Curtis’s Reviews > King: A Life > Status Update
Curtis
is on page 366 of 688
Weird approach to March on Washington: very briefly goes through it without background, then backtracks and goes over it again but in much more detail with behind-the-scenes. Kind of showing what most people know about it first, then going over it again with lesser-known info. Unnsecessary to do it like that. Author seems to like LBJ better than JFK. Too much time again spent on cheating, incl. unverified 'rape tape'
— 22 hours, 48 min ago
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Curtis’s Previous Updates
Curtis
is on page 313 of 688
Solid, but feels cursory in places. Meticulous domestic depictions, breaking down what outfits everyone was wearing, the meals, anecdotes of MLK's kids etc. Yet misses key details about movement & its figures: nothing about Lawson's 'school of love' which trained protesters' discipline, or Septima Clark's freedom schools which taught adults literacy & civics--key parts of the movement. Good intro but not difinitive.
— Feb 05, 2026 08:03AM
Curtis
is on page 208 of 688
Solid, but not best use of space. Verbatim convos & addressing contrarian complaints about MLK leave things like political/strategic insights simplified. Very much a pop biography. Still learning new things; MLK's advice column interesting, especially views on women. Narrative moments like bus boycott or NAACP/MLK tensions well told. Novel-style approach keeps things easy/engaging. Just 'simpler' than expected.
— Feb 01, 2026 11:09AM
Curtis
is on page 139 of 688
Bit worried by how long its taking to get to MLK jumping into civil rights movement--its about to happen 1/4 through book. The rest must be truncated in order to fit. Too much time spent on plagiarism habit & dating history IMO. But high hopes for political aspects; Eig does fantastic job setting up segregation, specifically schooling & buses, contextualizing latter as most public humiliation site under segregation.
— Jan 29, 2026 08:14AM
Curtis
is on page 65 of 688
Original sources are highlight: recordings of MLK Sr, childhood friends, etc, bring early years to life. Eager to see how Eig integrates declassified FBI docs and broadens MLK. Mostly refresher so far, as I've read bios on him before, including Branch's mammoth trilogy. Still happy with this 'theatrical cut.' Strong narrative trajectory & defined characters. Learned some about MLK's grandparents too. Excited!
— Jan 26, 2026 11:58AM
