Review 713: Abigail and John

Abigail and John: Portrait of a Marriage by Edith B. Gelles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Highly enjoyed this biography of Abigail and John Adams. The book perhaps was more of a biography of Abigail than of John.

Both Abigail Smith and John Adams came from pious backgrounds with families well established in America before the revolution. They married while John was 29 and Abigail just 19. And quickly after their marriage their lifelong habit of letter writing began, as John being a lawyer, would travel to the various colonies for work. This also established a pattern for their marriage with John being absent from home much of the time.

Since they were great letter writers and their correspondence survives, even to their numerous relatives and friends, it enables books like this. The book was not so narrow to only discuss their marriage. It is a wider biography which discusses their entire lives. Such as how John became involved with the revolution, and the long years apart while he was in Europe serving the new country while Abigail dealt with living in a revolutionary war zone, while managing a farm. During this time women did not own property or assets, yet to keep the family afloat Abigail bought land and other assets in John’s name. She even started trading goods to keep the family afloat during this time of struggle.

There is a lot of material here in the book. To note, one surprising fact is how their young boys spent many years apart from one parent or another, or often both. The family believed in Duty and their children learned the lesson well. Duty to others came before self. The youngest boy barely knew his father as John was in Europe for much of his life.

It was noticeable the author’s opinion that John Adams was not a monarchist, as many of his detractors, and historians state. She proves this several times in the book. This being the only book about him I’ve read, I cannot say, but she makes a convincing argument.

Their lives are quite detailed, until we get to the post-presidency of John Adams and near the end of their lives. Other than discussing the renewed friendship with Thomas Jefferson, the latter era is glossed over. Now I would like to read a biography of their eldest son John Quincy Adams, he had an unusual childhood.

I had this book for many years, not sure why I waited so long to read it. This year of a focus on American history finally gave me the impetus needed.

Review 694: Mrs. Benedict Arnold

Mrs. Benedict Arnold by Emma Parry
My rating: 2.75 of 5 stars

Continuing my desire for American history reading this year this book looked interesting, although it is fictionalized history. What I came away with was – I should have stuck with non-fiction.

In this book Peggy Shippen is a teenager wanting new dresses and looking forward to parties and gawking at the men. She is also smart and intelligent but that seems to take a back seat for a good portion of the book. I almost quit the book several times.

I soldiered on and when Peggy meets Benedict Arnold she is taken by him quickly and very soon they are married. The book becomes less fluffy at this point. Yet the modern language and actions started to really annoy me.

According to this book Peggy Arnold had to convince Benedict to become the traitor he become. Throughout the book Peggy laments the war, wanting it to end, and when their son is born her desire for it to end skyrockets. Thus she believed in these actions to end the war sooner than later, although for the British. Peggy didn’t seem to be much of a patriot anyway.

Thanks to Zando and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book. However, I listened to a published audiobook copy of the book.

Review 692: Angelica

Angelica: For Love and Country in a Time of Revolution by Molly Beer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This year one of my reading goals was to include more history, particularly early American history. I also wouldn’t mind to read about the women involved, and this book fit that category nicely.

Angelica Schuyler Church should be a more well known figure from the revolutionary time particularly coming from a prominent family, except women were expected to be primarily caretakers of the family, mothers and daughters. At a time when the new country was writing a constitution, some women advocated for women to not be overlooked, to be included in having a voice, but that did not happen. Instead women continued to experience the tyranny of the husband and father.

At age 20 Angelica wanted to marry John Barker Church who went by John Carter, but could not get her parents approval. Her father, General Schuyler was busy with war efforts, Carter spent ten weeks with him and still could not gain the approval. Angelica made her own “democratic vote” and eloped. Her parents were embarrassed. Yet, they remained together and the couple ended up having eight children.

Most of the book is about the history of the time, and following the timeline of Angelica’s life until she died in 1814. In 1783 the Church’s went to France as John was the U.S. envoy to France. A few years later John bought property in England and served as a member of the British Parliament until 1796. Meanwhile Angelica went to New York in 1789 to witness the swearing in of the first United States President George Washington. In 1799 they returned to America permanently and founded a town in New York and called it Angelica.

Angelica’s brother-in-law was Alexander Hamilton and she was friends with Thomas Jefferson and other important figures at the time. Without getting much longer in this, the book often veers to the history and other people. There are details of life during these years, such as how the price of butter and other goods were affected by the war. The research done is incredible. The author was born in Angelica, New York and likely was her inspiration for book.

