Category Archives: Reading

Reading

In which I kick off a big reading project with Teddy Roosevelt

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"The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt"It took me about 245 years and it put me behind schedule on my Read 50 Books in 2014 goal, but I finally finished “The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt” by Edmund Morris. Before reading the book, what I knew about Roosevelt was basically caricature — the big teeth, the cowboy stuff, etc. Now that I know a little more about him, I get the feeling that the caricatures aren’t that far from the truth. He seems like a force of nature more than an actual human person.

I realized as I read the book that my knowledge of U.S. history is superficial at best. I’d like to change that, so I’m going to try to read at least one biography of each president. I’m not going to put a time limit on this one. Even if I manage to read one every month, it’ll take nearly four years. And we’ll have a whole new president by then! It’s a never-ending project!

I’m planning to go in chronological order; here are the first few I’ll be looking for:

George Washington

  • “His Excellency: George Washington,” Joseph Ellis
  • “Washington: A Life,” Ron Chernow
  • “1776,” David McCullough

    John Adams

  • “John Adams: A Life,” John Ferling
  • “John Adams,” David McCullough

    Thomas Jefferson

  • “Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power,” Jon Meacham
  • “American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson,” Joseph Ellis

    • You can see the list of presidential biographies I’m considering right here. Please let me know if I’m missing, say, your favorite Taft tome! (Favorite Taft tomes seem to be in short supply.)

    Reading

    If you’re looking for a good book to read at the beach …

    "Aloha Also Means Goodbye"I’m sure we’ve all met a number of people who say someday they’d like to write a book. I am one of those people, in fact. But I’m guessing the number of people who actually do write a book is only a small percentage of those who are dreaming about doing it.

    The difference between the authors and the dreams? The authors are actually writing and not just thinking about it.

    I met Jessica Rosenberg a few years ago at a social media conference, and we talked a little bit about the book she was writing. Actually writing; not just thinking about writing. And she kept at it and kept at it until she finished. And then what did she do? She published it!

    And so I read it! In all honesty, though, I probably wouldn’t have picked “Aloha Also Means Goodbye” up if I didn’t know the author because it’s filed under “romance” and I don’t generally read romance novels. The book is definitely heavy on the lovey-dovey stuff, but with the secondary plots that explore relationships between friends and family members and coming to terms with one’s individual issues, there’s enough going on to hold a non-romance reader’s attention.

    Here’s the synopsis from Amazon:

    Jo and Jordan tied the knot five years ago in a mud hut in the middle of Zambia far from all their friends and family. Now they’re in Hawaii for a big wedding vow renewal ceremony elaborately planned by Jo’s mother. There’s just one small issue, something’s wrong with the wedding license issued in Africa and only Jo knows that she wasn’t legally married in Zambia. Enter her old flame, the man she was running from when she met Jordan. He’s on the island and with his two kids, both of whom are named after her. Coming face to face with her past, just as she’s trying to brave her future, forces Jo to make some big decisions. It might even force her to grow up. Luckily she doesn’t have to do any of it on her own; her two best friends are there to hold her hand and help her down the right path. But what path will she choose?

    Want to read it? “Aloha Also Means Goodbye” is available at Amazon. And it’s also available right here, because I have a copy to give away! Fill out the ol’ Rafflecopter to enter. Good luck!

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Reading

    What I read in January

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    januaryreadingThe Golem and the Jinni” by Helene Wecker, which I loved.

    “Life After Life” by Kate Atkinson, which was OK.

    “11/22/63” by Stephen King, which was an enjoyable and engaging read.

    “Hollow City” by Ransom Riggs, which wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be.

    “The Silver Star” by Jeanette Walls, which left me wanting more.

    “Someone Else’s Love Story: A Novel” by Joshilyn Jackson, which I kind of wished I hadn’t bothered to finish.

    “World War Z” by Max Brooks, which really made me wonder how they’d turned it into an action movie. (By writing a completely new story, that’s how.)