After a few months, here I am - ready to finally discuss 1776. Let's be clear: I finished this book on the plane to Aruba. I wanted to be sure I was done before I got down to some serious reading on vacation (which consisted mostly of an O The Oprah Magazine). Since then, I have taken on some good books - each with their own merits. They will each get their own blog in good time, but for now, we must complete our military campaign.
The title of this entry is from a song in the musical 1776 - I love this show and blame it for some of my difficulty in getting through the book. How is it possible to concentrate on David McCullough's painstakingly researched book when I keep humming, "He plays the violin..." or "Molasses to rum to slaves" or better yet "We're waiting for the chirp, chirp, chirp of an eaglet being born"? I really did have a hard time with this book, and even though I am a reasonably intelligent person who can appreciate books for lots of different reasons, I couldn't figure out why. Then, in the shower one day (the only quiet 10 minutes of my day) I had a thought.
I believe I am a character-driven reader. It seems to me that I am drawn to books that don't skimp on character development. Action, it seems, is somewhat secondary. When I read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and Sarah's Key I was surprised at my reaction to them. They are two World War II stories, both focusing on events and places that are often not highlighted in the mainstream - but Sarah's Key, while sad and interesting, felt pale next to The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society. I think this is because Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows did such a good job depicting their characters.
Now, let's apply this to 1776. I loved learning about George Washington because the primary source material in this book is just outstanding. Reading and actually seeing letters written by and about George Washington is like going back in time. I love seeing the handwriting and reading about the minutiae of the lives of historical characters. Even during the siege of Boston, Washington sent letters home about Mount Vernon's renovations and his dissatisfaction with some details of his kitchen. That, to me, is fabulous.
The military campaigns, on the other hand, lost me. I recognize that this is all about my own personal preference. I'd rather know more about the officer who lived with another soldier's wife in Boston. Give me more about Washington as a reluctant leader and one who made several questionable military decisions. And while the crossing of the Delaware was indeed compelling, there were times I never thought I would get out of Boston or New York. I worry somewhat that I am too focused on the pop culture of 1776. Am I looking for the Us Weekly and/or Facebook posts of the Revolutionary War? Maybe. But I prefer to think that character development is just the literary element that works for me.
This book clearly is a gem. The history in it and the research behind it are unbelievable. I appreciate this book because it made me look at my own reading preferences in a way I hadn't in a long time. I'm glad I got through it but I think I will turn back to the Broadway musical for now.
A note about future books - I have some fabulous material for my next couple of entries. I have read a lot in the last two months. But I am going to be getting a book called Room: A Novel by Emma Donoghue. I saw a review in the New York Times a while back and it caught my eye. Then my friend Kristen said she was going to read it for a book club. That's enough reason for me - at the very least she and I can discuss it. But it sounds intriguing and if anyone is looking to read along, that might be fun.
