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This thread is set up so that the community which has been chosen to receive Roosevelt's Centurions can get to know each other and say hello before the kick off of the book.

At no time will we discuss the book itself formally until the kick off date of May 28, 2013. We do not allow any spoilers in advance of the book being kicked off or prior to its release.

Be understanding of this request. This is a pre-release book so that is a given.

However, it would be great for you to introduce yourselves to each other and chat about the following:

a) Why history is interesting to you and why this is one of your favorite subjects. Do you teach history (what level - secondary, college, post- graduate)? Are you a lawyer or a politician? How has history influenced your life or maybe even the decisions that you make or does it?

b) What started you reading non fiction versus fiction and/or do you read both?

c) What are your favorite genres and why?

d) Who are your favorite non fiction historians and writers and why?

e) What appealed to you about this book: Roosevelt's Centurions which makes you want to read it and discuss it?

And or what appeals to you about historian Joseph Persico? Have you read some of his other books and what can you tell us about those?

f) Have you ever participated in a virtual book discussion before and what were your experiences? What do you hope to get out of this experience and what would make this a positive experience for you?

Note: When mentioning any book and/or any author - be sure to follow our citation rules: always cite the book cover, the author's photo and always the author's link which is the author's name in linkable text like this:

by Joseph E. Persico

Your moderator for the formal book discussion will be Alisa Tazioli. You will be in good hands with her. Back-up moderators will be Jill Hutchinson and Bryan Craig. The entire team has been working to get this book ready for kick-off since the schedule was unknown for over a year and we could not plan in advance. So this is very exciting for all of us.

As always I will be involved as the Group Leader.

Regards,

Bentley

Thanks Bentley. Welcome everyone! I look forward to reading and discussing this book with you all.

I will be backing up Alisa along with Brian on this group read. Again, we have been lucky enough through our relationship with Random House to have the books available to the group listed in Bentley's initial post. I am certainly looking forward to sharing discussions with the community and making some new history friends.

Same here.

Note: I have taken last names off the listing to protect everybody's privacy; if by now you are still unsure if you made the list; you can always PM me.

I am a high school United States history teacher (both regular American History and APUSH) in the Houston area. My AP classes, who take the AP test in a little over two weeks, are currently studying FDR as we transition from the Great Depression to the start of World War II. The U.S. classes in Texas work off a different timeframe so we're actually in the 1970s and they (actually all of my students) take the state-mandated assessment test in social studies this Friday.

I was a history major in college (UCLA) and will be taking two more graduate courses this summer online at Sam Houston State University to complete my master's degree in history.

I love teaching and reading about all parts of history, but certainly gravitate towards U.S. history in general with anything from the 1830's to present being something I enjoy discussing more than earlier American history.

I've never read anything by Joseph E. Persico

It looks like this book will be right up your alley, Craig. Although you don't have time to introduce your current students to the book, it might come in handy in the next school year.

I don’t teach history, but work at a college. The growth of my interest in History (all sorts � no special area) started with Johnny Tremain. Yes really. A very wonderful grade school teacher gave this to us to read the year before we had a class in American History. I was hooked.

My special interest in WWII started in 1985. I went to Hawaii for a few weeks and never having been there before I visited the Arizona. It had a very strong impact on me as it does on most who see it. There was a small theater where they were showing archival footage of the attack, and our subsequent response. The heroism of the pilots in the SBD Dauntless aircraft brought me to tears. At that time, we didn’t have the computer based learning in museums that we have now, so I was forced to buy books in the gift shop (smile). There was a book on the Dauntless that I bought. I can’t remember the title. It was probably a museum book. But I also bought The Two-Ocean War.

I have since frequently visited Britain and France. Each visit must include a trip to a museum, which increases my knowledge of the conflict, and the people involved. I could go on, but will spare you.
I don’t have a favorite non-fiction historian, but I have read a few of David McCullough’s books, Stephen Ambrose (yes I am aware of his plagiarism; I still enjoyed his books before I found out), Alan Moorehead , Doris Kearns Goodwin and others. It really depends on my attention span.

