kwylie04
Columbus Metropolitan Library
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The Annotated U.S. Constitution and Declaration of IndependenceThe Annotated U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence, Book
Book - 2009Book, 2009
kwylie04's rating:
Added Aug 28, 2020
Washington and HamiltonWashington and Hamilton, BookThe Alliance That Forged America
by Knott, Stephen F.Book - 2015Book, 2015
kwylie04's rating:
Added Aug 24, 2020
Comment:
Very dry and dull, which was unfortunate. I've read several bios on both of these men, and found the work they did together absolutely fascinating, but this rendition just did not click for me.
Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton, BookThe Illustrated Biography
by Sylla, Richard EugeneBook - 2016Book, 2016
kwylie04's rating:
Added Aug 19, 2020
Comment:
A very thorough look at the life of Alexander Hamilton and the impact he has had on the development of not just the United States, but the world itself. An excellent, informative read that is aided by an amazing selection of pictures and illustrations. Definitely worth looking at.A very thorough look at the life of Alexander Hamilton and the impact he has had on the development of not just the United States, but the world itself. An excellent, informative read that is aided by an amazing selection of pictures and…
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The Queen's SecretThe Queen's Secret, BookA Novel of England's World War II Queen
by Harper, KarenBook - 2020Book, 2020
kwylie04's rating:
Added Aug 16, 2020
Comment:
I'm not normally someone who reads a lot of WWII historical fiction (did so as a kid/teen and honestly, I'm still kind of sick of them), but this promised to focus on Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who was such an interesting, remarkable person, so I thought why not give it a whirl?
My overall reaction? Eh. Harper basically decided to latch on to every tabloid claim about the Queen Mother (note: she wasn't the QM in the book yet since it takes place during WWII but that's the title most know her by so I'm going with that) she could find, and then added one or two on top of her own. While I'm sure this is done in an attempt to make the story shocking and interesting, it fell flat.
And really, overall, the book was very humdrum. The only real sense of building action was the question of whether or not the QM was going to tell her husband the secrets she was carrying around with her. One secret gets aired, and while Bertie is surprised, he is ultimately cool with it. The other, more horrible one, sits on the tip of the QM's tongue for nearly the entire second half of the book, but a timely intervention by Winston Churchill 'saves' her from having to tell Bertie.
It's strange that a book taking place during the most harrowing and terrifying time in the 20th century should be so utterly lackluster. There were some interesting moments, of course, primarily during the royal couple's time out among the people during the Blitz, but those alone do not make a novel. Overall, one just gets the feeling of plodding along, from beginning to end.I'm not normally someone who reads a lot of WWII historical fiction (did so as a kid/teen and honestly, I'm still kind of sick of them), but this promised to focus on Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who was such an interesting, remarkable person,…
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The Addams Family [2019]The Addams Family [2019], DVD
DVD - 2020DVD, 2020
kwylie04's rating:
Added Aug 14, 2020
Comment:
So much fun! Definitely worth watching!
Suitability
Ages 8
Hamilton and Peggy!Hamilton and Peggy!, BookA Revolutionary Friendship
by Elliott, LauraBook - 2018Book, 2018
kwylie04's rating:
Added Aug 13, 2020
Comment:
I absolutely loved this book! L.M. Elliott brings Peggy Schuyler to life, where she shines as the heroine of her own story. Seeing Peggy grow beyond being just the 'and Peggy' part of the famous Schuyler sisters was so much fun, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching Peggy play a part in the Revolution.
I did wish that there was a little more to Hamilton and Peggy's friendship within the story, but what we did get, I thoroughly enjoyed. Peggy being wary of Hamilton and his intentions toward Eliza, to the point where she braves one of the coldest winters on record to see things for herself was great. I particularly loved Peggy being protective and outraged on Eliza's behalf over that particularly insensitive letter that Hamilton sent Eliza about 'improving' herself.
At the heart of the story, though, is the relationship between the three sisters. From the beginning when Peggy and Eliza help Angelica elope with John Carter (something I think they all three came to regret), to their trials and tribulations throughout the war, it was amazing.
