Pick-a-Shelf discussion

This book is divided into three parts: Part I = 167 pages, Part II = 222 pages, and Part III = 264 pages. In addition, each part is divided into chapters: Part I = 3 chapters, Part II = 4 chapters, and Part III = 5 chapters.

How would you like to divide up the reading? We could do 3 chapters a week which would make the read last 4 weeks or we could do it by parts.

Decision: 3 chapters a week

Week of November 2: Chapters 1-3
Week of November 9: Chapters 4-6
Week of November 16: Chapters 7-9
Week of November 23: Chapters 10-12

3 chapters a week sounds manageable.

I am still waiting for my copy to arrive. Hopefully I have finished Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence by that time. The copy is due back 6/10, so should be able to send someone to pick it up for me ( surgery on Thursday, so I will be bed bound for a few days - lots of reading time! ).

Are you reading this for the RWS DAR challenge ?

No, although it would probably fit. It is on my LOST list from 2012, which I am trying to finish.

I have Valley Forge slotted for DAR.

Bea wrote: "No, although it would probably fit. It is on my LOST list from 2012, which I am trying to finish.

I have Valley Forge slotted for DAR."

I was wondering if it would fit time wise as I noted it didn't fit for history. I have completed one read for DAR, and have 2 other possibles, but it all depends on if I need them for other tasks.

Constant juggle, juggle of what works best overall.

Since I have the book, I will do some checking today to see if it is DAR compatible. Let me know when you get the book, although I have enough to read right now. Really trying to make headway on Pursuit Round 2, where I have a lot of duplicates to get through.

Addendum: By my calculation, 55% of the book relates events between 1770-1790 and so the book would qualify for DAR if you want to use it.

Thanks Bea.

I have hit a slight hitch in the plan - we've lost the library cards!! Am going to have to buy new ones as I have no idea where they might be. They weren't in my handbag or the library bag :(

So sorry Amanda. I would be lost without my library card. I have enough to read right now, so I am not in a hurry to read this book. Perhaps at another time, it will work for me and you to tackle it.

I bought new ones, then found the old ones the day after.

John Adams hasn't been returned yet, or, shipped over to my library.

Must remember to change my card number online though, so I can keep checking without waiting for the email.

I hate when that happens Amanda.

Hey if you guys want to do John Adams next year (2016) I'd read it with you, but you are probably trying to use it for 2015 challenges, right?

I am trying to finish up an old LOST, and I think Amanda was looking at it for a current challenge.

Amanda wrote: "I bought new ones, then found the old ones the day after."

Yep, that is a guaranteed event for lost library cards. They come home the day after you no longer need them. :)

Just received an email to say it's there to pick up. Should be able to pick up on the weekend, so can start as of next week, if you are able.

Amanda wrote: "Just received an email to say it's there to pick up. Should be able to pick up on the weekend, so can start as of next week, if you are able."

That is fine. I have added the schedule to post #1.

I started reading but have not yet finished the first section. My reading time was interrupted by multiple trips with my husband to the cancer center and then getting sick with my own cold. I hope to catch up this week as he is much better.

I missed the update notification! Will start today as we have a public holiday for a horse race ...

Hope your husband is doing ok, and that your cold is getting better.

Amanda wrote: "I missed the update notification! Will start today as we have a public holiday for a horse race ...

Hope your husband is doing ok, and that your cold is getting better."

Still trying to shake the cold. I think it hit me so hard because I was so worried about Ed (and, of course, lacking sleep).

It took 6 bags of fluid (by IV) to decrease the dehydration for Ed and to get him back on his feet. Of course, the fact that he is on his two week respite from the oral chemotherapy has helped too. He restarts the medication on Monday.

To be honest, I am not sure if I will be able to complete this buddy read. The book itself is so big to handle that it tires me just to look at it. I am only 90+ pages into it and so am quite a few pages behind (about 130), which is getting a bit overwhelming to me as my energy is still low.

Would you consider making this week one? That way I would be closer to being on track and not behind? Or would that mess with your own schedule too much?