I’ve not read Mr. Persico’s books before, but have read bios of Eisenhower, Patton, Bradley, MacArthur and Marshall so the thought of a book which helps me to understand how these disparate personalities could be managed in such a way as to bring about the result it did is intriguing.
My first virtual book discussion is the one I am currently participating in: Caesar's Women.

I hope to learn more about the WWII era, get perspectives other than my own and the authors, and contribute my opinions, such as they are. I can’t see a down side, so I think the experience itself will be positive. Thanks for the opportunity.

Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes

The Two-Ocean War by Samuel Eliot Morison

Caesar's Women
by Colleen McCullough

G, thank you for that very thorough and thoughtful story of your interests. I love how you got your early spark of curiousity, and having been to the memorial at the Arizona in Pearl Harbor you are right - it is impossible to see it and not be moved by the experience. It is an experience that evokes powerful responses in a lot of people.

Great job with the book and author links, you *almost* have it right. It is book cover photo, author photo (when available) and author link. You are missing the author links in your above posting but everything else is fine. Also, when you mention only an author, they should also be added using the photo if it is available or just the hyperlink. These are the ones you mentioned so am adding them here:

David McCullough
Stephen Ambrose
Alan Moorehead
Doris Kearns Goodwin

Thanks again for sharing with the group.

G what a wonderful story. The memorial at the Arizona must be truly moving.

Thank you Alisa for adding what you were able to and for assisting G.

G I will add the other author links to make sure that they are cited on the thread and are counted by the goodreads software.

Colleen McCullough

Samuel Eliot Morison

In the first citation, you missed the photo of Esther Forbes:

Esther Forbes

G, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I agree that the Arizona memorial is an extremely moving experience.......the final resting place of heroes.

For those who have not visited the USS Arizona Memorial, if you ever get a chance I highly recommend taking the time. You don't have to be a WWII buff to get something out of the experience. My grandmother took me when we were on a trip to Hawaii just after I graduated from high school. History bored me to tears back then, but I will be forever grateful to her for taking me on this tour. It had a way of bring history out of the shadows for me in a way the classroom never did.

Nothing compares to the in-person experience but the virtual experience is worth exploring! A few links and info below:

National Parks link (and excerpts from):
The USS Arizona Memorial is part of the recently dedicated WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument. The National Monument also includes sites on Ford Island: the USS Oklahoma Memorial, USS Utah Memorial, and several historic Battleship Row mooring quays and CPO bungalows. The National Monument is located about 2 miles west of the Honolulu Airport in Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu. The USS Arizona Memorial is managed by the National Park Service (NPS) and consists of a shoreside visitor center, where the tours begin, and the Memorial, located in Pearl Harbor. The Memorial is accessible only by the NPS tour from the visitor center. The other National Monument sites are only accessible via tours going to the Battleship Missouri Memorial and the Pacific Aviation Museum. . . .
The USS Arizona Memorial is built over the remains of the sunken battleship USS Arizona, the final resting place for many of the 1,177 crewmen killed on December 7, 1941 when their ship was bombed by Japanese Naval Forces. This loss of life represents over half of the Americans killed during the worst naval disaster in American history. . .
The tour program consists of an excellent 23 minute film on the history of the Pearl Harbor attack. After viewing the film, visitors board a Navy operated launch for the Memorial. The entire program takes 75 minutes.

Lots of great info on the website for the USS Arizona (and excerpts:
The USS Arizona is the final resting place for many of the ship's 1,177 crewmen who lost their lives on December 7, 1941 in Pearl Harbor. The 184-foot-long Memorial structure spanning the mid-portion of the sunken battleship consists of three main sections: the entry and assembly rooms; a central area designed for ceremonies and general observation; and the shrine room, where the names of those killed on the Arizona are engraved on the marble wall.