Overall, an amazing story! Excellently researched, and very well-written!I absolutely loved this book! L.M. Elliott brings Peggy Schuyler to life, where she shines as the heroine of her own story. Seeing Peggy grow beyond being just the 'and Peggy' part of the famous Schuyler sisters was so much fun, and I thoroughly…
Video: 'Hamilton and Peggy!' Book Trailer
A book trailer for 'Hamilton and Peggy!'
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Suitability
Ages 14
You Never Forget your FirstYou Never Forget your First, BookA Biography of George Washington
by Coe, AlexisBook - 2020Book, 2020
kwylie04's rating:
Added Aug 06, 2020
Comment:
Alexis Coe hits the nail on the head with this biography George Washington. In some places it is hilarious, in others it is unflinching in telling the truths of Washington's actions and behavior, and manages to encapsulate the man's life in just over 200 pages (quite a feat, when you consider the many other biographies written about the man, many of which compete for the superlative 'Best Imitation of a Brick').
I very much enjoyed Coe's writing style. While she does not go into minute detail about her subject (if you want that, see Ron Chernow or any other biography about Washington), she still does an excellent job exploring Washington's life, his relationships with other people - I particularly enjoyed her view of Washington's mother, giving her life and behavior a different spin than most writers do. She also provides a great deal of supplemental information in easy to read lists and/or tables.
If you're looking for an easy-to-read book about the nation's first President, one that doesn't overload you with facts and information, this is a book for you.Alexis Coe hits the nail on the head with this biography George Washington. In some places it is hilarious, in others it is unflinching in telling the truths of Washington's actions and behavior, and manages to encapsulate the man's life in just…
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The Secret Garden [1993]The Secret Garden [1993], DVD
DVD - 2009DVD, 2009
kwylie04's rating:
Added Aug 01, 2020
kwylie04's rating:
Added Jul 29, 2020
Comment:
This is an absolutely lovely method of telling Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton's life and legacy, which is every bit as important as her (in)famous husband's. I loved the illustrations, and the way the story was framed as a letter to her unborn great-grandchild, who would ultimately not be born until after her death. Beautifully done!
*I do have a few small quibbles, though: be wary of the selected bibliography and chronology at the end of the book. One of the books that is cited, Desmond's 'Alexander Hamilton's Wife: A Romance of the Hudson' is not something I would in any way call a credible source. It is more like historical fiction (and badly written historical fiction at that - the author inserts a character into the story that there is absolutely no evidence of, and to be frank, the whole thing is ridiculous). Also, the chronology claims that Eliza's son, James Hamilton, completed Alexander's biography after Eliza's death - incorrect. It was actually one of Eliza's other son, John Church Hamilton, who did that. This may just be a misprint, but just providing fair warning.This is an absolutely lovely method of telling Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton's life and legacy, which is every bit as important as her (in)famous husband's. I loved the illustrations, and the way the story was framed as a letter to her unborn…
Suitability
Ages 6
Alexander Hamilton, RevolutionaryAlexander Hamilton, Revolutionary, Book
by Brockenbrough, MarthaBook - 2017Book, 2017
kwylie04's rating:
Added Jul 27, 2020
Comment:
Martha Brockenbrough hits the nail on the head in this for-teens biography of the Ten Dollar Founding Father, bringing him to life and telling his story in a way that catches the reader's attention and doesn't let go until the final page. I admit I was hesitant to try this book, as my experience with biographies written for younger people hasn't always been a good one, but I am so glad that I took the chance. I enjoyed every bit of it, and learned quite a bit as well.
