The Library of Congress recently released a list of books that they felt had a great impact on the American psyche. They are quick to note that this is not a list of the best American books, but rather ones that sparked debate and forced Americans to think about who we are and how we […]
history
Vacation Book List
I realized today that I haven’t officially recognized the start of summer vacation on the blog yet. Hooray! Usually, summer for me means travel time. Sometimes it’s a few short trips, sometimes it’s something bigger (like the cruise in Alaska last summer). Additionally, for the past 7 years, the end of August has always meant […]
The Difficult Read
I’m reading a book right now that I know is going to take awhile to read. Not because it’s particularly lengthy, but because of the difficult subject matter. It’s about the life of U.S. Ambassador William Dodd and his family during their post in Berlin, right after the election of Hitler as chancellor, and through […]
Dream When You’re Feeling Blue
I had planned to post tonight about another book entirely, but the observance of Veteran’s day gave me a new idea. More specifically, I was inspired by my husband’s big band, currently performing in a 1940s- themed radio broadcast at the FDR home in Hyde Park, NY. The show includes 40s-era big band music, snippets […]
Lies My Teacher Told Me
In honor of the first week of school, here’s a nonfiction favorite of mine, James Loewen’s Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong. While the title is a great hook (and feeds into the popular teachers-as-villains theme this country is enjoying right now) it’s not really framed around teachers. Instead, […]