Sounds like both of you have been knocked about a bit, hoping Ed is back on his feet and ready for the next round.

Let's make this week one. I am a little worried about it, as I am still struggling with Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence, I just can't get into it, and it's already a week overdue. I am worried it is a little too much like the other Ellis book I read, so can't maintain my interest.

I am hoping that there is more Abigal Adams in this one, as she really interests me through what I have seen of her letters. I am thinking having a good portion of that to balance the political side will keep me engaged here.

Sounds like we are both having a bit of struggle. OK. Let's see how making this week one goes.

How are you doing, Amanda? I paid particular interest, after your above comment, to Abigail Adams as is represented in the letters. She seems to have been a very capable manager of home and farm and yet very in love with John. How hard it must have been for her to be so separated from him back then.

I was amazed (shows my ignorance) at how much of John Adams thoughts about how the country should be governed after independence is reflected in our system of government.

Are you finding similarities between the two books?

Back to Abigail, I loved her plea for John to not forget the women and his response. I think she appears more in the next section...at least I hope she does.

Bea wrote: "How are you doing, Amanda? I paid particular interest, after your above comment, to Abigail Adams as is represented in the letters. She seems to have been a very capable manager of home and farm an..."

I managed to get onto this on the weekend, but am only 70 or so pages in right now, and the start of the week is bad for me, but I'll be back on it tonight.

That said, I have really enjoyed what I have been reading, and it is refreshing after just finishing Revolutionary Summer: The Birth of American Independence, which is great, as I was very worried. I am still reading about the young Adams, but enjoying how he became the man he was and what formed him.

So far he has only just married Abigail, but from how she has already appeared in the story, you can see what an intelligent and practical woman she was, and very much his equal and partner. I think the separations were hard for both, because he was so dedicated to his family, but knew that what he needed to do was a higher calling, if you like.

Yes, from what I have read in other books Adams was very much a forward thinker and his thoughts on government and how to manage it were quite amazing. For me, a man I knew nothing about ( we do hear of Washington, Jefferson and Franklin over here, but not many of the other men involved in the move for independence ) he really does seem to have been the father of what was to come.

This has so far been very different to the other books I have read, concentrating on the personal rather than dates and events. I am sure that will change somewhat, but I expect will maintain the personal aspect. If I remember back to when I read American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson, this was also the case there ( I read this just after watching the John Adams mini series ).

I can't wait to get up to the Adams / Jefferson relationship, as that was quite an interesting one in itself.

BTW, how is Ed going ?

Ed has started his next cycle of meds. So far so good. I am hoping that the experience of the last cycle will make him a bit more open about what is going on and willing to accept my efforts. He did like the Kroger small package of beef stew, so I will stock up on that when I see it. He also says he will fight me for the black cherry jello with fruit cocktail in it. For me, I am only glad to find things he is willing to eat when his appetite wains.

Hi, Amanda. How are your doing?

I finished chapter six and left John and Abigail in London with their daughter.

I am really amazed that the US was in debt from its founding. Somehow that feels wrong to me. I was also a bit dismayed to learn of the behaviour of Benjamin Franklin and the irresponsibility of Thomas Jefferson. I guess all great men have feet of clay, after all.

I am in awe a bit at how durable Abigail's and John's love for each other was during the long separation. They truly do seem to be "best friends".

I am not doing well. I only got about another 50 pages read over the weekend as we were busier than I expected :(

Jefferson is such a flawed man, a very split personality I think, in that he was able to split his mind into to different and opposing ways of thinking, and not allow those differences to interfere with each other, or even notice the contradictions. An amazing feat of mind, but perhaps takes some of the shine off of him.

Still, like Adams, the genius of the man is staggering. I don't know if we have anyone comparable today to the men of that time.

Amanda, by my calculation, you are in chapter 3, correct? Would it help if I did not read further this week to give you time to catch up? Heaven knows that I have a lot of things to be reading...and, even if I am trying to complete this book, I have until the end of the year.