Brockenbrough writes in an easy-to-follow style without turning the book into a fictionalized narrative like some authors do when they try to write biographies. Although she doesn't necessarily keep a neutral tone - it's quite clear that she very much liked Hamilton, flaws and all - she doesn't let her admiration for the man get out of control. She makes no bones about Hamilton's bouts of selfishness, though she does try to explain them and how they come about in the context of the world he lived in.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this biography. A great way to introduce the real Hamilton to not just teen readers, but also I think to adult readers who might be intimidated by Chernow's brick of a biography (which, don't get me wrong, I loved it) or thick, scholarly treatments of the man. This one gets the point across without drowning a person in information, and introduces you to the many aspects of his life and work without overwhelming you. A great read!Martha Brockenbrough hits the nail on the head in this for-teens biography of the Ten Dollar Founding Father, bringing him to life and telling his story in a way that catches the reader's attention and doesn't let go until the final page. I admit I…
The Essential HamiltonThe Essential Hamilton, BookLetters & Other Writings : America's Most Controversial Founder--in His Own Words
by Hamilton, AlexanderBook - 2017Book, 2017
kwylie04's rating:
Added Jul 17, 2020
Comment:
I absolutely loved this selection of Alexander Hamilton's so very extensive writings! My particular favorites are his letters to his wife Eliza (Hamliza FTW!), but I also loved the rest as well! The letters to John Laurens, his children, sister-in-law Angelica, Washington, etc. were absolutely fascinating, and I inhaled every bit of it!
The Reynolds Pamphlet... Damn it, Ham. Reading that kind of made me want to reach back through history and shake him. Hard. Even more so in reading the letters that led up to that fateful duel with Aaron Burr. (And one can seriously see how thoroughly Lin-Manuel Miranda read those letters - I can almost hear 'Your Obedient Servant' playing as I read them.)
Quite possibly my only quibble (and I don't take points off for it because it doesn't really detract from my overall enjoyment of the book) is the cover. There are so many amazing portraits of Hamilton, and the publisher went with this one? Ugh.
A really great read for any Hamilton enthusiast!I absolutely loved this selection of Alexander Hamilton's so very extensive writings! My particular favorites are his letters to his wife Eliza (Hamliza FTW!), but I also loved the rest as well! The letters to John Laurens, his children,…
Eliza HamiltonEliza Hamilton, BookThe Extraordinary Life and Times of the Wife of Alexander Hamilton
by Mazzeo, Tilar J.Book - 2018Book, 2018
kwylie04's rating:
Added Jul 11, 2020
Comment:
I was so excited when I found out about this book. A biography for Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton? Anyone who has any liking for 'Hamilton' would no doubt be over the moon for such a thing. In this case, though, I was profoundly disappointed with what I found. Shoddy research, poor editing, and and crappy writing and general made reading this book an exercise in pain. I wanted to bash my head against the wall in sheer frustration from the first page to the last.
First and foremost is the writer's theory that the affair between Alexander Hamilton and Maria Reynolds never happened and that it was a cover up for financial improprieties committed by Hamilton at the behest of his wife's family. Um... what? Seriously? Where is the actual evidence? Hamilton's conduct within the Treasury was investigated multiple times both during his tenure and after he left office. No evidence was ever found.
In addition to this, there are the errors. The claim that Eliza had waited fifty-five years to be reunited with Hamilton? Uh, he died in 1804. Eliza died in 1854. That is fifty years. Basic math here, people. Claiming that Eliza Hamilton Holly was "twice a widow"? Since when? She married Sydney Holly, and that's it. Don't even get me started on the family tree provided in the first pages of the book. *eyeroll*
Then there's the writing. When I started reading this, I was immediately disappointed to find the whole damn thing written in a fictionalized style. One of the reviewers says that it "reads like a novel". That isn't exactly something I want to hear when it comes to a biography. I don't mind when it's a paragraph or two, when the author wants to 'set the stage' or something, but to have the whole thing read like a really bad historical novel was deeply disappointing.
By the time I got to the part I had been looking forward to the most, Eliza's life *after* Hamilton, I was disappointed to find it so short, only about fifty-odd pages. WTF? This is a biography of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, and yet nearly half of her life only takes up a tiny fraction of the book? And given the shoddiness of the rest of the book, I didn't feel like I could trust anything said in this section either, though I was desperate to learn more about Eliza's relationships with her kids in those later years.
