Thirteen Days by Robert F. Kennedy
I don't have much to say about this one. It's a short memoir of one event. Many of the important details are obviously and understandably left out. It feels a bit incomplete because of this, but it is very informative for someone like me who was not around to have my own memories of the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Thirteen Days is a quick read, so it's worth it. Just don't expect anything substantive, challenging, or earth-shattering. It is what it is.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
82 Days
The Last Campaign: Robert F. Kennedy and 82 Days that Inspired America by Thurston Clarke
First, I must say that I am a fan of narrowly scoped biographies. So much more can be learned by focusing on a small, rather specific, event or period of time as opposed to trying to capture a man or woman's entire life into one book.
By focusing on the 82 days between Bobby Kennedy's announcement that he would run for President and the night of his assassination, Clarke was able to show the ebbs and flows of Kennedy's final days. In this book, we are able to see development of campaign. Through the pages, we witness Robert Kennedy throwing his full person into his bid to win the Democratic nomination. I never knew how much his desire to become President consumed him.
Obviously, we know how the story ends. How we get there is fascinating.
Through the memories and memoirs of those who traveled the country with him during those 82 days, we are with Kennedy when he finds out Lyndon Johnson decided not to seek re-election. We are with him in the hours and days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We are with him when he loses the Oregon primary and becomes the first Kennedy to lose an election.
It is amazing to me that after 40 years, Clarke was able to paint such an emotional portrait of the man, that he was able to provide a very clear picture of what seemingly made the man tick.
I must also laud the author for refraining from taking potshots at those with dissimilar political views. That never makes for good reading.
As it stands, I think The Last Campaign is just about as good as it could be. If it feels incomplete, it is only because Robert Kennedy's life was. I highly recommend it for anyone with any interest in Bobby Kennedy.
A-
First, I must say that I am a fan of narrowly scoped biographies. So much more can be learned by focusing on a small, rather specific, event or period of time as opposed to trying to capture a man or woman's entire life into one book.
By focusing on the 82 days between Bobby Kennedy's announcement that he would run for President and the night of his assassination, Clarke was able to show the ebbs and flows of Kennedy's final days. In this book, we are able to see development of campaign. Through the pages, we witness Robert Kennedy throwing his full person into his bid to win the Democratic nomination. I never knew how much his desire to become President consumed him.
Obviously, we know how the story ends. How we get there is fascinating.
Through the memories and memoirs of those who traveled the country with him during those 82 days, we are with Kennedy when he finds out Lyndon Johnson decided not to seek re-election. We are with him in the hours and days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We are with him when he loses the Oregon primary and becomes the first Kennedy to lose an election.
It is amazing to me that after 40 years, Clarke was able to paint such an emotional portrait of the man, that he was able to provide a very clear picture of what seemingly made the man tick.
I must also laud the author for refraining from taking potshots at those with dissimilar political views. That never makes for good reading.
As it stands, I think The Last Campaign is just about as good as it could be. If it feels incomplete, it is only because Robert Kennedy's life was. I highly recommend it for anyone with any interest in Bobby Kennedy.
A-
My Intentions
I intend to use this blog to review, discuss, and share my feelings about things I read. It will vary from fiction to nonfiction, sports to politics, books to newspaper columns, advertisements to websites. Whatever I read.
When it comes to reviews, I thought about going with a 4 or 5-star system, but I decided that is too restrictive. If I use a system that includes half-stars, I might as well double the total value, right? In the end, I decided to go with letter grades. A, B, C, D, and F (with pluses and minuses).
Anyway, the first two reviews should be up in the next day or two.
When it comes to reviews, I thought about going with a 4 or 5-star system, but I decided that is too restrictive. If I use a system that includes half-stars, I might as well double the total value, right? In the end, I decided to go with letter grades. A, B, C, D, and F (with pluses and minuses).
Anyway, the first two reviews should be up in the next day or two.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)