Bea wrote: "Amanda, by my calculation, you are in chapter 3, correct? Would it help if I did not read further this week to give you time to catch up? Heaven knows that I have a lot of things to be reading...an..."

That would be great. I am putting all bar 1 other book on hold, just trying to get my RWS finish, but the book I have there is ... challenging, even if short. Cubs tonight, so no reading, but back to the books tomorrow!

Deal. I will start reading the third section next Monday.

How are you doing, Amanda?

Not great so far as yesterday we were out all day.

Just doing a brief online check, and then, apart from the vacuuming i will be curled up on the couch or on the bed catching up! Will re-post at the end of the day to let you know how it's gone :)

Up to chapter 6, and will make more headway after dinner, so feel free to start on Part 3.

I did not know about the time in Holland/The Netherlands. I think they might have left it out of the tv series, or my memory of it is not so great.

Totally agree re Franklin, as I didn't remember all of that either. I think he perhaps got caught up in the persona of Benjamin Franklin, and forgot what his role/mission was. It really seemed that at that time it was almost like America was in danger of swapping one monarchy for another and not really striving for its independence on the political front (from what I've read on the war front it would seem that that battle could only go forward with the pursuit of independence to stop itself from falling over completely).

I am still thinking I would like to read more about Abigail. How much she must have suffered in all that time alone, and to have had to deliver a stillborn child without the support of John, and yet still maintain the family and the farm. The woman just amazes me. However, I am putting of reading anything else of this time period until next year. And I have to see if there is anything available. if you are interested, let me know and I will start checking through my library to keep in mind.

I really feel that Abigail was a remarkable woman. And, not to take away from her, so it seems were many of the people at that time in America. I am amazed at the hardships and yet dedication to see that their new country succeed. The idea of a United States seems such a monumental idea for that time.

I have also talked with my husband (who read this book a few years ago) about my utter astonishment regarding the debt incurred so early in the history of the US. As of my reading right now, independence is won but there is no central government and yet Holland is loaning money to the newly formed nation! Wow! for the support before the nation was formed and for the fact that it was born into debt. That last is a bit dismaying.

I am starting chapter 8 today, so we are about even. I do hope to finish the book this week for myself as it is one of my RWS books. I noticed that the reading for "next week" is only 137 pages. So I might pull it off.

I am hoping to get it finished also, although i didn't get too much further last night, but no big plans for the weekend, so I should be able to do another marathon read then (week night reading is taken up with the Harry Potter read-aloud, which takes up more time than I would have thought. Reading aloud is so much slower!).

I am going to order the dvd from my library and watch it again after I have finished.

Amanda, I finished the book today. Thank you for being willing to read along with me. It kept me on track and reading.

Bea wrote: "Amanda, I finished the book today. Thank you for being willing to read along with me. It kept me on track and reading."

I am under 100 pages to go, busy weekend meant I did not get the reading time I had hoped for. He has just lost the presidency. Have really enjoyed reading this, and wouldn't have done so without the Buddy Read, so thank you for putting it out there.

I have also picked up the dvd from the library yesterday, so won't be done with Adams just yet :)

I finally started watching the dvd today, and my husband was transfixed for awhile also).

There were a couple of things in the series I am now looking for clarification on, but I am sure were poetic license.

1) Where was Adams at the time of the Boston Tea Party ? The series has him at the scene where the customs officer was tarred and feathered ( we were both shocked by this, but my husband looked it up and found that the temperature of the resin used for tarring was lower than in earlier times, so horrific burning was less likely, it "merely" being an act of humiliation), to which he was opposed and outspoken to his cousin Sam Adams, but unable to do anything.

2) He was offered a position with the Crown, I forget what the title was, after the trial of the British soldiers. I did not remember this from the biography.

Wikipedia is proving an interesting read. It has Adams being disenchanted with Braintree, his practice booming rather than suffering after the above trial, and him having been briefly retained by the owners of the Dartmouth, the vessel at the centre of the Tea Party.

Interesting. I think Mr. Adams will live in our memories for a while after reading this book.

I found I have a copy of Truman by McCullough. Sometime I want to tackle that book - future.