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DBessie

DBessie

Joined September 2016

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DBessie
Washington: A Life | Ron Chernow
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I think my favorite thing I've learned about George Washington from this book (so far) is that he was apparently a huge flirt, and loved to hang out with all the pretty young ladies. #LLCoolG #SorryNotSorry

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DBessie
Locke | Joe Hill
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AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

*melts into puddle*

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DBessie
Washington: A Life | Ron Chernow
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Just a reminder that this Sunday marks the 240th anniversary of Washington crossing the Delaware, and the first major American victory of the Revolution. #RaiseAGlass

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DBessie
Washington: A Life | Ron Chernow
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Guys, it's time. I've been putting off this one, mostly because it's so long. Chernow's Hamilton was amazing, but it took a long while, and I've been hesitant to dive into something that will require a comparable investment of time. But I think I'm ready.
I'll probably need more coffee.

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DBessie
The Last Days of New Paris | China Miéville
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Pickpick

Miéville has this knack for dropping the reader into a world and keeping the world-building in the context and background. You pick up the history and vernacular of the story as you go. It can make his novels a little tough to invest yourself in at first, but it's always worth the effort.
This alternate WWII history is no different, except maybe for the index at the back where he explains the real life works of art he incorporated into the story.

alanacristin I've only read the city and the city which was a strange rhythm for me, but I'd like to check out more Mieville. Is this one a good starting point, you reckon? 7y
7 likes1 comment
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DBessie
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Pickpick

A quick, interesting read (despite the fact it took me several months to finish, it was really just a couple hours, with long interlude in the middle). Got this one from Lin-Manuel Miranda's list of books he used when researching Hamilton. He mentioned this as the book that changed his whole perspective on Aaron Burr, creating the sympathetic character we all love and weep for in the musical.
Anyway, the book's great, and Erebos agrees.

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DBessie
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"Her name was silence. His was power."

Guys, I don't know why, but for whatever reason, I expected this book to be FUNNY. Like, a sarcastic, making-fun-of-dudes-who-just-don't-get-it kind of funny. It is, a bit; but way more than that, it's NOT funny.
And yeah, laughter is great & makes us feel less alone & hopeless & crushed by the weight of the world - but I'm starting to think, this time, maybe we SHOULDN'T be laughing.

*more when I finish*

5 likes1 stack add
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DBessie
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Pickpick

A certain Broadway musical (coughHAMILTONcough) inspired an interest in Revolutionary War history, and Philbrick's book scratches that itch superbly. One can imagine the heartbreak felt by Americans when their admired hero fell into disgrace and treason. Despite its abrupt and, frankly, kind of unsatisfactory ending, this is a great story, and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to learn more about the creation of our nation.

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DBessie
Who Killed Piet Barol? | Richard Mason
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Pretty fing awesome. Richard Mason rigorously researched the history behind this novel, and does a tremendous job of getting inside his characters' heads to show the evolution of their thinking and how it affects their actions.

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DBessie
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Pickpick

A powerful collection of interviews, essays, and speeches by an important voice in civil (and feminist, and minority, and trans, and and and) rights activism.
A very interesting examination of intersectionality and the parallels between rights violations (and ND those violating rights) in the US and in Palestine.
VERY worthwhile read, and short, so read it twice, folks.

7 likes1 stack add