We've lost another good one

Today the world's a bit poorer than it was yesterday.

Ted Sorensen, aide to John F. Kennedy, has died.

I believe he was a good human. I know he was a marvelous writer.

I love a campaign

The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama’s Historic Victory by David Plouffe

Maybe it was growing up in Iowa that did it.

I can’t resist political campaign memoirs. I love, love, love them.*

And this one is fantabulous.

David Plouffe was Barack Obama’s campaign manager, and he’s got a great story to tell.

The first part of the book is the lead-up to the Iowa caucus, and it reads like a love letter to my home state.

And it was only then that the story really picked up… Of course, we know how it ends, but this book tells us what plans were being hatched (and foiled) to produce those results.

One of my absolute favorite lines from the book is this one, and I intend to borrow it for frequent use: “Something funky clearly happened here.” (p. 150)

That was a quote from David Axelrod, speaking with Obama after receiving the surprising results of the New Hampshire primary. For some reason, this line completely cracks me up. Though I realize it wasn’t funny to those present at the time.

Plouffe writes well, and he captures the moments that made the Obama campaign the phenomenon that it was. Even as he describes the lack of glamour—the sleep deprivation, the run-down hotels, the distance from family, the omnipresent concern about blindsiding political attacks—the very intensity of the campaign absolutely seems… glamorous.

Perhaps the appeal of these books is like the appeal of those scaling-Everest memoirs. Someone’s got to do it. Glad it ain’t me, but dang, it’s thrilling to read about.

Here’s the guy himself, in one of the minimalistic videos (described by one of his friends as resembling hostage videos) that provided updates to the campaign’s volunteers:

* Other rip-roaring good campaign memoirs: All’s Fair: Love, War, and Running for President by Mary Matalin and James Carville, and All Too Human by George Stephanopoulos

Hey! Election day is Tuesday! Set your alarm clock just a little early, and go vote, dear people.

Booking Through Thursday: Skeletons

From Booking Through Thursday, here's the question of the week:

In honor of Halloween this weekend:

What reading skeletons do you have in your closet? Books you’d be ashamed to let people know you love? Addiction to the worst kind of (fill in cheesy genre here)? Your old collection of Bobbsey Twin Mysteries lovingly stored behind your “grown-up” books? You get the picture … come on, confess!

Well, anyone who's hung around here for half a minute already knows I'm pretty darn shameless and unapologetic about what I read and what I've read.

For example, my Nancy Drew roots are frequently on full display. (Trixie Belden's in that photo, too.)

I also have fessed up that I have a sordid history (which continues to this day) of reading sensationalist celebrity biographies and "the-nanny-tells-all!" books.

This next thing is also something I've admitted.

But never before has there been photographic evidence.

And I. Do. Not. Apologize!

I visit the seamy side

Get Capone: The Secret Plot that Captured America’s Most Wanted Gangster by Jonathan Eig

From page 1, this book grabbed me. Here’s what did it: the writing style.

Eig’s writing is positively fun to read. He makes the reading effortless (which probably is tough to do on the writing side of things).

And his writing is smart—he uses great turns of phrase and has wonderfully understated comic timing.

Here’s a sample: “As much as any Chicagoan, Sbarbaro embodied the city’s love-hate relationship with bootleggers. He held two jobs—one as an assistant state’s attorney, the other as a funeral home director—so that when he wasn’t putting gangsters in jail, he was putting them in coffins.” (p. 48)

Not only is the writing snappy, but the skillful characterizations bring the bad guys, the good guys, and all of the in-between guys, vividly to life.

Based on the title, I expected this book to focus solely on the plot to take down Capone, but happily, it also provides plenty of background about his rise to power. And the whole thing—the rise, the fall—all of it is captivating and seemingly too strange to be true.

Along the way, I grew wildly fond of the quiet, careful (and Iowa-born!) U.S. Attorney George E.Q. Johnson, whose work eventually led to Capone’s imprisonment for income tax evasion. The author had access to Johnson’s papers, which provided a wealth of detail and insight.

The other fascinating part of this book is the contention that the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre was not ordered by Capone, but was instead planned and carried out by William “Three-Fingered Jack” White in retaliation for his cousin’s murder. Eig makes a good case, methinks.

Here’s my ringing endorsement of this book:

I nearly always get creeped out by true crime books, so usually you wouldn’t hear me going, “Great! Gangland killings! Let me read on!”

But I could not put this book down.

Here’s the trailer:

Best novel of the year

Bliss, Remembered by Frank Deford

Bliss, Remembered is everything a novel should be.

That’s what I thought, about halfway through.

And then. It. Got. Even. Better.

I swear to you, this is a gorgeous book.

It’s a story of long-lost love, recounted by a wonderfully vibrant octogenarian, and by her middle-aged son whose narrative frames his mother’s story (and whose relationship with his mom is utterly charming).

