Challenge: 50 Books discussion

Hi, everyone!

I'm Lois, and I'm thrilled to be leading this discussion. It's been a few years since I've read Woodward and Bernstein, and I consider this to be one of the best books about what it's like to be in pursuit of a story. (Full disclosure: I've worked in the worlds of newspaper reporting and PR and now teach mass media at the college level, so I have a definite point of view about the issues discussed in this book.)

I thought it might be useful to start by discussing how much we know about Watergate and the role the Washington Post played in Nixon's downfall. I was a college student and aspiring journalist at the time. With my classmates, I spent hours watching the hearings religiously; the reporting being done at the Post was a frequent topic of discussion in our classes. Enrollment in journalism classes increased dramatically in those days, and these were our heroes.

I will admit, I am pretty clueless about Watergate. I was born well after it, and I only know (or think I know) the major highlights: Nixon, tapes, Deep Throat, W&B / All the President's Men. (And I'll also admit that when I hear about W&B, I envision Dustin Hoffman.)

I've been wanting to read this book since I was young, so this will give me the push to do it now. (However, none of my libraries have copies, so I'll be joining you late. I wonder if the current political situation is the reason for all of the libraries' copies being in use and with waiting lists.)

Tiffany,

I wouldn't be surprised at all if that's the reason the books have been checked out! Every time I listen to the news, I hear someone making Watergate comparisons.

One of the things I'd forgotten is that the book starts out with a list of who's who. It's easy to turn back to the beginning and check who someone is and what their connection to the burglary and cover-up is if you forget.

And I love the film version! Redford and Hoffman are so great that I'm always kind of shocked when I see Woodward or Bernstein on TV and realize that they don't resemble the actors who played them.

This group and discussion has made me want to read the book--even though I lived through Watergate and don't really need to live through it again. I can say I do periodically watch the movie, so maybe I'll "get out of reading the book" by seeing the movie one more time (LOL).

Yay! My book came in a few days ago, so I'm finally able to dig in.

I'm about 1/3 of the way through. It's an interesting read. I think I was expecting more...scandal? Maybe it's because by now everyone knows the story of Watergate, so there's not as much "Oh my God!" to the book. It's interesting to read how the story unfolded, though.

So, for those of you who were alive during Watergate but who read the book, was it an "Oh my God!" book, or did you feel the same that everything in the book was already known?

I think I'd like to read the original articles from the Washington Post, though. That would probably have more of the wow factor.