Status Updates From Robert E. Lee: A Biography

This book has most definitely rubbed away any shine from Robert E. Lee.

And it seems thanks are owed to stupid selfish Southern self-important and -deluded fools the North won the Civil War.

Christmas Day 1862, Robert E. Lee voiced - after living his own interpretation of Robert E. Howard's Conan ethos of living, loving, and slaying - that he was content.

First time the biographer identified emphasis as added - and there's been tons of emphasis to this point, which I've been wondering if it was Lee's or the author's. That question remains unanswered, but it is interesting he finally identifies his addition here.

What debacles happen when you don't demand attention and adherence! Finally Lee grew angry, but after far too long quietly trying to avoid conflict. What was more important: keeping the army alive and intact and ready to fight or placating incompetent faux commanders? So much wasted time, effort, and lives.

Not impressed with Granny Lee. He wasted energy, morale, and then allowed men to die in the future by simply pushing problems away and not maning up in the now.

Until these last 2 chapters the author sounded like he liked Lee; these last 2 he sounds more like he looks down upon him.

While the author continues to insert his opinions (at times loquaciously more annoying than others), I've not noticed disagreeing with him until his closing out of chapter 14 with the numbskull observation that R.E.Lee chose war on behalf of the South to avoid problems at home.

While this has actually been far more interesting than anticipated, and it is actually a very easy read (though the author fills it with his opinion), I have realized this book has really impeded my reading content, quality, and speed. Normally I read three or four books a month and that has proven difficult while reading this one. I take this to mean I am bored.

Is no one or nothing not dysfunctional in this world and time? The Lee family sounds odd. The peacetime military sounds just like in *Once an Eagle*.

Myths shatter frequently, and there's nothing different here.

Whew. Talk about dysfunctional families. Some good points made by Thomas in his preface. Though he does like to do what everyone who has ever written a term paper does: pads the page count by repeating himself through rewording. It has been interesting getting to discover the Lee family.