I decided to read this book after it being on the backlog for many years, with a new movie coming out as said now would be the time to read it and theI decided to read this book after it being on the backlog for many years, with a new movie coming out as said now would be the time to read it and then go watch the movie with my wife. I loved how she was a righteous character who wanted to do it was right And how she was introduced to Dorothy. I enjoy the geography in the backstory getting to understand a little better. Frankly, I would read it again. It’s just the right level of fantasy for me....more
I read this book as I started to allow myself to write blue songs as it means of giving the dark parts of the pandemic, a place to live, outside of myI read this book as I started to allow myself to write blue songs as it means of giving the dark parts of the pandemic, a place to live, outside of my brain, resting peacefully in art form. I enjoyed this book both for how it made me laugh out loud a couple of times, And because I remember living in Maine and hearing about Steven King‘s car accident in the 90s, but also taking his advice on writing I took copious notes and applied them in the notes folder on my phone to give me some framing for how to think about bringing a song to life. The concept of closed door and open door, number of drafts, the story is paramount, and so on are things that I take to heart (art?)....more
I loved this book, heartwarming and kind while touching on a lot of divisive topics like racism, quite the palate cleanser from living through so muchI loved this book, heartwarming and kind while touching on a lot of divisive topics like racism, quite the palate cleanser from living through so much division in our lives over the past several years. It’s like a mix of The Umbrella Academy and Lemony Snicket’s. Any easy read that will fill you up with hope for the world....more
Wow. I wish this had been mandatory reading in high school US History, amazing. Being from New England and not having learned much about history outsiWow. I wish this had been mandatory reading in high school US History, amazing. Being from New England and not having learned much about history outside of the State of Maine, and occasionally Boston, I was woefully ignorant of many of the major events in the lead up to the war and the battles themselves (e.g. I had never learned of the Battle at Brooklyn). I hadn't realized how stressed Washington was with the state of the Army (combat readiness, raw numbers, professionalism, courage, drunkenness etc) and how frustrated he was with Congress who sat in their ivory towers in Philadelphia, being slow to respond to Washington's boots on the ground realities. Still, he valued the political process even when being a dictator would have been easier and faster. Congress eventually gave him a huge amount of power and he said, "Instead of thinking of myself freed of all civil obligations by this mark of their confidence, I shall constantly bear in mind that as the sword was the last resort for the preservation of our liberties, so it ought to be the first thing laid aside when those liberties are firmly established."
I also found fascinating how many times they either attacked or retreated under the cover of darkness or storms. Attacking or retreating in itself was tremendously difficult, but setting up fortifications over night (Dorchester Heights) or crossing an icy river in a NorEaster (crossing the Delaware River for the battle at Trenton) or lugging cannons from Albany to Boston in the winter with horses and hundreds of men over the Berkshire Mountains (Guns of Tichonderoga) were just insane feats of human strength and perseverance. It made me feel incredibly soft ;)
One line I really liked was from John Hancock, "Troops properly inspired, and animated by a just confidence in their leader will often exceed expectation or the limits of probability."...more
Prior to joining a book club centered around famous musical biographies, I hadn't known much about Leonard Cohen. I of course knew about Hallelujah buPrior to joining a book club centered around famous musical biographies, I hadn't known much about Leonard Cohen. I of course knew about Hallelujah but didn't know he was the original artist. So I enjoyed diving deep into someone I wasn't familiar with. He lived with depression his entire live and spent it searching for meaning and feeling; in various religious orders like scientology or hinduism, in various drugs like amphetamines or alcohol, and in various lovers over time. So his lyrics and poems always have a hint of religion, depression, drugs, and sex. He even put the suicide note of his girlfriend on his album cover because she had always wanted to be a published writer. He's dark, weary, has a dry sense of humor, and has a smokey deep voice, aiding in his delivery of dark/weary/witty/depressed/sex/drugs/spiritual writings. It sometimes took him years and years to write a song because he hadn't found the truth of it yet, so he scraped away at it until it revealed the truth he was seeking. I really enjoyed listening to his albums alongside the book, finding a number of tunes I loved like Bird on a Wire (also Willie Nelson's version), So Long Marianne, The Partisan, Famous Blue Raincoat, and more.
A couple of quotes that I really liked:
"Never lament casually" "He refused to be held up like a drunk under the cold tap of fact"...more
A good survey text of most of the wars America has been in, good for a high level overview. Spent a lot of time talking about the revolution and very A good survey text of most of the wars America has been in, good for a high level overview. Spent a lot of time talking about the revolution and very little on 20th century wars. I suppose if I wanted more detail I could reach a book specific to that war....more
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