And there are Olympic swimmers and Nazis. OK, are you sold yet?

Sydney (that’s the mom), who is dying of cancer, calls her son Teddy to stay with her for a while. And she begins to tell him about part of her life that she has kept secret for 60 years.

In 1936, she was on the swimming team that competed in the Berlin Olympics. And while she was there (here comes the secret part)… she met a man. An utterly gorgeous and smart and charming young man named Horst. And they fell in love.

(Poor Teddy had never heard of this dude, and it’s wonderful how he inwardly resents the guy for competing with his father—whom his mom had not yet even met!—for his mom’s affection. Makes me smile.)

Of course, Syndey couldn’t stay in Germany, and Horst couldn’t leave Germany (compulsory military service and all), so it was a long-distance affair for quite some while. And then he wrote her a letter. And that was the end of that.

And then Sydney met the young and talented Jimmy in New York, and eventually he won her over, and eventually they were married. And they had a good life. They did. And she still buys flowers on the anniversary of his death, and it’s clear that she adored her husband.

But as she talks about Horst, it is “bliss, remembered.”

And this book just is so darn good.

At first, it reminded me of Penelope Lively’s Moon Tiger and Susan Minot’s Evening, both of which are novels in which a dying woman recalls the one great love of her life. But those books are told through more of a haze, while this book is crisp. And there’s a pert tone to Sydney’s narration; she ain’t dead yet.

And her story has become my new favoritest book of the year.

Read-a-Thon: Calling it a night

It's Hour 19, I've just finished my 4th book of the day (night!), and I'm headed off to bed. These are some tired eyes.

Today I read:

Austenland by Shannon Hale

Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Schooled by Gordon Korman

Deadlines Past by Walter R. Mears

Excellent Read-a-Thon!

The Final Stats:

Books read: 4
Hours read: 12
Pages read: 1084

Where I've read since the last update: recliner

What I've consumed since the last update: more water, muffin

What else I've done: read some blogs, checked the Read-a-Thon web site

Read-a-Thon: I'm a winner!

... A randomly chosen winner. : )

And I'm happy!

My Mid-Event Meme entry was randomly selected, and I got to choose a prize from a really nice list of books and book-ish stuff.

This is so exciting. I mean, it really, really is.

OK. Back to the book...

Read-a-Thon: Book 4 selected

For Book 4 --

Finally settled on Deadlines Past: Forty Years of Presidential Campaigning: A Reporter's Story by Walter R. Mears

Other books were either not looking interesting enough to read straight through. And yet other books looked too interesting to read straight through. (I tend not to read this way on normal days! I've usually got 5-7 books in progress, and I savor them.)

So-- I'm about 1/3 of the way through Deadlines Past, and it's quite entertaining. Educational, too, because I'm not that familiar with the campaigns of those who didn't win. And there are some crazy-good anecdotes. Take this, for example:

"In Milwaukee, a woman threw a glass of whiskey in Kennedy's face as he rode in the motorcade. Then she tossed the glass into his car. Kennedy wiped his face off and picked the tumbler up. 'Here's your glass,' he said, and handed it to her." (p. 10)

This is one of the reasons I adore JFK: the man had a certain grace, and besides that, he was quick with a comeback.

Here are the numbers:

Books read: 3
Hours read: 10
Pages read: 818

Where I've read since the last update: kitchen table, ugly recliner

What I've consumed since the last update: red pepper pasta, carrots, 2 glasses of water, pita, baba ghanoush

What else I've done: eaten dinner; done 2 mini-challenges; watched an episode of Community

Read-a-Thon: Wordle!

Hello, good people. I've just emerged from my book to check things out. During Hour 15, there was a Wordle Review Mini-Challenge, so I pulled a Read-a-Thon review and Wordled it:

I think I kind of like it.

Read-a-Thon: Mid-Event Meme

Here's the Mid-Event Meme. My answers are in italics.

1. What are you reading right now?

I'm between books at the moment. And I have 2 possibilities at hand...

2. How many books have you read so far?

Three!

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

Answering this question is tricky. Last time I was all excited about a book that I wasn't in the mood for by the end of the Read-a-Thon. Maybe Talking about Detective Fiction by P.D. James.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

Nope. Just put it on the schedule months ago.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

Yes. 

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

The sheer decadence of it. I feel like I'm on vacation.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

Nope.

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

Line up more books. Even though I started with a bunch, usually I need at least 30 books to choose from.

9. Are you getting tired yet?

Yes, but I'm revived since removing my contacts.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

The best tip I heard was: Include a children's or young adult book. I second that! I also recommend some flexibility -- if the phone or doorbell rings, answer it!

Read-a-Thon: 3rd book finished

We're at the halfway point! And I've just finished Book 3: Schooled by Gordon Korman.