Review 669: Inventing a Nation

Inventing a Nation: Washington, Adams, Jefferson by Gore Vidal
My rating: 2.75 of 5 stars

This year, the 250th anniversary of my county’s beginning, I want to read a few history books, particularly of the beginning era, starting with what I already have on my bookshelves. I know the basics, but the specifics have been left far behind in my school years. And despite where the country is right now (and how much I want to leave it right now), knowing history can’t be a bad idea.

But starting here may have been a bad choice. Gore Vidal did not write this book in a cohesive manner. The book was meandering and very much not linear, which caused much confusion for me. Since I’m only vaguely aware of the history this book discusses I didn’t gain very much, just bits and pieces here and there. One more familiar with the topic may get more out of it than me. Generally it describes the beginning of the nation and some contributions by three major figures of George Washington, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. There are many asides and off-topic discussions though.

One can tell this was written shortly after the September 11th tragedy, as Vidal refers to the aftermath a few times. It is that lens of where the country was this book was written.

Book rating: 2.75 stars

Review 644: The Midwife's Revolt

The Midwife's Revolt by Jodi Daynard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This historical fiction book takes place during the American Revolution. The midwife is a newly widowed woman, yet still quite young, lost her very young husband in one of the first battles of the revolution. She now has taken over their farm trying to manage and is a midwife as well.

Lizzie soon has help by Martha and has a dear friend of Abigail Adams. As the war continues, the women are mostly on their own, but not entirely. Lizzie finds herself trying to find out secrets and who is the spy in their community that has claimed two lives already. She dresses as a young man, but the brother of Martha spots her right away. Lizzie already suspected him as being a spy, or at least sympathetic to the British and not the American cause. Tension mounts, and also become romantic.

This is where the book falters a bit for me. Martha already has too much to do with keeping the farm and birthing the multitudes of babies. Funny how many there are with all the men away fighting a war. But adding the spy stuff and a budding romance does add to the plot.

The book takes place over several years and also mentions other of the important early men in American history such as John Quincy Adams, although it is the women that mostly take center stage in this book.

I had bought this and the sequel on a sale many years ago, so may as well continue. There is a third, which I do not own and will have to see how book two goes. If it gets too deep into romance I many have to ditch it.

The author's note is worthwhile to read as it explains what was invented and not. The main character here is the author's creation, but many other aspects of the book is not.

Review 618: Where the Axe Is Buried

Where the Axe Is Buried by Ray Nayler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I zipped through this book, hard a hard time putting it down. It’s a science-fiction, political, dystopian, techno book, taking place in the future (far?). A bit confusing through the first part of the book, different POVs and different technologies. At first I just wanted to get beyond the confusing part. Then I was sucked in.

This is a future where everything and everyone is watched constantly. In the free west it is for advertising purposes, in the totalitarian states it is to ensure the people are controlled. Many countries are run by A.I. Prime Ministers, and The Federation is run by a president whose consciousness gets transferred to new bodies one the old ones deteriorate. Then there are the dissidents. The book is mostly about the dissidents.

The book is a commentary on totalitarianism and artificial intelligence. Starts out with a very gloomy outlook but ends with hope and possibility.

Review 576: The Red Umbrella

The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is another freebie book from Sync some years back (2017). I did not finish the book. I listened to just under 14%, which equals to around 40 pages, not too far into the book, but I wasn’t enjoying it.

The writing is very simplistic, which this is billed as young adult sometimes it can be overlooked. I read a few reviews, both those who liked it and those who did not, and decided my reading time would be better spent with a different book and leaving this one. (I’m not good at letting a book go.)

The book starts in early May 1961. The book point of view is from a young teenager, Lucia Alvarez, her quinceanera is coming up in November. She comes from an upper-middle class family, her father is a banker. Lucia and her family are Cuban and this is during the time that Fidel Castro takes over the government.

The title of the book comes from the (embarrassingly) red umbrella Lucia’s mother carries with her all the time.

Review 563: The Ride

The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America by Kostya Kennedy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This is a short biography and history about a famous transformative night, the ride that changed everything. Paul Revere was not alone on April 18, 1775 riding out to warn that an attack was imminent by the British soldiers, but his story is the one that best known. Revere’s ride was also the most effective, where William Dawes was a bit slower, or maybe not as personable as Revere.

The book provides a small amount of biography of Paul Revere. He was named after his father who was also Paul Revere, after he changed from his French name Apollos Rivoire. Revere was a bell ringer in 1750, a teenager then and pledged himself along with several other boys to always ring the bells at Old North Church at least one evening a week for a year.

