I really wanted to like this book. This is one of my cousin's favorite books, and he gave it quite a recommendation. He did explain why he liked it, and he understood why a lot of people don't, but it's just different strokes for different folks, you know? This seems to be a love or hate piece, and I can understand. 
 The prose is decent. Very decent, actually, but I wouldn't call it "great." The writing style definitely wasn't sufficient to save any part of this book unlike Dickens who could write the instruction manual to a rock and probably thrill me. 
 The action... Well, let's just say that I never thought a novel about a Civil War battle would be so dull. That was the feeling I had for at least the first three-quarters of the story before something semi-exciting starts to happen, minus one small scene about a quarter of the way into the book. I remember being at page 120 and thinking "I'm going to finish this book. Only 80 pages to go. It's short. This will not defeat me." So, yeah. That's the mindset I was in. I was going to finish the book in SPITE of how little I was liking it. 
 In the last 30 or so pages, we get some fighting, and the main character is still an annoying cock-wagon, but at least he's doing some stuff. However, it was too little, too late to save the book, and I'm keeping my rating down to two stars. It was not worth muddling through the first 160 or so pages to get to that part. 
 So, what is it that seems to appeal to so many people? My guess would be the character development which is pristine. I like character development. In fact, I almost demand it. However, that alone does not a good book make for me. We watch Henry, or The Youth as he's called by the narrator, grow from an unconcerned, inexperienced soldier to a coward in his first encounter to a troll with pure bloodlust in his soul during the last encounter. He experiences just about every emotion that's commonly felt on a battlefield, from what I understand. While character development is enjoyable, I don't like it as much when it's the focus of a story instead of being brought out through the anecdotes, or actions of the character, or something like that. I don't know how realistic it is for one character to have every form of psychic change while going through a battle, but I don't think that's very important here. It works for this story. 
 The witty turns of phrase which I love in my literature were quite few, but they were present, at least. However, it doesn't save the book with regards to my rating. 
 One thing I did like about this (though once again it's not enough to give it an extra star) was the setting. It's not spelled out exactly which battle is taking place in the book. Since I lived in Fredericksburg for a few years, I noticed a couple of landmarks mentioned, and I assumed it was either the Battle of Chancellorsville or Wilderness. It turns out that most people think it's Chancellorsville. Score one for knowing a bit about Civil War history. 
 So, make of this what you will. I'm glad I read the book, but it's just so I can say that I've read it. I certainly don't think I'll be rereading it, but that doesn't mean it couldn't work for you.