Arizona was the most heavily damaged of all the vessels in Battleship Row, suffering three near-misses and four direct-hits from 800-kg bombs dropped by high-altitude Kates. The last bomb to strike her penetrated her deck starboard of turret two and detonated within a 14-inch powder magazine. The resulting massive explosion broke the ship in two forward of turret one, collapsed her forecastle decks, and created such a cavity that her forward turrets and conning tower fell thirty feet into her hull.
. . . According to its architect, Alfred Preis, the design of the Memorial, "Wherein the structure sags in the center but stands strong and vigorous at the ends, expresses initial defeat and ultimate victory....The overall effect is one of serenity. Overtones of sadness have been omitted to permit the individual to contemplate his own personal responses...his innermost feelings."

If pictures are worth a thousand words, here are a few.
Aerial view. Yes, that is *the* sunken ship you see.


View of the memorial site as you approach it on water.


Inside the memorial


The wall of names of those who lost their lives.

Wonderful pictures, Alisa. And I think the Park Service there does an amazing job maintaining the dignity of the site.

Never having been to the USS Arizona Memorial I was wondering (it's a little tough to see from the one interior picture) if the memorial has a glass bottom floor allowing you to see the buried Arizona beneath it?

Craig, you can see the Arizona very clearly. The open cut-outs along the side have rails and you have a clear view of the ship underneath. It's quite remarkable.

They have been having some problems there in the past few years as the oil in the ship is starting to leak out into the water.....but I am sure that they will figure out something to maintain environmental safety.

I notice that the original group book Roosevelt’s Centurions has been pushed back until fall however on the plus side the extra time will allow some group participants extra time to get to know each other. My photo captures our Gordon Setter on my lap, who rules our home.

I’m a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, School of Business. I lived my first five years in Lexington, Mass. and attended high school in neighboring Concord, so Revolutionary War history has always fascinated me. In the school hallways there were a few Emerson’s, one student lived in the official “Concord Grape� house, while a friend of mine lived in the “bullet hole house� that was hit by fire from shots taken at the Old North Bridge.

Still, I never really started reading or researching any aspect of history until years after college. Both of my grandfathers participated in combat in France during WWI, one in the Army and the other in the Marine Corps. WWI Marine Corps history of the “Old Breed� is one passion of mine. My father, who was born in 1921 departed from college to enter WWII determined to serve, however with poor eyesight it took him several doctor visits to find one who would admit him to the Army.

For one year I lived in NYC on the same block of East 65th St. as where the Roosevelt’s once maintained double townhouses for several decades. I’ve read many WWII books including two about FDR; “Franklin and Winston� and “One Christmas in Washington�. I look forward to learning more about how the WWII military leaders interacted with the President Roosevelt as Commander-in Chief.

I enjoyed Mr. Persico’s book 11th Month 11th Day 11th Hour. Several years ago I conversed with him and maybe he will recall our discussion. He is a gentleman and a professional in all his endeavors.

I have become very good friends with 95 year old Col. J. Shelton Scales USMC (Ret), who unlike many veterans does not mind talking about all aspects of war. Today he is one of three living battalion commanders from the battle of Iwo Jima. To sit alone with him in his living room and even share a cocktail, openly discussing topics including D-Day where he felt the need to pull his 45 revolver to coax some of his 1,000 men on the beach to move forward, to the flag raising at Mount Suribachi, to the landing of the B-29, as well as his reoccurring dreams and nightmares is so special. I’m fascinated to delve into his mind to capture the atmosphere aboard the transport ship in the early morning hours before D-Day departure.

My oldest son’s good friend and roommate, has a grandfather who received the Medal of Honor in WWII for heroic action as an Army sergeant in Belgium. He is one of the few MoH recipients from WWII still living today. A G.I. Joe figure was made to resemble him, which sold along with an assortment of weapons that he used. As an inspiration I occasionally read the citation awarded to Francis S. Currey.

Our family has also been fortunate to be able to expand our appreciation for world history by taking guided Tauck tours of Rome, Pompeii, Athens, Rhodes, Ephesus and Ireland.





Jon Meacham David Bercuson Joseph E. Persico Joseph E. Persico

To begin, I'll attempt to answer the questions posted by Bentley. I have no idea why history is interesting to me unless it was growing up in a family that adored restoration of cars (to original) and reconstructing period clothing. My dad was a Texas state trooper who spent his off-time restoring Model A's, so I grew up thinking I was a post-flapper *smile* My famiy has always been interested in history, from one era or another, so I think to me, history was alive and not just words in a book or from a lecturer.