I gotta tell you: I'm glad I took another blogger's advice about reading a children's book during the 'Thon. The reading is fast and it's fun.

Books read: 3
Hours read: 8.25
Pages read: 692

Where I've read since the last update: ugly recliner

What I've consumed since the last update: cookie! and a glass of water

What else I've done: not a doggone thing--I've been a reading machine

Read-a-Thon: 2nd book finished

This just in: I've finished my second book of the day. And it's Hour 11.

I swear, my progress has not been impressive this time 'round.

But I'm enjoying my reading, so there's that.

Next book up: Schooled by Gordon Korman. (I love Gordon Korman.)

Books read: 2

Hours read: 7
Pages read: 484

Where I've read since the last update: rocking chair; ugly recliner

What I've consumed since the last update: 2 glasses of water; almonds

What else I've done: visited some book blogs; visited Read-a-Thon central command

Read-a-Thon: The real eating begins

It's Hour 9, and I'm a little over halfway through Wait Till Next Year. I keep liking it more and more.

I'm also eating like a horse.

Just returned from the little cafe a few blocks away, where I had a chocolate chip/raspberry muffin and a cappuccino.

I walked down there, and it was nice to get some fresh air. Did some alfresco reading and then headed home.

Life is good.

Books read: guess what? One!
Hours read: 5.75
Pages read: 374

Where I've read since the last update: rocking chair; stairs; kitchen table; cafe

What I've consumed since the last update: that muffin and cappuccino up there

What else I've done: walked to cafe; checked The Face; visited some book blogs

Read-a-Thon: Back on track

My Read-a-Thon has resumed forward motion.

Wait Till Next Year (by the incomparable Doris Kearns Goodwin) is making me smile. So glad I saved it for today's reading! It's like hanging out with Doris, which is never a bad thing.

Here's a video of Goodwin being interviewed by Charlie Rose, which I won't make time to watch today, but definitely will check out soon.

And I ate lunch, and that was good. (Got suddenly ravenous.)

Books read: still 1
Hours read: 3.5
Pages read: 280

Where I've read since the last update: comfy pretty little chair

What I've consumed since the last update: carrots; baba ghanoush; pita; tofu/sweet potato/spinach curry with rice (see photo); 2 glasses of water

What else I've done: checked Read-a-Thon mission control

Read-a-Thon: Bailed on the book

OK. The Hilliker Curse (the James Ellroy book) is officially too grim for me. I was getting creeped out, so I bailed at page 30.

Then had a really great chat with a friend, and now am heading into a different book: Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

I'm a big fan of Doris. This book is about baseball (which thrills me not), but also about her relationship with her dad (which negates the baseball).

Prepare to be underwhelmed by these stats:

Books read: still 1
Hours read: 3
Pages read: 223

Where I've read since the last update: small comfy chair; standing up (a sign of my unease with the Ellroy book?)

What I've consumed since the last update: not a darn thing

What else I've done: chatted on the phone with a friend; done the Show Me the Books mini-challenge; done the facebook thing

Read-a-Thon: 1st book finished

We're in Hour 4, and I'm finished reading my first book of the Read-a-Thon.

Austenland by Shannon Hale was a great book to start the day: sprightly tone and a very nice romantic comedy.

Now that I'm fully caffeinated, I'm heading for grimmer territory: a James Ellroy book. I've got his new memoir, The Hilliker Curse, lined up next.

Here are today's stats thus far:

Books read: 1
Hours read: 2.5
Pages read: 193

Where I've read since the last update: kitchen table; comfy, ugly recliner

What I've consumed since the last update: breakfast! oatmeal with walnuts and raisins; 2 (3?) cups of coffee; 1 glass of water

What else I've done: Visited facebook; done the Indie Mini-Challenge; visited some book blogs

Read-a-Thon: Pajama Post

It's 7 a.m., and I am reading!

Actually, I'm not.

I'm sitting here in my pj's, with Book One at hand.

While lying in bed, avoiding the inevitable (guess who ain't a morning person?) I chose Austenland by Shannon Hale as my first book of the day. I'll open it to page 1 as I brew the coffee. (Multi-tasking while reading is a necessary skill.)

Here's my "I'll do whatever I darn well choose" disclaimer:

Any book I'm not in the mood for, will be set aside mercilessly.

Now... here I go!

Left-handed compliments

The Left-Hander Syndrome: The Causes and Consequences of Left-Handedness by Stanley Coren

Left-handed people make up 13% of the population, according to this book (which is filled with all kinds of fascinating facts about that 13%).

Yes, lefties are relatively rare, and, yes, they are Interesting. I've long wanted to be one.

So when some left-handers got born into our family (which had always been a passel of righties), I was so darn excited I nearly passed out when each one first picked up a jumbo crayon in that tiny little left hand.