Profoundly disappointing. Here's to hoping that someone will make a serious attempt to write a biography about this remarkable and amazing woman that will drown this one out.I was so excited when I found out about this book. A biography for Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton? Anyone who has any liking for 'Hamilton' would no doubt be over the moon for such a thing. In this case, though, I was profoundly disappointed with what…
HamiltonHamilton, DVDBuilding America
DVD - 2017DVD, 2017
kwylie04's rating:
Added Jul 11, 2020
Comment:
A very interesting documentary covering the life and deeds of Alexander Hamilton. I particularly liked the point that they make about how the bitter political feuds and divides that we see today are not a new thing, but are in fact a legacy that stems back to this country's very founding.A very interesting documentary covering the life and deeds of Alexander Hamilton. I particularly liked the point that they make about how the bitter political feuds and divides that we see today are not a new thing, but are in fact a legacy that…
HamiltonHamilton, BookThe Revolution : Being the Complete Libretto of the Broadway Musical, With A True Account of Its Creation, and Concise Remarks on Hip-hop, the Power of Stories, and the New America
by Miranda, Lin-ManuelBook - 2016Book, 2016
kwylie04's rating:
Added Jul 06, 2020
Comment:
There are no words to describe how wonderful this book is! I loved learning about LMM's process and development of 'Hamilton'. Now I watch the musical and so much of it gains an even deeper meaning to me after having read this book. So wonderful!
Riviera GoldRiviera Gold, BookA Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes
by King, Laurie R.Book - 2020Book, 2020
kwylie04's rating:
Added Jul 02, 2020
Comment:
I took my time reading this book, the latest adventure of the indomitable Mary Russell and her partner and husband, Sherlock Holmes, and I'm so glad that I did. Normally I inhale the latest installment when it comes out, drinking it in like someone overly parched. This one, though, I savored like a fine wine, and I think I enjoyed it all the more in taking my time with it.
After wrapping up their investigation in Venice, Russell accepts a friend's invitation to sail to Monte Carlo, where she hopes to meet up with Mrs. Hudson, who had departed from Sussex under some very shady and stressful circumstances several weeks before (the events of which are explored in The Murder of Mary Russell). Eventually Russell gets her wish, though not under the circumstances that she would have wished for.
This story has everything for the perfect summer read - a gorgeous setting, mysterious (and dangerous) characters, rumors of lost gold, smuggling, and an overall sense of drama that is undeniably exciting. And at the heart of everything is Russell and Holmes' unshakable relationship, and I never fail to smile when these two reunite after time apart to investigate their latest case.I took my time reading this book, the latest adventure of the indomitable Mary Russell and her partner and husband, Sherlock Holmes, and I'm so glad that I did. Normally I inhale the latest installment when it comes out, drinking it in like someone…
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Suitability
Ages 15
kwylie04's rating:
Added Jun 26, 2020
Comment:
An excellent biography that did amazing things in the realm of Hamiltonia. A) It returned Hamilton to the interest of people other than scholars who have devoted their careers to the man (like the esteemed Dr. Joanne Freeman). B) It served as the inspiration for Lin-Manuel Miranda's cultural phenomenon, 'Hamilton: An American Musical' (just one week to go before the film version airs on Disney+ at the time of writing this review!).
Now, some things have changed since this biography was written and a few things have been found by subsequent research that put paid to some of the things Chernow asserted in the book, but that does not change the fact that this is still an excellent biography in most respects. It's written very well, allowing for most people to follow along (provided they have the patience to stick with it - it is 800+ pages, afterall!).
Possibly my only real quibble for it is the treatment of Eliza, and the implication that it took both her *and* her sister, Angelica, to be the 'ideal' woman for Hamilton. I know that we have Hamilton's letters to Angelica that show him writing about his political battles and such, but that doesn't necessarily mean that Eliza was not aware of these things as well. We just don't have a written record of them because, more often than not, Eliza was with Hamilton. She was there on the ground, supporting him in his career and not just being his baby momma. And she was the one who did the bulk of the work in preserving his legacy after he was gone. He wrote these things to Angelica because for many years she was on the other side of a damn ocean, away from the events that were happening here in America. But that's just my own take on the matter.
