Katia > Recent Status Updates

Such fun! I loved the French-Italian painter with a bias against Englishmen. Peak dialogue. Ford and Alleyne’s banter over the painter’s painting/daughter. Perspectives bounce between the Comp. and the prince’s diverse entourage as a tourney begins. Jousting, combat, honor, and politics. Sam’s telling tales. Sir Nigel succeeds at the list! But wait!? Who is this mysterious knight? A Frenchman!
Ally or enemy?

[Reading as part of Hillsdale course]
Chapter Four highlighted the Revolution and the challenges of the early union. George Washington leads— the primary moral example. The French come to aide. Key documents (the Articles, Ordinance of 1787, and Constitution); the checks/balance system. It ends with a history of servitude/slavery in America, foreshadowing impending conflict. Reminders of imperfect human nature.

[Reading as part of Hillsdale course]
Tracing the culmination of the American principle of self-rule. From the unifying evangelical religious revival of the Great Awakening; the Scientific Revolution’s cosmological focus on order, design, and experimentation; to the Enlightenment’s emphasis on natural laws, reasoning, and an individual’s rights and responsibilities in relation to greater authority.
Revolution!

Some court politics. I’ll admit that I was a bit lost with the dialogue. The prince seems an admirable fellow, willing to lay down payment for what he perceives to be righteous causes. (Do I sense that he wants credibility? I can’t pin the age/goal of the guy.)
Oh! And Alleyne stands up for himself against a teasing & bulky brute. Most amusing. ‘Twas was an insult he took personally! I love how that played out.

[Reading as part of Hillsdale course]
Awesome chapter that demonstrated the realities of the world confronting the hopes of “utopia”—breeding forms of self-governance in English colonies. Religious background is acknowledged, from Luther & Calvin in the Protestant Reformation to King Henry VIII & his ruling daughters. Wow!
I can appreciate what the settlers had to endure.
DIG BOYS & 3 cheers for John Smith!!!

[Reading alongside Hillsdale online course]
Great intro, and I appreciate the clearly stated goal of this book. Solid quotes.
In Ch. 1, McClay goes over the first “unsettled from their homeland” peoples to migrate to America (using the 10-20,000 year ago timeline). Leif Eriksson mentioned. Christopher Columbus is given the proper commendation.

Searching for honor. Coastal pirates. Recognition of heritage. The rise of Bordeaux, France.
Alleyne, now a squire to Sir Nigel, is experiencing it all for the first time. He can scarce take it all in. He’s survived his first battle, and is now amidst a new land, finding famed friends… (and foes?) To be continued!

Highlights: A menacing brother, wayside philosophers, a bear, a clever maiden, and a severed leg. Ha!
What a fun mash-up of characters! The trio works well together. Strong and fiery John, the war (and women) experienced Sam Alyward, and fresh from the religious cloister Alleyne finally make their way to the welcoming castle of Sir Nigel Loring.
I love how Maude and Alleyne meet, and how their beliefs “clash”.

DREAD. DREAD. ABSOLUTE DREAD. This is not okay. AHHH. This is so sad. So awful. When you know what is supposed to happen… and seeing the events leading up to it happening… ahg!! I’m sick. Whyyy!?

At last, we are introduced to the trio.
The first chapter was my favorite thus far. John gets kicked out of the convent. I enjoyed the language Doyle uses. Going on, Sheltered Alleyne turns 20 and is permitted to experience the world before deciding if he’d like to join the holy orders. He sees some strange things. Then, boisterous Samkin shows up at the tavern, jolting the convent boys to a venture. What next!?

Reagan to Bush | Obama, Trump, Biden
Needed to mention recent tech advances, and how these affected politics/the public.
Learned more about the first Bush. Interesting. Clinton’s rise was also “newer” for me.
I wish the background was given for Trump and Biden, out of fairness. Instead, we get author takes.
And, I wish an author from “middle” America could add his opinion/take to most recent presidents.

LBJ to Carter
Not a fan of this time period in general. Not a fan of LBJ or Carter. Bothered by the rise of the power of media—how they shape hearts and minds, especially on handling of foreign policy. Corrupt and large govs. Nixon made some notable moves, unfortunately the highlights of his presidency are overshadowed by Watergate. Appreciate Ford’s hopeful outlook.
Carter- Pessimism to RR optimism, here we go!

FDR to JFK
Turbulent and rapidly changing times, with more media coverage and public access. (Also, more things withheld from the public.) Truman was the most interesting to me. I dislike First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. I like that Ike and his wife started to watch sitcoms at dinner—hints of more modern American habits. Tech progress, infrastructure, gov agencies, civil rights; Korean, Cold, and Vietnam Wars.

Taft to Coolidge
The Progressive Era and Roaring Twenties
I feel “enlightened” after these chapters.
Tubby Taft—I never knew about the Republican rift with T. Roosevelt, leading to Wilson’s election. Never have been a fan of Wilson, but appreciate what Churchill said about him. Loathe Harding. Scandalous. Gross. (Women, beware of voting upon looks!) “Silent Cal” Coolidge is a favorite. Quite respectable.

Johnson to T. Roosevelt.
Ok—Reconstruction and Gilded Age presidents.
Grant, a favorite. Fair assessment. Another unlikely favorite found in McKinley.
I want to know more about William Jennings Bryan, who ran multiple times.

Harrison to Lincoln.
Such turbulent times!
Shocked most to learn details about Franklin Pierce. Tragedy and alcoholism, yet a touching letter to Lincoln as they mourned their sons. Humanity demonstrated despite deep political differences. Interesting details about Zachary Taylor. I do wish more attention was given to Lincoln’s western policies. A touching assessment of his presidency, nonetheless.

Decent portrayals of Monroe, Quincy, Jackson, and Buren. Although, I would have liked to know Buren’s morning routine, as such was given for all the previous presidents discussed. Looking forward to learning about William Henry Harrison.

Interesting read thus far. I wish more attention was given to Thomas Jefferson’s chapter, and James Madison’s before the War of 1812–it focused on Dolley more. Readable, as it is broken down into manageable segments. Great work on tracing the “side characters”, like Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton.
Favorite part was the Marquis gifting an alligator to Adams. Sounds like the Marquis.

Ugh. Poison!? I feel like I predicted this—guessing now it’s one of the suitors? To see. The hint was dropped earlier on, the distrust sown… it’s gotta be who I’m thinking.

“Experience is irreversible.”
Kinda scared to go on…

Hilarious!

Act 2. Finding the language actually easy to understand, at the same time a moderate challenge.