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Truman -- next chunky read
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Amy
(last edited Nov 22, 2010 03:48PM)
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Nov 22, 2010 03:47PM
I'll be reading Truman on my Kindle so I'm not getting the full affect of it's chunkiness. In a way I'm a little saddened by that since I've always liked the feel of a heavy book and the sense of accomplishment that comes with it when you get to the end. But, I'll be very happy with Truman on my kindle when I have to travel during the holidays. I've travelled before with some of the books from the Outlander series and I think my family thought I was reading a dictionary. At least I won't get the "good god, what are you reading?" look from the people around me. And, I know you all know that look. Anyone who loves a good chunky book knows it well. :)
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I put one on hold at the library but am thinking about getting the Kindle one cos I am such a baby about holding big fat books these days. (I get stupid hand spasms and cramps from my stupid diabetic nueropathy) Anyway, saw a show on Truman on the History Channel and I so totally enjoyed it. He seemed like such a nice, country boy. Hard to believe someone so NICE could be a President.
Yeah, Carter also comes to mind. I'm dying to read about him.
I don't know if Carter was as nice as we think he was. ...but Truman seemed a very humble soul.
Why do you say that Marialyce? I have to say I've not read anything about Carter, and I was a kid when he was in office, but I figure anyone who is still working to build homes for the poor has to have a big heart.
My uncle was on his secret service detail and said that he was extremely cheap, and very impressed with his power. He made sure that everyone called him Mr. President even his closest aides. He also made sure that everything was done according to how he wanted it and was quite put out when things did not go according to his wishes. He also said that Rosalind had a drinking problem.Of all the presidents he detailed for he liked Ronald Reagan the best and said he certainly was a man of the people who had no illusions about who he was and what he represented.
Hmm that doesn't jive with anything I've ever known or felt about Carter. It really will be interesting to read more about them. I'm interested in both Carter and Reagan.
I read a novel that Carter wrote. It is called the Hornet's Nest. It was the first novel written by a president. It was terrific, in case you run out of reading material!
Thanks, Meg. I will have to try that one. My uncle really did have the most fabulous stories about being in the secret service. He had some whoppers about Johnson!!!
Can't wait to read about them!I can tell you about Nixon though. He lived in our town for a while, and my kids trick/treated at his house. He gave out an autographed pen and english toffee.
Hmm, don't know if the kids were impressed with that!!! For ten years, we had a soap opera star living across the street from us. He and his partner gave out white helium balloons with a full size candy bar attached. Needless to say, his house was a big favorite stopping place.
So, something cool my brother is doing that is sort of related to the whole "Truman" topic: he had some friends who came up with the idea of "new decade resolutions" -- like New Year's Resolutions except bigger projects that might take years to complete. Like learning a foreign language or getting out of debt etc. Technically the decade starts in 2011 but he started his in 2010. Anyway, he's reading a biography of every president in order as one of his NDRs. He figures one per quarter is about 10 years and lets him read plenty of other stuff between. Anyway, a decade-long reading project is kind of a cool idea, no?
I think it's wonderful. I salute him! How old is he?
I never calculated that it would take me 10 years, but, except for the in order part, I think I'm on that page. I'm excited about the American History aspect and will intersperse Tera's now life long Presidential challenge with other non-fiction, and, of course, my fiction reads. 10 years? Egads!
Laura wrote: "I think it's wonderful. I salute him! How old is he?"He's 42. I'm already working on my NDR project list (all areas of life, not just reading) but I'm not sure what the reading one will be yet.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "I never calculated that it would take me 10 years, but, except for the in order part, I think I'm on that page. I'm excited about the American History aspect and will intersperse Tera's now life lo..."Well, he started out at thinking a decade but he's actually already almost to Lincoln so I'm betting he'll finish it in just a few years. Although my grandfather had a signed copy of Sandburg's four-volume biography of Lincoln so that is what my brother is reading for him-- that one may take awhile.
How about that. Me too! I think it's awesome to have ten year resolutions, and what a terrific one.
Laura wrote: "How about that. Me too! I think it's awesome to have ten year resolutions, and what a terrific one."He says its actually proving more effective to read them in order than randomly-- because you get a lot of context and each one sets up the next. He's reading the "definitive" bio of each in most cases although I think sometimes that may be hard to identify. I wonder how he hit upon that particular subject. I'll have to ask him.
I'm dying to know how he's choosing that "definitive" bio. I'm trying to do the same, but it's not always easy. How many has he read so far?
He was up to Buchanan last time I checked.
Hello all - I'll be joining in on this read also. I just ordered my book today - I was surprised that the library didn't have it. I decided to include 2 president biographies each year in my reading plan, so looks like this will be one. Looking forward to a good read and discussion.
I think a 10 year plan is awesome. It would be interesting to see his reading list and rating for his biographies so far. I think we are all jumping on the Presidential band wagon
I think in true sisterlike fashion it's time for me to send him a "see what you started?" email.... ;-)
I would love to see the list of titles he's read and enjoyed, Jennifer, if it's not too much trouble. The Presidential Challenge thread would be a great place for it too.
Marialyce wrote: "Thanks, Meg. I will have to try that one. My uncle really did have the most fabulous stories about being in the secret service. He had some whoppers about Johnson!!!"Ug, Johnson, the shame of Texas. I still feel sorry for poor Ladybird.
The word "pig" comes to mind, Leslie.