Revere was given to joining societies and at twenty-five joined the Masons, the St. Andrew’s Lodge which was formed in dissent to the elite St. John’s Lodge whose members were mostly loyal to the Crown. This group of men grew close friendships through the years and tended toward rebellion and independence through the 1760s. It was through this group that Paul Revere became the man who rode the horse on that fateful night.

It felt momentous to read this as we approach the 250 year anniversary. While I knew about Paul Revere and his ride, as we are taught as children, this book filled in many details of the man and the night. The book is somewhat narrow, but not exclusively focused on the ride. I enjoyed learning a tidbit about his many generations later descendants who have been named Paul Revere and are carrying it through the years, with the youngest now being the 4th, although the Patriot Paul Revere is his six-times great-grandfather.


I listened to this book on audio, but did not particularly enjoy the narrator. The way he had of speaking is not a style that I liked, almost like shouting but not loudly. Perhaps it is a just a quirk of mine and others will have no problem with the narrator.



Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillian Audio and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Review 541: On A Mission

On A Mission: Selected Poems and a History of the Last Poets by Abiodun Oyewole
My rating: 4.25 of 5 stars

This is mostly a book of poetry, but it is also a book of history of two of the seven men who called themselves The Last Poets. These two are the authors Umar Bin Hassan and Abiodun Oyewole.

They formed their group in New York City on May 19, 1968, at Mount Morris Park during a birthday celebration for Malcom X. The group had a purpose, a call to African Americans to revolutionize, to see the truth of themselves, to love themselves, and to have power.

The beginning of the book has several essays, including an introduction written by Kim Green. Each of the authors wrote a long essay about themselves and how they came to form the group. The rest of the book contains their poems, with an introduction to each poem about why they wrote it, or what situation or feelings formed it. I’ve never encountered this format in a book of poetry before.

Poetry itself is always hard to rate, does it speak to you? These poems are more non-fiction than most poetry. I read these poems printed on the page, but suspect hearing these out loud would be more powerful.

Review 296: I Must Betray You

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A harrowing tale of what a tyrannical government looks like, told through the eyes of a teenage boy in Romania 1989. Everyone is trapped by the “Secu” security that enforces the draconian rules of the leader, which there are many. Everything is owned by the state, including the people. They are starved, brutalized and scared into silence, and nearly everyone could be an informer.

Cristian is put into a position where he must become an informer, despite how much he despises the system. “Paddle Hands” says he will get medicine for his sick grandfather, and really Cristian doesn’t have a choice, they knew he had a US Dollar bill, illegal to own foreign currency. Besides, Cristian would do anything for Bunu, his beloved grandfather.

This is a quick read, written for teenagers, which likely will be horrified as anyone would. Yet this is based on fact, what did happen not that long ago. Perhaps it is something that is happening now in other countries, like North Korea. Isolate the people from the rest of the world, control the media, control everything, then to enforce it have informants, a network of spies by the citizens themselves. They will fear everyone and can trust no one, they will behave. Until they don’t.

When the wall comes down in Germany and Communism collapses, Christian is wondering if the world will forget about Romania, will they be left alone?

Thanks to Philomel Books/Penguin Random House and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Review 169: Independence Square

Independence Square by A.D. Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Book listed here is slightly out of order of reading. 

It was difficult getting into the book, disorientating and it nearly assumes the reader knows the politics and what happened during this moment in the Ukraine. Perhaps one familiar with the history of the Orange Revolution and what happened in Kiev in 2004-05 will have less trouble with the beginning. I remember the news of this, but not any details. 

It was a bit of a strange one for me. It felt like a spy thriller novel, but it wasn't really that at all. It was hard to understand what was going on for a while. It got slightly better when the characters were defined. It felt like a book that forgot to write the intros or something.

October 5, 2020 – Started Reading

October 8, 2020 – 

page 73

 

 32.02%

October 11, 2020 – Finished Reading

Review 75: Les Misérables

Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a book!

So much as been written about this book it's difficult to add anything new, except my own personal reading experience.

I chose to read this book via an app on my phone called Serial Reader. The app takes books out of copyright and splits them into small daily reading that takes around 10-15 minutes a day. For this long book it was split into 233 daily issues. That's roughly 8 months with this book being over 1,400 pages!

