Reader’s Diary

Harry Turtledove

Turtledove’s “20th Century Europe in North America” alternate history plods on.

Jeff Shaara

This volume wraps up the fictionalized story of the American Revolution begun in Shaara’s “Rise to Rebellion”. It’s a good read that shares its predecessor’s strengths and weaknesses.

Jeff Shaara

This is a solid historical novel about the period from the Boston Massacre (March, 1770 ) through the signing of the Declaration of Independence (July, 4, 1776). It’s told from the perspectives of a number of historical characters - anyone looking for fictional characters should look elsewhere. Despite the book’s strengths, the absence of original characters - as opposed to dramatized presentations of real people - leaves the reader wondering whether the time would have been better spent with a good non-fiction narrative history.