Welcome to Litsy!

In an early-adopted eccentricity that would for him become a central “law of life,“ he refused to seek an appointment or promotion of any kind. “I suppose I am morbidly sensitive about any reference to my own achievements,“ he admitted. “I so much despise a man who blows his own horn, that I go to the other extreme.“

Putting this out there for my fellow history nerds who may have watched the Netflix series that draws heavily from the tagged book (which is fabulous, by the way): I discovered a blog by a guy who has read and reviewed 260 presidential bios, from Washington to Obama. (He stopped where I would, too. 😖)

Some great stuff in here if you want to go down numerous rabbit holes: https://bestpresidentialbios.com/best-bios-summaries/

While I would certainly not call myself a presidential history enthusiast 😆, I‘m so glad the new Netflix series put this book and author on my radar because I‘m a big fan of both now. This was very well-written and engaging and tied together so many historical events and figures that I didn‘t realize were connected. (Not to mention I knew nearly nothing about Garfield, who was impressive.) Now I can‘t wait to dive into Death by Lightning!

Now that the Netflix series is out, I‘m listening to this one again. It was one of my favorites when I read it several years ago.

Finished listening to this one last night- and loved it!! I learned so much about President Garfield, who I really didn‘t know much about before. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Starting this today for my morning read!

#unreadbookshelf
#bookspinbingo

My “goal” for this year is to read more mindfully. To me, this means: to pay minimal attention to tracking and counting, and maximize my attention to the story, the writing, the experience of what I choose to read. It‘s been amazing! I joined my library‘s IRL bookclub, and I‘m also doing buddy reads with my 75yo mom - knowing that I‘ll discuss a book helps me focus and absorb. This one (w/Mom) made for excellent conversation! ⬇️

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 Story of President Garfield, his (very) brief time as President and his assassination. Turns out the gunshot probably wasn‘t fatal, but the questionable medical care he received was. Book was good, but the graphic descriptions of wound care before germ theory was understood and sterile precautions taken was 🤢.

Esther listening to audiobook Destiny of the Republic. I learned a lot about what a great man was President Garfield, how incredibly arrogant and harmful were the “team” of doctors who killed him with their ignorant methods, and how interesting some progressive thoughts may have had their successful impetus because of it all. Fascinating

I am ready? Hoping to finish my first audiobook in months - this heat makes it so difficult to take the dog on long walks (plus the husband keeps inviting himself 😟
#BookSpinBingo #August2022

Reading this book, it seems like Garfield would have been a good president if things had turned out differently. Sadly, that was not his destiny.

#PersonVsDestiny #ConflictedWorlds

I've had this book in my library for years before I casually picked it up and started reading. It's a fascinating story that gives a snapshot of the early Gilded Age with political intrigue that rivals our own. I should have read this years ago.

I knew very little about James Garfield before picking this up, other than that he had been assassinated. This was a fascinating look at his rise from poverty to President. The author ties in information of the state of medicine at the time which was also interesting (and horrifying) as many physicians‘ disbelief in antisepsis contributed greatly to Garfield‘s demise. It was a surprisingly quick read that I would highly recommend.

Amazing true account of the horrible demise of Garfield after an assassination attempt, caused by inadequate and dangerously ignorant medical care. Incredible how so many doctors knew so little although they were convinced they knew everything. Also includes some information about Alexander G Bell who worked to create a sonar machine to find the bullet. Fascinating history.

This was a reread for book club. Garfield was an amazing and inspirational man and leader. His medical care was chilling.

@Bookwormjillk thank you so much. I love the brochures. What a fantastic idea. I love history and I know I will devour this book. I also would like to visit more Presidents' homes. I've only been to Woodrow Wilson's.

@maleahrae thank you for organizing this swap. I mailed mine this past week.