I do not teach history, in fact, at 56 I am pursuing my BA in history now. I should be finished about this time next year and will be moving on to my MA. When I grow up, I might be a teacher, but only online since I have health issues that prevent working in traditional settings.

For reading, I read both fiction and non-fiction. I also write a bit, but that is an evolving process that hasn't been taken seriously until recently. I read non-fiction for both the research and just because I want to know something I didn't know before, or in more depth than I knew before. Non-fiction preferences are historical fiction and the action type books like legal thrillers. I also enjoy several other genres, so it's a difficult question to answer in less than 10 pages!

As with genres, selecting favorite authors and/or historians is difficult. It depends on the period I'm concentrating on, and also depends on the subject within that period. As of the moment, I'm absorbing everything I can in any way I can, so I pay attention to author most often when preparing citations *smile* (then again, I don't remember who sang what song when even from my teen years, that's just how I am).

Anything to do with WWII is important to me. It's been an era that has drawn my attention, partly because of growing up hearing WWII stories from family members, and partly because I like the clothes (yes, I know, but that's what first drew me to the period). FDR was very important for many decisions and I want to know more, the good, the bad, and the in-between. As far as Persico goes, I frankly know little about him, so this piece of work will bring me to a new understanding of him and his work.

I've only participated in virtual book discussions away from a classroom setting in a more passive role. However, attending courses online has made me slightly more willing to bring my thoughts to the discussion boards, so I'm looking forward to it.

Just WOW on the USS Arizona photos. I've never been there, and will probably not be able to travel that far later in life due to health. Thanks so much for sharing the pictures.

I have heard reports of the oil spillage concerns recently, and having worked in O&G in the past, I know how it can have negative effects on the environment, more so in water. I hope they're *the elusive they* are able to come up with a viable solution to the problem.

Jill wrote: "They have been having some problems there in the past few years as the oil in the ship is starting to leak out into the water.....but I am sure that they will figure out something to maintain envir..."

I find it a little surprising that after 60+ years the ship is still leaking oil. That sounds remarkable to me.

Mark, that is a terrific introduction, thank you for sharing. It must be quite a treasure to have access to and engage in conversations with Col. Scales. His recall sounds like it remains vivid even at this age. You have to think what he saw of course is not something that would fade easily from memory, but that he is willing to share it is terrific. It can't be easy for him.

I wondered if there are folks in this group who have read any of Joseph Persico's work before. Great that you have, and had occassion to talk to him!
Joseph E. Persico

Sara, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Everyone comes to an interest in history from different angles and it's kind of fun that yours was through cars and fashion. Both typify the industrialization of their times, and something so tangible can draw in many people. And we know that hemlines change in war time.

This history of WWII alone is the history of so many things, places, people, events, that an interest in that alone could be consuming. You must be studying a very wide range of history to get your degree. And good for you in pursuing it. You must have lots of reading in your future. We are glad that you are reading with the group!

Glad you like the photos of the USS Arizona Memorial. Hawaii is not an easy place to get to for a lot of people so I thought a few snaps would help. I tend to be a visual learner oriented so I like to see what stuff looks like in a discussion. (Once we start the book discussion I'm likely to add photos to the glossary thread of whatever we are discussing.)

As to cars and fashion . . .

The 1940s was a time of restrictions on fabric, design, and trim materials. The war had much effect on the 1940s fashion. Clothes were in short supply and rationed. Many women couldn’t afford things like pantyhose and stockings!
The basic silhouette for women from the 40′s was broad padded square shoulders, a small corseted waist and full hips. Most women wore fitted draped or ruched bodice and knee-length flared, straight, or single pleat plaid skirts. Fabrics mostly used for the 1940s fashion making were wool, cotton, linen, easy-care synthetics with subdued colors such as blue grey, bottle green, donkey brown, etc. Oxford, pumps shoes and sandals were common.
[image error]

source:

Model A Ford

Just to show you how much I love my Model As, the first photo is a Sport Coupe, looks like a '29. The second is a business coupe, probably also a '29. The difference is the hard top and the soft top. For my 17th birthday, my dad gave me a fully restored 1930 Model A Deluxe Roadster. It was my pride and joy :)

Don't you just love the shoulder pads on the 40s ladies? They look like they're ready to take on the Doomsday Defense (yep, I'm a long-time Cowboys fan as well).