Overall, I absolutely loved this biography! A fascinating man who has now taken his place in the pantheon of Founding Fathers. Washington was the Father of His Country, Jefferson the writer of the Declaration, Madison the Father of the Constitution, but Hamilton was the Father of the American Government. It is because of him that we have so many institutions that are still with us today (the Treasury, the Coast Guard, etc). He too deserves to be remembered. His enemies may have tried to ruin his rep and make America forget him, but Eliza Hamilton (and her son and all the other subsequent biographers and scholars) kept his story alive until it could finally be sealed within the public consciousness for good.An excellent biography that did amazing things in the realm of Hamiltonia. A) It returned Hamilton to the interest of people other than scholars who have devoted their careers to the man (like the esteemed Dr. Joanne Freeman). B) It served as the…
Similar Titles (5)
Alexander Hamilton, AmericanAlexander Hamilton, American, Book
by Brookhiser, RichardBook - 1999Book, 1999The Essential HamiltonThe Essential Hamilton, BookLetters & Other Writings : America's Most Controversial Founder--in His Own Words
by Hamilton, AlexanderBook - 2017Book, 2017
Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton, Graphic NovelThe Graphic History of An American Founding Father
by Hennessey, JonathanGraphic Novel - 2017Graphic Novel, 2017
kwylie04's rating:
Added Jun 21, 2020
Comment:
Sadly, I didn't find this to be one of the better Alexander Hamilton-related pieces that I've read. Though under 200 pages, it was far too densely packed with background information, and not enough dialogue. As a result, it was rather mind-numbing trying to read it all, and by the latter half, I was pretty much just thumbing through it. It really just felt like this should have been a short biography, and that the artwork illustrating it was completely unnecessary.
What's more, I was disappointed that Hennessey seems to fall back on the old, outdated treatment of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, that she was essentially just an incubator for Hamilton's children and played no part at all in his public life. Many of his treatises are at least partially in her handwriting! She supported his ambitions, and played a huge part in the social whirl of the early days of the American government, which was no small thing! She conversed with and entertained the wives, daughters, and sisters of the men Hamilton had to work with, thereby helping to enlist their support for the measures he was trying to get through Congress. She witnessed his writing of Washington's Farewell Address!
And I disliked the implication that Eliza was "often ill" (um, where did that assertion come from, exactly?), and how that implication was used to excuse or justify Hamilton's affair with Maria Reynolds. His wife is sick all the time so he's perfectly justified in getting some nookie on the side? WTF?
Overall, the pacing of the book left a lot to be desired. The American Revolution alone takes up almost half of the book, and there's very little in the way of transitioning from one aspect of the story to the other. More than once I had to go back to make sure I hadn't accidentally skipped a page.
In the end, I just couldn't really get into the story, which was a shame.Sadly, I didn't find this to be one of the better Alexander Hamilton-related pieces that I've read. Though under 200 pages, it was far too densely packed with background information, and not enough dialogue. As a result, it was rather mind-numbing…
Saving MonticelloSaving Monticello, BookThe Levy Family's Epic Quest to Rescue the House That Jefferson Built
by Leepson, MarcBook - 2001Book, 2001
kwylie04's rating:
Added Jun 08, 2020
kwylie04's rating:
Added Jun 08, 2020
Daughters of ChivalryDaughters of Chivalry, BookThe Forgotten Princesses of King Edward Longshanks
by Wilson-Lee, KelceyBook - 2019Book, 2019
kwylie04's rating:
Added Jun 06, 2020
Comment:
In 'Daughters of Chivalry', Kelcey Wilson-Lee does a fabulous job restoring the daughters of Edward I of England, proving that medieval princesses were far more than what the stereotypical damsel-in-distress, helpless pawn of powerful men image they've gained in recent times would suggest. Wilson-Lee writes with an easy style, making the book engaging and a delight to follow.