Did Garfield die by the bullet of an assassin or the poor and unhygienic medical practices of the surgeons of the day? This is a very interesting historical biography of a President I knew little about and an assassination (or assassination attempt) I knew little about as well. An equally interesting look at the deranged mind of a murderer and the filthy medical practices of the day. 5/5 Stars

Wow! If you are an American history nerd, read this book! I found myself continually amazed that the story this book tells has not been adapted into a series. The delusional hubris of the assassin is bonkers, the ignorance and arrogance of the doctor is maddening, and now I just really want to find a book on Alexander Graham Bell. There‘s even some political villainy. Seriously. If you like history, give this a go.

One of the best books I‘ve read. Hands down. President Garfield was assassinated rather early into his presidency. However, Millard argues that the assassin‘s bullet was not the cause of his death. What follows is a riveting, jaw dropping look at medicine and doctor‘s practices of the late 19th century. It‘s so well written and so well informed, a perfect blend of narrative nonfiction and well documented research. #TheCallOfDestiny #SoaringScores

The title says it all—Millard‘s enthralling account of this little known (unless, I suspect, you are well versed in presidential history) event makes for a fascinating, “how in the world did all the pieces fall into place allowing this to actually happen,” read. Interweaving Garfield‘s rise from abject poverty to the White House with advances in medicine, Alexander Graham Bell & the life of Charles Guiteau, Millard‘s book is great. Recommended.

Going with nonfiction for my next book. This one won the Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime & is the story of James A. Garfield & his assassination by Charles Guiteau. Garfield narrowly defeated Winfield Scott Hancock in the 1880 presidential election & took office in March 1881. He was shot in early July & while Garfield survived, he succumbed to his injuries two months later due to an infection caused by dirty, unsterilized instruments.

Aside from knowing Garfield was born in the Cleveland area, I knew very little about his time as POTUS or his murder. I thought this book was one of the best I‘d read this year (leaving aside my feelings about AG Bell). It‘s astonishing to me that it took so long for germ theory/sterile practices to become recognized in medical practice. Garfield‘s death was gruesome and unnecessary.

I listened to the audiobook version of this for the second time today, and still really liked it. James A. Garfield is treated like a footnote to history, but he could have been so much more. The details of his murder and medical care are insane and unimaginable. I highly recommend this book.

Took a drive to Monticello today. Enjoying the tagged audiobook, and Jefferson‘s love of books.

Friday night in the park #Litsywalkers

I just spent *way* too long making collages of the 26 books I read in May! I‘m going to share more details on my 8 favorites, starting w/ nonfiction.

💔 DESTINY OF THE REPUBLIC: A TALE OF MADNESS, MEDICINE, AND THE MURDER OF A PRESIDENT by Candice Millard (5⭐️)

🍎 SAVE ME THE PLUMS by Ruth Reichl (4⭐️)

#howjessreadsin2019

I meant to share this #bfc update on Wednesday! Tucson is having its wettest May since like 1897. (If you‘re curious, that equals 1.5 days of rain. Lol.) So the saguaros are all in bloom! 🌵 I have been walking a lot, plus we‘ve gone swimming a few times. And I just finished book number 2 of my week. 🙂 #bookfitnesschallenge @wanderinglynn

“His eye was steady, and his face presented the appearance of a #brave man, who is determined upon a desperate deed, and meant to do it calmly and well.”

#QuotsyMar19 #31DaysOfNonFiction

Great book. History is not my forte and I learned a lot about President Garfields life and assassination. It angers me to know the ignorance and conceit of his doctor was also a cause to his death. It also angers and saddens me to know that political corruption is the same now as it was then, except there is way much more money involved now. Long, long, gone are the days when great men wanted what was best for the nation.

A friend sent me some books which I received today ☺️😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻! There's some folks outside of Litsy who get me.

See, told you I'm a non-fiction nerd. 🤓😆

4 books about presidents, 1 about law, 1 about the energy industry, 1 about government structure, 1 about American Old West history, and 1 about cosmology and physics.

