Justifying my purchases

Just got home with another stack of books from the giant library book sale. I haven’t read all of the books from the last book sale. Or any of the books from the previous book sale. My must read pile is out of control. Plus, I haven’t had as much time to read lately. This pile of nine books is far more modest than usual and two of the books were on my must read list already, so it’s fine.

My new books (and justifications):

The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin is fascinating. I read Walter Isaacson’s biography of him before I started doodling along, so I’m short on Benjamin Franklin doodles.

I read H. W. Brands’ Heirs of the Founders: Henry Clay, John Calhoun and Daniel Webster, the Second Generation of American Giants and it was interesting. Despite all of the Johns Calhoun. Guys — it’s not just the one John Calhoun! Guess his wife’s father’s name! John Calhoun!!

I have higher hopes for this book because John Calhoun won’t be in it.

[checks to make sure]

Yeah, he’s not in it.

[exhales with relief]

Doodle inspired by H. W. Brands’ Heirs of the Founders: Henry Clay, John Calhoun and Daniel Webster, the Second Generation of American Giants. Calhoun has nothing to do with today’s book haul, so I’m not sure why he’s making an appearance. Since he’s here, I’ll mention that his dad’s name is Patrick. He’s not another John Calhoun. There were more flattering references I could have used for Floride, but she one of the Mean Girls in the Peggy Eaton affair and deserves a terrible doodle. But now when I went to share with you both a flattering image and the one I used… I discovered that the Floride Calhoun I drew was married to John E. Calhoun. For crap’s sake. I drew her mom. Because her mom’s name was also Floride Calhoun, I think I did not know previously. Her parents were John and Floride Calhoun. And she married a John Calhoun, keeping her name… and the same name as her parents. So not only is John Calhoun sticking his creepy face into this unrelated blog post, but now he’s taking up a lot of real estate with this super-long tangent.

Kissinger: A Biography

Speaking of Walter Isaacson, I picked up his biography of Henry Kissinger. Kissinger pops up from time to time, but I don’t know much about him. Here’s one of my previous doodles of him from last summer — he was still alive at 100. He’s on my list of 100 Centenarians … along with the wife of another centenarian, who was mortified to serve him water from a Tweety bird glass.

First Ladies: An Intimate Group Portrait of White House Wives

Written by Harry Truman’s daughter Margaret Truman. It would be rude not to add it to my pile.

The Nazi Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill

Because I read Josh Mensch and Brad Meltzer’s The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington and it was fantastic. It was also a blast to doodle. I know nothing about this plot, but I’m intrigued. (And terrified.)

Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI

Written David Grann, this is one of two purchases that were already on my must read list.

Carnegie's Maid ✔️

Grabbed this one by Marie Benedict because I needed some fiction to read that wouldn’t lead to any doodles. I suspect it will anyhow. That’s been happening a lot lately.

Robert Rogers of the Rangers

Added this one by John R. Cueno to the mix exclusively because I’m married to Robert Rogers. Not the one “of the Rangers”. One who has never been arrested for treason. And certainly not by both sides. My Robert Rogers, to my knowledge, has never published a very alliterative and Buzzfeedy-titled listicle about, well, anything. Definitely not about ranging. Robert Rogers (of the Rangers) popped up in The First Conspiracy, referenced above (doodle below).

This book is full of maps and war, two things that slow me down. It also snaps shut like a bear trap and for some reason has very large margins on the outsides and bottom of the page, but very tight margins in the middle … pulling all of the sentences into the gutter. It’s going to be a challenge to read. Nevertheless, I was delighted to add it to my pile.

Wish me luck!

The Bullfighter Checks Her Makeup: My Encounters with Extraordinary People

Because Susan Orlean is phenomenal.

Lady Bird Johnson: Hiding in Plain Sight

I actually gasped with excitement when I saw Julia Sweig’s book! This is the other one that was already on my must read list. The more I learn about Lady Bird, the more I admire her. (Check out Sweig’s podcast In Plain Sight: Lady Bird Johnson. So good.)

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At the risk of sounding like a dumdum, I’d like to admit (in tiny, difficult-to-read text) that I originally thought this was a Roosevelt-free haul… a huge departure from my heavily-saturated-with-Roosevelts hauls. But you may have noticed Roosevelt’s name In The Damned Title of one of these books. Eleanor also makes several appearances is First Ladies. But still!

NOTE: the ✔️indicates that I’ve read the book.

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PS If you’d rather hear about books that I actually did read, here are a few:

PPS Here’s my collection of library book sale hauls, past and present.