their doctor who is assigned the Federal hospital portion of the prison. Also, on a sentry, Dance Pickett (cousin of Dr. Stiles), who witnesses firsthand the starvation and neglect. Helping means being a traitor to the cause. When does doing the right thing trump doing what is expected? No matter what the consequences. Riveting tale of friendships borne out of tragedy. Very good read!!! (Details of conditions/treatments are realistic and hard to read, but I would not say they were gory.)