Lordy! How many of you would this group of great reads (for me) put to sleep faster than Extra-Strength Zzzquil? 😆☺️

I listened to the audio. There wasn‘t as much biography as I was expecting. Much of it was politics, which I‘m not all that interested in, so I tuned out for a good portion of the first ½ to 2/3. What I found much more interesting was the medicine at the time. The suggestion of germs, something no one could see, was new and many doctors didn‘t want to believe it. Cont in comments...

It‘s strange: I actually savored this book. I fell in love with Garfield and didn‘t want his final moment to come. When it did, I was utterly devastated. I sat at my dining room table and cried. He would have been an amazing president. After the death of Lincoln, Garfield was truly our second chance to get things right. What could he have accomplished? What would America be right now, had Guiteau failed or had Bliss, et.al WASHED THEIR HANDS?!

My April book stats—15 books read! Definitely a good reading month! I found it funny that all three of my top picks were NF—and although Republic is a little wide in scope to be considered true crime imo, all three books center around murder.

This book was so good! Poor President Garfield! How tragic that he died and in a way that could have been prevented with modern medical treatment (mostly if the doctors had just washed their hands it would have helped). It seems like he would have been a great president if he had been able to serve his term. The book is well written and the author weaves several storylines together seamlessly. A #FreakyFriday pick that was on my TBR for years.

All the books I'm reading or think I'm about to read sit #OnMyNightstand. Things get out of hand pretty quickly. Especially since this doesn't even include the one on my Kindle. #12daysofbookstagram Day 7.

My husband is #tiredoftalking about this book. Pretty sure I kept him up last night with my rambling. But as much as I remember details of Lincoln‘s or Kennedy‘s assasinations, I didn‘t even remember that Garfield was killed. And this read so easily despite all the political talk in the beginning. The second half is where it really won me. Garfield would have easily lived through the shooting had it not been for horrific medical care. #aprella

Well I cried my eyes out in this one. Seventy-nine long days of suffering medical malpractice endured with grace, dignity, and good humor. If I‘m ever near the Garfield library I‘ll be sure to visit and I‘ll definitely be reading more of Millard.

Very interesting book! Handles the subject (the intersecting lives of Bell, Garfield, Garfield‘s assassin, and other important figures of the time) very well. Never felt slow, kept me involved the whole time. Would definitely recommend. Left me feeling like I really knew these historical figures and understood the time period at a new level.

Definitely an enjoyable read/listen. Millard does a great job distilling Garfield‘s file and weaving the narrative strands. The narration on the audiobook is also quite good. The comparison to The Devil in the White City is actually fairly spot on (for once); this book had the same blend of history and true crime for me.

I'm listening to Destiny of the Republic for a challenge slot of my local library's January reading challenge, a book by an author who lives in Kansas. I have also heard Candice Millard speak at a Literacy KC luncheon, and she was the special guest for the Stay Home and Read A Book Ball fundraiser, doing a Twitter Q&A, so it's neat to now experience some of her work. I knew very little about Garfield, this is interesting and accessible, recommend!

Thought this book was great but slightly biased. Would def recommend!

So interesting... and heartbreaking our nation didn't get a chance to live through a full term of his presidency... He sounds like he would've done great things for our country, had he been given the chance.

Im kind of between a so-so and a pick on this one. It was interesting to read about both Garfield and his assassin, and I started to like Garfield a lot, after all he was a fellow bookworm, and refused to be ruled by party bosses in one of the most corrupt times in American history. But the descriptions of Garfield's infected bullet wounds and wildly incompetent doctor got to me after awhile.

Garfield's opponent in the election of 1880, Democratic nominee Winfield Scott Hancock.

When people come up to me and say they usually loathe nonfiction history books but devoured this one, you know it's a good read. President Garfield's assassination shook the nation, but did the bullet really kill him? Millard has a theory, and backs it up with so much research, you'll probably agree with her by the end. Perfect narrative nonfiction - hard to believe she's writing about reality. #35bookparty