Sara wrote: "Just to show you how much I love my Model As, the first photo is a Sport Coupe, looks like a '29. The second is a business coupe, probably also a '29. The difference is the hard top and the soft to..."

A Roadster - score! Those are soooo cool. You must have been thrilled.

The shoulder pads are really something. It serves to exagerate the slim look of the belted waistline. but not so much on a football player (smile).

Everyone wore hats and gloves in those days too. That picture is priceless and the ladies look wonderful!

Mark,

Those are some amazing personal reflections that I enjoyed reading. You are indeed fortunate to have met and spent time around such interesting individuals and certainly sound like someone who appreciates history!

I did not fully answer all the questions. I'm a sales and marketing executive in the textile industry and although it is on the decline, I try to remain upbeat each day and look for new technology and customers.

There are so many talented non-fiction authors. One favorite from the past and from my alma mater is Wiliam Manchester. Living today I'd say Joseph E. Persico and on the younger side Jon Meacham.

William Manchester Joseph E. Persico Jon Meacham

Craig, I am so glad to see U.S. history being taught in AP classes. Today in all levels of education I am at times amazed at what is being taught. It must be very satisfying and rewarding to see some of your students appreciate history for what is and not just as a path forward as an attorney or politician.

One last note. I should mention I reside in North Carolina. Massachusetts the first 29 1/2 years, NYC for 1 year and NC for 29. Some say it takes 3 generations to become a southerner. Oh well, I'm easy going and go with the flow. :-)

Mark, thanks for elaborating and also sharing some of your favorite authors. That kind of information helps people explore.

Hello everyone, I'm Bryan, one of the moderators here and will be reading along. I hope to add some presidential history side of things as we go along.

I've worked at a number of presidential sites and I presently work on a oral history of one of our recent presidents. I loved presidential history since I was in middle school, and I really enjoy military and political history, so this should be a great book and discussion.

Hello to everyone in this group. I am not a teacher or student; however, I have been a history buff since graduating from college over 20 years ago. I tend to read books related to U.S. history, European and WWII history, Middle Eastern history and I have a special interest in the history of feminism. This group is a wonderful opportunity to discuss and learn about history books and authors; and it offers an opportunity to exercise my writing and research skills. I look forward to discussions with all of you. This appears to be a serious and intelligent group and I'm excited about this undertaking. I will post some of my favorite history book authors on another post.

Cynthia wrote: "Hello to everyone in this group. I am not a teacher or student; however, I have been a history buff since graduating from college over 20 years ago. I tend to read books related to U.S. history, ..."

Sounds like you have a range of interests and, like I suspect many in this club, enjoy reading about mutliple periods of history including the subject matter of this book. We are glad you are joining the discussion!

Bryan wrote: "Hello everyone, I'm Bryan, one of the moderators here and will be reading along. I hope to add some presidential history side of things as we go along.

I've worked at a number of presidential sit..."

Bryan, our own HBC Presidential guru - so happy to have you along for this discussion! Should be fun, and with your background a great perspective to share with other readers.

I see Persico has an article in the most recent American Heritage magazine. It is on the fight to pass the draft extension bill in the summer of 1941.

Terrific.

Well . . . I was interested in purchasing a copy of this book just to follow along with the discussion but when I attempted to find a copy for Pre-purchase I see the release date is listed as May 6, 2014. Hmmmm, does this mean this should go on the back burner for awhile?

When it is going to be released we will let you know - it was supposed to be May of this year but alas it was pushed out.

There is plenty of time to jump into one of the other great discussions going on.

I'm glad to see someone has posted the date of release I just found out checking on my stagnant pre-purchase. The book site on Amazon mentioned that even on Kindle, the publication date is listed the May 6, 2014 Tomerobber listed. I wonder what the problem(s) have been with this book - or the publisher?

