First Family

Our book discussion group has been reading "First Family: Abigail and John" by Joseph J. Ellis. Ellis uses the correspondence between John Adams and his wife Abigail to tell their story of American Revolution and its affects on their family. One statistic that stood out to me was that they were more apart during their marriage than they were together, and not because they were uninterested in each other, but because he was devoted to his role in the revolution, and would sacrifice anything to making The United States of America survive, even though it wasn't called that yet. He sacrificed his own personal happiness, the security of his wife, and the emotional stability of his children. We are unable to imagine his conflicts today, and yes, he was an ambitious man, but he knew what was at stake. His moves in the political arena were unselfish, and courageous. This book made me more interested in John Adams and has made me curious to read an entire book of his correspondence.  

A Bitch in a Bonnet

Well, if you haven't had enough Jane Austen I was told to check out this blog by author Robert Rodi. A tongue-in-cheek chapter by chapter of the novels with new insights. Very funny. I am going to check this out and get back with you on it. Look over the link in the title to the blog and also to the author's personal website. It is amazing what writer's can do, that is what I am in awe of. I get totally involved with the writer's style, his sense of wording, all the unique writing that I come across, just when you think it can't get any better, it does. I like to read the New York Times just for that reason, some of the best authors, just how their minds work. If I read something more than once, which I do a lot it is because I am so impressed by the way its been written. I finished Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld, and I have the audio book being read by Julie Retsina and now I am listening to it all over again after I read the book. There are 15 discs, so it is read slowly so it can be fully taken in. I do like to read books over again and savor the words, the thoughts and the actions of the characters. I wanted to read this book most because of all the awards the book was given. I have her next book on my to-be-read pile, The Man of My Dreams. I am expecting Ms. Sittenfeld to write about a more mature woman, early twenties as she searches for love. Although Prep's main character, Lee Fiona, seemed not to mature in her four years of high school, I thought the introspective, highly personal voice to be true to life for a girl from Indiana finding her way to the stage of a prep school in Massachusetts, with much more mature students, coming from lives with greater privileges and more world travel. I will see how I like her next novel. The film rights to the first novel have been sold, so I wonder when that will ever happen. Hopefully not too far in the future.