Presidency – Cannonball Read 17

Someday, He Will Be President

The Passage of Power: The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert Caro

August 16, 2024 by Jake Leave a Comment

Robert Caro’s Lyndon Johnson series has always been honest about what it is. Ostensibly, this is true about every biography. A book about the life of Amelia Earhart should be just that. Only, every biographer, no matter how well-intentioned, objective, clear-eyed or distant brings with them an angle. Perhaps a person was under appreciated in their time. Maybe they were overrated by the laudations of historical standard. Possibly they had a hidden back story that impacted their life. Caro has been clear that these books […]

New York S—Y

Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America by Maggie Haberman

October 12, 2022 by Jake Leave a Comment

Read this as part of cbr14bingo: time. Maggie Haberman connects Donald Trump’s presidency to his upbringing, rise, fall, and rebirth in New York City. By covering one aspect of time, we learn how the city and the country made the man…and how he would eventually remake the country. An aside: The cover art is from The Washington Post’s review of Haberman’s book. I loved it, though I’m out of free articles and have no idea who to credit with it. Ever since his presidency mercifully ended, I’ve had a […]

Outgunned, outmanned, outnumbered, outplanned….

February 2, 2017 by ingres77 3 Comments

I’ve long been interested in the American presidency. I’ve read, perhaps, more about the various men to have served that role than any other particular historical subject. Over the last 2+ years participating in the Cannonball, I’ve read about 20 biographies of various presidents. I have books on the office itself, not just the men who’ve sat in it. I’ve read countless articles and think pieces. And in all of this, Jefferson Davis, one and only president of the Confederate States of America, is never […]

At Home in this Nation We’ve Made

October 15, 2016 by Ellesfena 3 Comments

When I was in 5th grade, we were assigned a “President’s Pack” to complete. It was a just a bunch of worksheets with facts about the Presidents, but it was enough to get me hooked. Ever since, I’ve been completely fascinated by the lives of U.S. Presidents. I’ve never cared as much about their political accomplishments–I wanted to know more about their families and their day-to-day lives. This is exactly what The Residence is about, and I found it completely enjoyable. Kate Andersen Brower used […]

Understanding Laura Bush. Kinda.

June 29, 2014 by cheerbrarian Leave a Comment

Though I read “Prep” many years ago I really enjoyed it and was excited to see what else Sittenfeld had up her sleeve. This novel, loosely based on the life of First Lady Laura Bush, is a fictional memoir of Alice Blackwell, wife of the sitting president Charlie Blackwell. Beginning on “what might become one of the most significant days in her husband’s presidency,” Alice reflects on all the steps, and missteps, that have shaped her life and gotten her to this moment. […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

Help Our Mission