Bewitched Bookworms are offering an audiobook challenge that sounds truly challenging — and I’m signing up. They call it the “Whisper Stories in My Ear” 2011 audiobook challenge. Here is a synopsis of the guidelines: Should you choose to participate in this challenge, your goal is to read at least twelve (12) audiobooks (no matter … Read More
Yup, I’m hosting it, and I’m participating, too. Man, if this were a party, I’d have to be one heck of a hostess to actually have fun at my own soiree. Actually, I suck at hosting parties, so it’s good that this thing is virtual. So — I’ve got a whole bunch of Mad Men-related … Read More
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.
An Unfinished Life: John F. Kennedy, 1917-1963 by Robert Dallek First– we have a new president-elect! Without getting all partisan about it, I’ll say simply: champagne toasts have occurred. So, let’s celebrate with a book about another young senator who became president– and how also inspired a new generation in an unprecedented way… In An … Read More
Remembering Jack: Intimate and Unseen Photographs of the Kennedys by Jacques Lowe A tribute to the Kennedys, during this political week when Caroline Kennedy so poignantly paid tribute to her uncle, Ted Kennedy, at the Democratic National Convention. Photographer Jacques Lowe first met Robert Kennedy in 1956, when he photographed Kennedy while he was serving … Read More
Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History by Ted Sorensen While I enjoyed learning about Ted Sorensen’s life before and after his years working with John F. Kennedy, I’ll confess that the most compelling part of the book was also the heart of it, which focused on the Kennedy years. Often referred to as … Read More
While I blew past my 14th blogiversary in January like it wasn’t even a thing (totally distracted by other thoughts), we’re hitting another landmark here, and we’re hitting it TODAY. This is my 1000th blog post. (Photo by Erwan Hesry on Unsplash ) If I were a YouTuber, I’d do an elaborate celebration video, … Read More
Indomitable Will: LBJ in the Presidency by Mark K. Updegrove LBJ, signing the 1968 Civil Rights Bill(photo credit: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division) OK, first: the author of this book has one of the coolest jobs in the world. He’s the director of the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum (aplace … Read More
My earlier post (from December 17, 2009) is not updating nicely, so I’ve re-created the post, with updates, here. Babbette over at Babbette’s Book Blog is hosting the 2010 Mixology Challenge, and I’m in! Here are the guidelines: 1. List how many books total you want to read in 2010. 2. List no less than … Read More
The Kennedy Assassination—24 Hours After: Lyndon B. Johnson’s Pivotal First Day as President by Steven M. Gillon Hasn’t everything already been said about November 22, 1963? Except, um, that we still don’t exactly know who done what. Oswald: lone assassin? Shooter(s) on the grassy knoll? I keep thinking there’s going to be a deathbed confession … Read More