Before this book, I knew next to nothing about these women, though I admit to knowing a fair bit more about their more famous brother and sister-in-law. Learning how these women forged their own paths within the patriarchal world they lived in - and with one of the most intense fathers imaginable (they do not call Edward I "the Hammer of the Scots" for a cuddly attitude, after all) - was an absolute treat. So often people think that princesses in the medieval world had no agency, that they were merely pawns to be moved for the advantage and advancement of men. But these were real women, with minds and hearts and ambitions of their own, and they played their hands well, leading lives on their own terms within the hands they were dealt.In 'Daughters of Chivalry', Kelcey Wilson-Lee does a fabulous job restoring the daughters of Edward I of England, proving that medieval princesses were far more than what the stereotypical damsel-in-distress, helpless pawn of powerful men image…
The Hamilton AffairThe Hamilton Affair, eBookA Novel
by Cobbs, ElizabetheBook - 2016eBook, 2016
Available
kwylie04's rating:
Added May 21, 2020
My Dear HamiltonMy Dear Hamilton, Downloadable AudiobookA Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton
by Dray, StephanieDownloadable Audiobook - 2018Downloadable Audiobook, 2018
All copies in use
Holds: 0 on 1 copy
Holds: 0 on 1 copy
kwylie04's rating:
Added May 18, 2020
Comment:
Gorgeously narrated. I was left in tears more than once. A beautiful story.
Martha Jefferson Randolph, Daughter of MonticelloMartha Jefferson Randolph, Daughter of Monticello, BookHer Life and Times
by Kierner, Cynthia A.Book - 2012Book, 2012
kwylie04's rating:
Added May 18, 2020
Comment:
I was very excited to find this book and got my hands on it just as COVID19 forced the library to shut down. I've read a few historical fiction renderings of Martha's life (America's First Daughter, Monticello: A Daughter and Her Father), which I greatly enjoyed, but one of the most frustrating things they have in common is that they pretty much wrap up at the death of Jefferson. I have always wanted to know more about Martha's later life after the death of her father.
Ultimately, I enjoyed the book very much, although it could be very dry in some spots, which led me to skim over them. Definitely worth a look, though.I was very excited to find this book and got my hands on it just as COVID19 forced the library to shut down. I've read a few historical fiction renderings of Martha's life (America's First Daughter, Monticello: A Daughter and Her Father), which I…
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Similar Titles (3)
Jefferson's DaughtersJefferson's Daughters, BookThree Sisters, White and Black, in A Young America
by Kerrison, CatherineBook - 2018Book, 2018The Hemingses of MonticelloThe Hemingses of Monticello, BookAn American Family
by Gordon-Reed, AnnetteBook - 2008Book, 2008
kwylie04's rating:
Added May 16, 2020
Comment:
I came into this book with high expectations. After having so thoroughly enjoyed the 'Hamilton' soundtrack and also having read Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie’s delightful book, 'My Dear Hamilton', I expected to have another beautifully wrought rendition of the life of the amazing, remarkable woman who was Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, Founding Mother, Philanthropist, wife and widow of Alexander Hamilton.
Unfortunately, this was not the case, at least for me. After seeing how thoroughly fleshed out the characters of this story could be, how their story could be so skillfully brought to life, 'I, Eliza Hamilton' regrettably did not hold up in comparison, or even on its own merits. As I read, I felt like I was watching a bunch of one-dimensional paper dolls act this entire story out, completely without any real substance. None of them felt real. Hamilton and Eliza might argue a little, for example, but it’s resolved within a paragraph or two. There is no lasting impact of these arguments, as there realistically would be.
To be honest, there was also literally no drama at all to this story. The only suspense I felt is that which came from me, because I know the story. I know what significance the summer of 1791 is, I know what happened in December 1792, or August 1797. The story is being told from Eliza’s perspective, and yet it feels more like she is observing the narrative, rather than being part of it. She stands off to the sidelines, completely clueless as to what is going on until it is spoon-fed to her. That hardly makes for exciting reading.