Marialyce wrote: "The word "pig" comes to mind, Leslie."Oh, yeah. (shudder) I read an unauthorized bio of her that started out as authorized, but the writer and she parted ways over HIM. The writer claimed Ladybird J. wouldn't speak of his more, naughty, behaviors at all. She almost implied that there was some kind of deal made between her and him to never speak of it and to put up with it nicely so you can be a first lady and I can have a respectable wife. So sad.
I am always interested in the life of author's I read so I found this about David McCullough.Born to Christian Hax and Ruth McCullough, McCullough was educated at Linden Avenue Grade School and Shady Side Academy, in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of four sons, McCullough had a "marvelous" childhood with a wide range of interests, including sports and drawing cartoons. McCullough's parents and his grandmother, who read to him often, introduced him to books at an early age. His parents talked openly about history, a topic he feels should be discussed more often. McCullough "loved school, every day"; he contemplated many career choices ranging from architect, actor, painter, writer, lawyer, and even attending medical school.
In 1951, McCullough began attending classes at Yale University. He believed that it was a "privilege" to study English at Yale because of the faculty that included John O'Hara, John Hersey, Robert Penn Warren, and Brendan Gill. He occasionally ate lunch with Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and playwright Thornton Wilder. While at Yale, he became a member of Skull and Bones. He served apprenticeships at Time, Life, the United States Information Agency, and American Heritage., where he found enjoyment in research. "Once I discovered the endless fascination of doing the research and of doing the writing, I knew I had found what I wanted to do in my life." While attending Yale, McCullough studied Arts and achieved his Bachelor's degree in English, with the intention of becoming a fiction writer or playwright. He graduated with honors in English literature (1955). (found In wikipedia)
I also loved this quote from him."People often ask me if I'm working on a book. That's not how I feel. I feel like I work in a book. It's like putting myself under a spell. And this spell, if you will, is so real to me that if I have to leave my work for a few days, I have to work myself back into the spell when I come back. It's almost like hypnosis."
I just picked up my copy from the library, so I will be reading along with you, at least for awhile. It is due back in 3 weeks, so I'm hoping that no one else will want it so that I can renew.
Laura wrote: "The home in slide four is gorgeous, isn't it? Thx for that link, Meg. I just got my copy yesterday.....99 cents and it still smells new!"What? 99 cents? How? Where?
Joanne wrote: "I just picked up my copy from the library, so I will be reading along with you, at least for awhile. It is due back in 3 weeks, so I'm hoping that no one else will want it so that I can renew."I borrowed a copy on my husband's library card, too. So, I have two copies due at different times. That way if I have to return a copy I have another. Also, I can always request another one and have it before the other is due.
Laura wrote: "I would love to see the list of titles he's read and enjoyed, Jennifer, if it's not too much trouble. The Presidential Challenge thread would be a great place for it too."He sent it to me: here it is--
"Sure - I read a rather disappointing bio of GW by Ellis, then
McCullough's John Adams, and R. B. Bernstein's Jefferson
After Jefferson, I resolved to read 'the definitive bios' (to the
extent that's agreed upon) unless I had a compelling reason not to
(e.g. my desire to read Sandberg's Lincoln)
So then I read Ketchum's Madison, Harry Ammon's Monroe, Paul Nagel's
JQ Adams, Remini's 3 volume Jackson (there's also a 1vol condensed
version) and now I'm reading Niven's Van Buren.
Best of the lot so far has been McCullough's Adams and Remini's
Jackson series. Nagel's JQA and Ammon's Monroe were quite good as
well. The MVB bio I'm readin now was rather plodding for the first 20
pages but is now very interesting.
I should add I've purchased Cleaves' Harrison bio and Chitwood's Tyler
but haven't gotten there yet."
Leslie wrote: "Laura wrote: "The home in slide four is gorgeous, isn't it? Thx for that link, Meg. I just got my copy yesterday.....99 cents and it still smells new!"What? 99 cents? How? Where?"
Amazon Marketplace. It was in like new condition!
Jennifer wrote: "Laura wrote: "I would love to see the list of titles he's read and enjoyed, Jennifer, if it's not too much trouble. The Presidential Challenge thread would be a great place for it too."He sent it..."
Thank you so much Jennifer! I'm in the middle of that Ellis bio on GW and I agree. It is disappointing. Not horrible, but I feel like it could be much better. It's great to have a direction to look toward, thanks.
I got it from amazon marketplace too, it was about $3 and it was new. Love a bargain!
I am enjoying this already so far. I have only read the first 4 chapters but am finding it hard to put down.I was excited about the reference to John Brown since I have read Cloudsplitter. Meg did you enjoy that too?
I really feel like Mcullough makes history as you read a vibrant and engaging experience.
Good to hear Rebecca, I am holding off tomorrow. I am glad that you are enjoying this big book!
Yes Rebecca, I was really happy to read the connection. It seems quite a few of our chunkies were around the same time period.I love the way McCullough writes.
I got the Truman book from our library yesterday, so I hope to get to be involved with this chunky read this time. Plus, as an added bonus, I am taking a U.S. history class (1877-current) starting in January, so if I have to write a paper on someone, I already have my subject. :)Meg, I also love the way McCullough writes.
Super Dolly! Glad this will cover your topic for your paper too!
I went to the Truman Home & Presidential Library & Museuma few years ago. My sister-in-law & I love historical places and touring old homes. It was wonderful & we could have stayed in the museum all day. I don't know if you already have these listed somewhere else. If so, sorry for the duplication.
HST home http://www.nps.gov/hstr/index.htm
HST library http://www.trumanlibrary.org/
No, Martha, they weren't, and thank you so much for posting them. Welcome too! :)Wonderful snapshots of his home!
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