There were many days where I didn't read this book, and many days where I read several issues. A few times I got way behind, around 30 days. In late June I took a trip across the country and managed a lot of reading, perhaps reading as many as 30 issues, and still didn't quite catch up. The closer I got to the end of the daily issues being released the more I read and was able to be completely caught up for the final week.

In the book, as it must be known, there are some areas where digressions went on and on, and it seemed like a complete stop to the story. This book contains a lot of history of France. If someone knew more about French history than myself, perhaps would be easier reading during those parts. When a new character was introduced we often got very specific and detailed background information and often their parents as well. For myself, when the story connected characters, which was unknown ahead of time that was going to happen, it was very satisfying, an a-ha! moment.

While some parts tend to slow down the story, overall I found the book exciting. Yes, it is overwritten, way too many descriptors that go on and on and on and on. It is easily seen why this book is often abridged and cut down, taken to the basic aspect of the story. Yet when one reads a highly edited book you lose the overall structure and story, you lose much to where you really haven't read the book. This book is a commitment that's for sure, but when I finished I understood why there are so many movie and TV versions of the story, and why this classic will continue to live on.


Book read: Jan.30-Sept.19 2019

Review 7: Radio Free Vermont: A Fable of Resistance

Radio Free Vermont: A Fable of Resistance by Bill McKibben
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

I took this with a grain of salt, gave into the humor aspect. I'm there was serious intentions behind the book, but I viewed it as purely fantasy. Although maybe I learned a little about what it's like to live in Vermont.

This is the first book I've read by Bill McKibben and he is known and an environmentalist and non-fiction writer. I started here since it was the last book he published. Also planning on attending an event where he is speaking and wanted to finally read something by the author.

Bill McKibben books read later:

• Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out? (NonFiction)
•  (3 stars)   May.2019 
• The Bill McKibben Reader: Pieces from an Active Life (NonFiction)
• (4 stars) Feb.-April.2019
• The End of Nature  (NonFiction)
•  (5 stars)   Jan-Feb.2019 

Book Review 1: Long Walk to Freedom

I like the idea of posting book reviews: books I've read recently or some that I read some time ago. I had a small web page many years ago, and had some book reviews there as well. I thought I'd start with one of my old reviews, since I find this a meaningful book to read. I haven't looked lately, but I hope there is a sequel. I read this book in 1995 and wrote the review in 1999.

Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela
By Nelson Mandella
This book, the autobiography of Nelson Mandella, is just amazing to me that it exists. It is an incredible story of overcoming many hardships. Mandella starts from his early beginning, birth, then ends up at the time of when South Africa first becomes a democratic nation. Nelson Mandella’s story is truly remarkable.

Nelson Mandella’s life is discussed in detail. How he came to understand his position in his own country, takes part in the beginning of the book. He was the first black man to be a lawyer in Johannesburg. Then his political realizations, came along. Mandella makes his life sound as if he just fell into the leadership role. His partner in law practice, Oliver Tambo, surely helped tremendously to bringing international fame to Mandella. His fame peaked the last time he was in jail.

As Mandella became more and more involved in the ANC, African National Congress, he became a leader, and this was very early on. Mandella writes of the protests they planned and carried out and how their movement grew. Mandella is up front with conflicts that arose between members and also when a new political body arose, PAC, which conflicted very much with the ANC. But Mandella is very subdued in writing about the actual harsh brutality that existed in South Africa. He minimized many things and instead focused on just plain facts or who was saying exactly what, and this makes the book occasionally a bit dry. Nelson seems to be continuously apologizing to his family, his very large family. He repeatedly states that he felt his duty was more to his whole country than just his family. I’m sure he feels sorrow in not ever spending enough time with his wives or children. Also he spent 27 continuous years in jail. That must have made it difficult to be a family man! But before he was in jail for that final long stint, he wasn’t home much at all, due to his political involvements – living for a short time underground and for awhile traveling to get support for the ANC and to try stationing a base of any army of sorts.

The book gives some insight in South African culture and tribal ways, since Mandella started his life believing in those things, since that was how he was raised. The main focus to the book is how South Africa slowly became a democratic, free, nation, which was what he dedicated his life to developing.

The last chapters quickly come to the conclusion of the apartheid’s fall. He details a lot of meetings, but I felt some real substance was missing. The ending almost seemed like a flop, when it should be such joy and celebration. But, as I said earlier, his writing is subdued. The book doesn’t discuss any of the new South Africa with him as it’s leader. Really quite amazing to me. Today they have a long road ahead.

Overall it is a very good book, especially if you want to know something about South Africa’s past leader and how South Africa became a free democratic country.