It’s been months since I posted about reading. And while I spent a lot of time on one book, I’ve read a bunch since then.
Team of Rivals was a wonderful book. Doris Kearns Goodwin writes about Abraham Lincoln and the cabinet he created, including several men who were ostensibly his enemies. Lincoln had a rare gift that politicians today don’t seem to have: He didn’t take things personally and he really didn’t hold any grudges. He looked at the ability of someone to do the job he wanted — not whether the person liked him or would be useful at some point. Salmon Chase was a perfect example. After years of trying (not very successfully) to undermine Lincoln in a variety of ways, Chase finally decided to leave his position in the White House (he threatened quitting a number of times to get what he wanted and Lincoln always took him back). By this time, Lincoln was done with Chase and agreed with him that leaving was best. But despite everything Chase had done over the years, Lincoln felt Chase was the best man to lead the Supreme Court and quite cheerfully nominated him for the position. I think that’s why I’m so apathetic about politics today; we don’t have people of that caliber running for the White House.
My interest in the Civil War having been renewed with this book, I had plans to read Shelby Foote’s well-regarded three-volume history of the Civil War. But Team of Rivals took me a month to read, and I found I really needed a break after all that death and destruction. So I started re-reading the Amelia Peabody series of mysteries. The books, by Elizabeth Peters, follow Amelia Peabody, her archaeologist husband Emerson and their rambunctious son Ramses; the stories begin in the late 19th century. There are now 18 books in the series, and I happily discovered I’m three books behind. A great excuse to buy more books! They are easy reads; it’s like comfort food for my brain.
It’s going to take me awhile to get through all those and I may take some quick breaks for other things. I snuck in Atonement a couple of weeks ago, which I really enjoyed. And I’m glad I read the book; the movie can’t possibly be as good.
So — what are you reading?
I saw Atonement at the cinema, but haven’t read the book yet. I really enjoyed the film, though it seemed slightly in love with itself.
The movie of Atonement was pretty faithful to the book, and was really pretty good!
I am slowly working my way through the Amelia Peabody series for the first time! Love them.
PJ — You should read the book; I’d never read Ian McEwan and I really enjoyed it.
Marg — So glad you are discovering the Amelia Peabody stories! I hate to think about the time when the series ends.