Then there comes the events of August 1797, when Hamilton writes the Reynolds Pamphlet. Eliza’s overall reaction to the whole thing had literally no real emotion to it. There is nothing here that convinces me that this is hugely upsetting. There is no depth.
Really, the only character whose reaction to that whole miserable episode had any impact at all on me was Phillip Schuyler, who was furious and likely *this close* to grabbing his pistol and shooting his son-in-law. But don’t get your hopes up of any lasting grudge. By the next chapter Hamilton is again the favorite son-in-law, and it's as if nothing ever happened. Again, there feels as though events and actions have no lasting impact on the characters.
I was also saddened that the story of Eliza ended with Alexander’s death. Eliza lived for *fifty years* after Aaron Burr killed her husband, and yet all of that is left to a couple of pages of an afterword. Honestly, it was told better by “Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story”.
I really wanted to like this book when I started it. Eliza is a fascinating character, and I wish there was more books devoted to her, both historical fiction and serious scholarship. But I want books that really get into the character’s head, and that flesh them out and make me believe that they are real, living people. This book just didn’t do that for me.I came into this book with high expectations. After having so thoroughly enjoyed the 'Hamilton' soundtrack and also having read Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie’s delightful book, 'My Dear Hamilton', I expected to have another beautifully wrought…
Similar Titles (7)
My Dear HamiltonMy Dear Hamilton, BookA Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton
by Dray, StephanieBook - 2018Book, 2018
My Dear HamiltonMy Dear Hamilton, BookA Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton
by Dray, StephanieBook - 2018Book, 2018
kwylie04's rating:
Added May 11, 2020
Comment:
Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie have struck gold yet again in mining the story of one of the Founding Mothers of the United States, bringing to life the story of Elizabeth “Betsey/Eliza” Schuyler Hamilton. Through evocative prose, this woman’s life-story unfolds in all its glory and despair, triumph and tragedy. I don’t know that I have the words to fully convey how much I loved this book, but I will do my best.
Eliza’s life has been relegated to obscurity until recent years, thanks in most part to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash hit Broadway musical, 'Hamilton: An American Musical'. While at first glance the play is about her husband, one can also make the case that it is about Eliza too, since it was ultimately her that came to control the narrative of her husband’s life, keeping it alive when so many others wished to see it buried and forgotten. But now thanks to the musical and the story it tells, people have begun to look at Eliza – and her husband – with renewed interest. Of course, in Eliza’s case, most hit the brick wall that is a distinct lack of primary sources, since only a small number of her letters remain, mostly from dates after her husband’s death, but that has not ended the interest, and as Dray and Kamoie say in their author’s note, this is where historical fiction writers step in where biographers and historians fear to tread.
And these two step in with style. The emotions they evoked in this story reduced me to tears on multiple occasions. Thank goodness for the box of tissues nearby. Dray and Kamoie did a brilliant job crafting the threads that wind through the book.
Overall, this was an absolutely brilliant book! A must-read for 'Hamilton' fans, and for those who are interested in the women of the Founding generation.Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie have struck gold yet again in mining the story of one of the Founding Mothers of the United States, bringing to life the story of Elizabeth “Betsey/Eliza” Schuyler Hamilton. Through evocative prose, this woman’s…
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Quotations
- I see all of them in Monroe's gray eyes. Jefferson. Burr. Adams. Every man who spread lies about us or tried to climb up a bloody ladder of political power, the rungs of which were made from my family's bones. Which is why I won't surrender. They cannot have my country. They cannot have my flag. And they cannot have my dear Hamilton.I see all of them in Monroe's gray eyes. Jefferson. Burr. Adams. Every man who spread lies about us or tried to climb up a bloody ladder of political power, the rungs of which were made from my family's bones. Which is why I won't surrender. They…
- "No man should be judged only for his best act or his worst. By only his greatness or his flaws."
Video: 'My Dear Hamilton' Book Trailer
A book trailer for 'My Dear Hamilton', created by one of the book's authors, Stephanie Dray.
Similar Titles (19)
Suitability
Ages 15
Comment: