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Meg
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Nov 13, 2014 06:38AM
Working my way through Washington: A Life. I'm enjoying particularly how it delves into Washington's desire for legitimacy and his religiousness (or lack thereof, depending on your perspective).
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Where are you gleaning your list of biographies from? I'm looking for presidential biographies that look at their whole life, not just while in office. p.s. really excited about hearing about your journey. It's my goal for 2015 to read a book on them all.
This is a very cool idea for a group and something I've always wanted to do! Have you finished the Washington book? I'm planning on starting it soon. Do you have a list of books for each president? It might be fun to compile one for us to follow. What do you think?
Reading Washington right now. I went with Ron Chernov, Washington a life. It's a tome but it really had everything I was looking for. I'll post some of the blogs I found for book recommendations.
Lisa wrote: "Reading Washington right now. I went with Ron Chernov, Washington a life. It's a tome but it really had everything I was looking for. I'll post some of the blogs I found for book recommendations."Thanks, Lisa! How far have you made it with Chernow? I'm finishing up a novel at the moment ("Wolf Hall"), But Washington is on deck! Hopefully I can catch up and we can discuss!
I'm about 600 pages in. I had wanted to be finished by now but hopefully Fillmore and some of the other *ahem* "lesser" presidents will have less voluminous biographies to read. My plan is done with them all in a year, so got to keep a tighter schedule.
I can't imagine someone can fill 900 pages on Benjamin Harrison or good old Millard. Those will be nice breaks!
This is a great challenge group idea. My plan for the new year was to read a book on each president and, hopefully, be able to do that in one year. Glad I found this group. Your lists have already helped me plan which books I plan to read. I am finishing up a novel now but hope to start Chernow's Washington in the next week.
Welcome K! I thought it was fitting that today I reached the point that Washington gave his first State of the Union address. :)
I have some serious catching up to do. I'm only on page 143. He's just married and taken his seat in the House of Burgesses. Great stuff so far. I love the conflict between wanting power and needing to seem like you didn't want it/care about it. So different than politics and power now!
You have so much to look forward to! I've got a 100 pages left.
Since you're racing to the end, we should decide on the next few books. Let's discuss that on the other thread. Let me know your thoughts!
OH MY GOODNESS.I posted this and didn't realize that it was getting so much interest and so many comments. Thank you all so much for your interest!
I'm actually just on the inauguration myself in the Washington book. It has been like swimming through hummus but WOW I've loved it so much. Since it sounds like a lot of you are getting close to the end, I'll start a thread to discuss Washington - hope it's of interest to you guys!
Glad to have you back, Meg! I was so glad that you started this, but worried that we had lost you! I'm actually still kind of early in the Washington (about 200 in), but I will be racing to catch up with the rest of you. Luckily (when it comes to reading) I have a long commute that allows me to read on the train.
It is for that reason I am going so slow - I have no commute with my new job. But seeing how many people are interested in this challenge has definitely lit a fire under my butt. I'll be reading hard this weekend!
Do it for us, Meg!I hope the new job is going well. It better if it's cutting into your reading time!
Love that there is a group of like minded people reading about the presidents. I read George Washington by Joseph Ellis, it was pretty dry and took me forever. As a reward for finishing the book, my husband and I headed over to Mount Vernon to see his home. It's a great museum and grounds if any of you get a chance to see it.
Elisabeth, I actually live in Old Town Alexandria. Reading this book has been fascinating for me, because I'll be walking around town and historical plaques will show the names of people associated with Washington and the Revolution - a lot of them about property he owned - and it just makes it SO real! As soon as I'm done with this book I'm going back to Mount Vernon again.
Meg, I have recently moved to DC and I am enjoying seeing the history while I read it. I'm trying to plan a trip to Boston to see the Adams residences. I am not a history reader, but I decided to improve myself and learn more. Reading them in order is helping tremendously. It has been interesting encountering the founding fathers in different biographies from different perspectives. Maybe we can go see a history site together some time.
Where are you all now on your lists? I am wondering if Lisa made it through them all in one year! I am just getting started in 2016, and will NOT get them all in. I am mixing my presidential bios in between several other topics and genres, so it will take me quite a long time. I have read Chernow's Washington already, and will be starting McCullough's John Adams after my current book (Benjamin Franklin). I made my own list, based primarily on two websites that I can no longer remember, but one of them may be bestpresidentialbios.com, which I follow on Wordpress.
I am starting Jacksonland this week. I need to pick up the pace a bit. I don't think anyone in our group has made it to the twentieth century yet, but Lisa might already be there... :)
Hey Jeff. Welcome aboard! I've had to amend my original date. Now it's before election day, because I'm not adding one more person to this list! :) I'm on Woodrow now. About 100 pages from being done. Hope everybody else is enjoying the ride.
Hey Jeff. Welcome aboard! I've had to amend my original date. Now it's before election day, because I'm not adding one more person to this list! :) I'm on Woodrow now. About 100 pages from being done. Hope everybody else is enjoying the ride.
Welcome, Jeff! And good to hear from the rest of you. I am working my way through Garfield. Really enjoying the experience as a whole
Cool idea for a group -- Now to get started in earnest.