And when I saw the Blue Angels signing autographs after a recent airshow, I gasped: “Three of them are left-handed!” That’s 50% of the demonstration pilots, and that’s a little freaky.

Which is why you just gotta love the left-handed persons of the world. They are interesting! Just watch them write their name: Interesting.

Coren asserts that “left-handers tend to be more extreme in their overall abilities” (p. 177). So the Blue Angels southpaws are an example of the positive extreme (over-achievement), but research has also shown that left-handers experience higher rates of learning disabilities.

Continuing with the bad news, this book also contends that left-handedness leads to shorter lifespans, probably due to the dangers faced by lefties living in this right-hander-oriented world.

Even books—books!—are geared toward the right-handed. (I confess I never thought about that ever before. But now I see it’s true.)

The unfortunate lefties face prejudice and corrective action and computer mice made for right-handed people. It’s rough.

So let's get back to the over-achievers, shall we?

Beyond the Blue Angels pilots (fascinating!) there are many, many notable lefties, including several U.S. presidents*, two of whom were mentioned in the book: Ford and Reagan. And the author contends that Ford’s infamous mishap on the steps of Air Force One (which can be viewed on YouTube, but I can’t bring myself to link to the video) was due to his left-handedness. (An intriguing thing to ponder.)

And recently there's been a whole smattering of left-handers in the White House. In fact, we've got one now.

Does anyone else think this stuff is just the best?

There may be those out there who are thinking: This whole post ain't nothing but a ruse for more Blue Angels talk, with a photo, no less. I will neither confirm nor deny this allegation. (Just be glad I spared you more photos; this post almost was like this: "Here's one of them--a known leftie--waving (or signaling?) with his right hand!")

Oh, hell, here goes:

* The presidential lefties: Obama, Clinton, Bush 41, Reagan, Ford, Truman (love him!), Hoover, and Garfield

Piling on the books...

Read-a-Thon, you're coming up fast, and I am ready for you.

Just like that cute little logo up there, I got me my own pile-o-books, and I'm gonna read some of them. Around the clock.

Visit me here on Saturday, October 9. There is guaranteed to be talk of eyestrain, heavy water consumption (not sure what that's about, but it's gonna happen), and way too many snacks.

Bring it on!

Thomas Jefferson, I am perplexed by you. And vaguely vexed, too.

Thomas Jefferson by R. B. Bernstein

Here’s the thing: Jefferson is complicated.

And I think that’s behind the reason this book has been described as the best short biography of Jefferson. This book is remarkable in its balanced view of the man.

It just places the information there for the reader to evaluate. I appreciate an author who respects his readers enough to do that.

So, this here reader decided to get all snarky about old T. J. It really isn’t very responsible of me.

Because here’s the other thing: I’d be happy if I could really like Thomas Jefferson. But I just can’t do it.

Here’s how I try to convince myself.

I say: He was bookish! Developed a cataloging system and sold his books to the Library of Congress, for Pete’s sake!

I say: He loved learning and was brilliant! Was instrumental in the founding of the University of Virginia. Was a supporter of public higher education. Invented stuff and designed a beautiful home!

I say: He was all about the separation of church and state!

I say: I sort of get a kick out of the fact that he kept pulling a “You cannot have the Mango” act and then kept returning to seek political office anyway.

I say: How about that Louisiana Purchase?

I say: He wrote the Declaration of Independence!

Isn’t that enough?

But then I think these thoughts: Slavery. Hypocrisy. Sally Hemings and the children he fathered with her. Sexism. Debt (he had to sell his books for the money).

And that’s when I start to get all snarly and ornery.

This is one complex situation, and that’s all there is to it.

So here’s the thing: I know Jefferson was hugely important to our nation’s history. I honor and respect his contributions.

But I still don’t exactly like him.*

But I did like this book!

In addition to its fine-tuned sense of balance, the other outstanding feature of this book is that the author provides just enough background information (without ever seeming condescending) to provide context to a reader who is not well-versed in the early 19th century. (That would be me.)

Wonderful biography. I'm really glad I selected this biography of Jefferson, because I feel like it was truly an even-handed treatment. Anything different would have felt like it either glorified him or focused too much on his flaws.

So -- any negative tone you're picking up here is just me being irritable because there's so much about Jefferson to admire, yet not.

* It makes completely no sense, particularly since JFK was a philanderer, but I still am fascinated by—and, yes, I admire—him. Why’s he get a free pass, while poor Jefferson gets put in the penalty box? Besides the ugly slavery stuff, I think it might be a personality thing. I really don’t know. I’m an odd one; there’s no way around it.

Also, there's this thing going around now with people angry at Jefferson because apparently he wasn't religious enough for their tastes. That's not why I'm ornery about him, though. There are just too many reasons to have mixed feelings about this dude.

Again, I'll say: Complicated!