We don't know what the issue is, only that the publication date has been pushed out. I think the date they have listed is a placeholder until further determinations can be made. When Bentley hears from the publisher he'll let us know.

Everyone, this appears to be a placeholder.

I have contacted RH to see if there is an update; there may not be one at this time. These things happen.

Folks, I do not have good news. Random House has stated that "we'll have to hold off indefinitely on the Roosevelt Centurions discussion."

I have no other information, etc.

Therefore, I have placed the Amazon published date of May 2014 as the potential release date. I am sorry for anybody's disappointment but I do not have any additional information and I did ask for an explanation to give all of you.

I am sure that no other additional details will be forthcoming since this is a public group and we would not be receiving that kind of internal data. Any publisher would consider that private data.

However, it is obvious that there have to be some serious concerns or rewriting, etc. which is being done and all of that takes a massive amount of time - hence the delay.

But of course these are just hypotheses on my end; I honestly have not received any explanation aside from "we'll have to hold off indefinitely on the Roosevelt Centurions discussion."

Since even the Amazon date is two years out, I think it would be best to get a new list together at that time; people move etc., addresses change and it would be a shame to have books sent out which would not be received by the intended recipients.

When the time comes - I will contact all folks on the list to verify addresses and see if they are still interested; and of course all of you will have the right of first refusal when and if the time comes.

I am hoping to hear that when and if the book is released that we will still be getting the advanced copies - I hope so even if it is two years out! But I have received no guarantee whatsoever that this will be the case.

I know that so many of you were really looking forward to the release as was I. I do hope that the author is OK because even his website lists the May 2012 date. Persico is such a favorite for so many of us so I know we wish the author well.

But for now, there is plenty of time to add some other great books to your Fall 2012 reading list. It does not appear that this book will be one of them at this time.

Thanks folks for your understanding. Really and truly - Random House has been most gracious with their offering of the book Enemies as a substitute which many of you received and also Catherine the Great. RH has been most generous.

by Tim Weiner

by Robert K. Massie

UPDATE: I just noticed that on June 23, 2012 at the FDR library that Joseph Persico was the keynote speaker and did a reading from this book so the delay is rather peculiar.

9th Annual Roosevelt Reading Festival
June 20, 2012 in News & Events | Tags: Reading Festival
Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum will host its ninth annual Roosevelt Reading Festival on Saturday, June 23, 2012. The Reading Festival will be held in the Henry A. Wallace Center at the FDR Presidential Library and Home. All Roosevelt Reading Festival activities are open to the public free of charge.

In six concurrent sessions taking place throughout the day, twelve authors of recently published works that draw upon the Roosevelt Library archives, or focus on the Roosevelt era, will present author talks followed by question-and-answer sessions and book signings. Copies of all of the authors� books will be available for sale in the New Deal Store located in the Wallace Center. The program begins at 9:45 a.m. with coffee and doughnuts for attendees.

This year’s Roosevelt Reading Festival authors include:

Special Afternoon Presentation:
Persico, Joseph E.
Roosevelt’s Centurions: FDR and the Commanders He Led to Victory in World War II
Random House, 2012

Bodnar, John
The “Good War� in American Memory
The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2010

Davis, Ren and Helen
Our Mark on This Land: A Guide to the Legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps in America’s Parks
McDonald & Woodward, 2011

de Kay, James Tertius
Roosevelt’s Navy: The Education of a Warrior President, 1882-1920
Pegasus, 2012

Hiltzik, Michael
The New Deal: A Modern History
Free Press, 2011

Huddle, Mark A., ed.
Roi Ottley’s World War II: The Lost Diary of an African American Journalist
University Press of Kansas, 2011

Knepper, Cathy
Jersey Justice: The Story of the Trenton Six
Rivergate Books, 2011

McLaughlin, John J.
General Albert C. Wedemeyer: America’s Unsung Strategist in World War II
Casemate, 2012

Robinson, Greg
After Camp: Portraits in Midcentury Japanese American Life and Politics
University of California Press, 2012

Shirley, Craig
December 1941: 31 Days that Changed America and Saved the World
Thomas Nelson, 2011

Smith, Jean Edward
Eisenhower in War and Peace
Random House, 2012

Stuckey, Mary E.
Defining Americans: The Presidency and National Identity
University Press of Kansas, 2004

by Mary E. Stuckey (no photo)

by Jean Edward Smith

by Craig Shirley (no photo)

by Greg Robinson (no photo)

by John J. McLaughlin (no photo)

by Cathy Knepper (no photo)

by Roi Ottley (no photo)

by Michael Hiltzik (no photo)

Roosevelt's Navy: The Education of a Warrior President, 1882-1920 (no cover) by James Tertius de Kay (no photo)

by Ren Davis (no photo)

by John Bodnar (no photo)

by Joseph E. Persico

Hi Bentley,
Thanks for the notice about this . . . although I wasn't included on the initial list it did look like it would be interesting to read. I have actually purchased the 2 books you mentioned. Since I have joined the HBC I've found so many titles I want to read and added quite a few of them in the various eReaders on my iPad.

That is terrific Tomerobber; I wish I had better news about the Persico selection.

Is it possible for someone to contact the FDR Library and ask what's up, and mention Amazon, for example, and that publishing date?

Virginia maybe you might want to call and see if they know. From what I read most of the authors had their books at the reading festival. I would be interested to know if Persico had other books at the festival and he only read excerpts from Roosevelt's Centurions - "or were there copies there of RC" - I highly doubt that was the case.

I have to say that it all seems quite mysterious to me and I have not seen anybody even question what is going on aside from one guy on Amazon who seemed to have gotten an advance copy at one time and asked about the release date which had been changed by Amazon. But everything else seems very quiet - unusually so.

I was relieved to see that Persico was at this presentation so that eliminates any potential issues regarding his health, etc. So it is most likely a publishing/printing issue, rewriting issue, source issue, editing consultation leading to a rewrite, etc. The sky is the limit on possibilities but right now I have no information aside from what I was told. I did send a follow up note for clarification and when I get a response I will let you folks know what I learn if it is shareable.

I can try to email a library staff member to see if they know anything

It is indeed an odd situation. Do you think it could be a legal issue of some type....such as libel or unauthorized use of source material such as personal letters, etc. I can't imagine someone like Persico getting into that kind of scrape but it is just so unusual.

Bryan, that would be very helpful. Thank you. I kind of feel that I received a very cryptic, vague response myself. Maybe you will have better luck.

In fact, what troubles me is that if it is not going to be released until 2014, we cannot just keep the list of folks that we have and the addresses we submitted in April because already people have moved or changed addresses for a variety of reasons since April. Can you imagine the changes of addresses in a virtual group in another two years time. I get PMs all of the time trying to change this or that after the list has been submitted.

I did suggest that I contact all of the selected group and verify their addresses (when the time comes) and verify whether they still want the book prior to having them sent out. I really want every person to get their book and we work very hard to make sure the addresses are correct. And if some person has disappeared in two years time - why not have someone else who will really benefit take their spot.

A real sticky wicket and frankly we did not get any promises either about the book itself. We did receive Enemies as a substitute and that is very gracious of Random House to do that. And we also received Catherine the Great - both selections have turned out to be very popular and thought provoking.

Two great selections which I am sure that the group membership appreciates - I know I do.

Jill, I fear that that could be one hypothesis for sure. You never know in this day and age - the era of litigation about anything and everything. Anybody who is successful stands a risk of getting themselves into situations not of their own making these days.

Sometimes source material and quotations from source material can be very tricky. Folks see dollar signs and can sometimes stir the pot.

It is odd though that Persico would give a reading on RC in June and yet the book itself is not released and stranger still is Persico's own website which still lists the original release date of May 2012! And what did he say to the FDR Library group when the RC book that he was speaking about was not available (or was it?)

The whole situation is odd.

Indeed, if it was a Kennedy book, I would understand, because the family is very diligent in keeping their reputation intact...I will try to reach out and let people know.