The American Civil War discussion

Would anyone here be interested in doing a group read of one or more of the following books ... over at least a month ,,, they are all chunksters.

Doris Kearns Goodwin Team of Rivals
Ron Chernow Grant
Michael Korda Clouds of Glory, The Life and Legend of Robert E. Lee

Hi MaryAnn! You may have noted from a different thread that I lean towards reading about off the battlefield issues. The good news would be I probably have somewhat limited knowledge of both Grant & Lee :) I've also seen Doris comment on DVDs and like her approach/knowledge .. so guess we couldn't go wrong by me :)

I would like to get maybe 3 or 4 of us to commit if possible so we could have an ongoing discussion of the "chunkster" (I'm a very slow reader and need to absorb & come up for air once in awhile :)

Hopefully I'll inspire some voting .. I'll peruse my good local used bookstores in the meantime to see if I can pick up any of these guys.

I am also a slow reader and these books are all complex and long.
That's why I said a month each at least, more is better, I don't like to hurry.

I am willing to wait for 4 of us, it has taken me this long ;-)

Sounds like fun! I am taking class class on the Civil War right now

Hi Richard ! What is the class about?

The class is part of my masters in military history (almost done, thank god!) and is called "Era of the Civil War". We start in the 1850s and work through reconstruction. The textbook is McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...) as well as Freehling's The South vs. the South (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...), and of course a ton of optional reading.

For my final paper topic in the class I'm writing about the historiography of representations of U.S. Grant over time.

I didn't have the Korda book, I picked that up, but the book on Grant I will be starting soon and Goodwin's Team of Rivals is long but looks really interesting.

Sounds like a great class and congratulations on being close to being done. Team of Rivals is supposed to be an excellent book.

Looking forward to getting started !

I have all three of these books. Started Team of Rivals years ago, but haven't gotten back to it lately.

Currently reading "They Have Killed Papa Dead!": The Road to Ford's Theatre, Abraham Lincoln's Murder, and the Rage for Vengeance. Assassination is done and they are taking Booth's body back to DC. So I am closing in on the end (maybe not the end yet) on this hulking one. But very well written and researched.

Jan C wrote: "I have all three of these books. Started Team of Rivals years ago, but haven't gotten back to it lately.

Currently reading [book:"They Have Killed Papa Dead!": The Road to Ford's Theatre, Abraham ..."

I have this book as well. It is on my TBR LOL I have a lot of books on my TBR

MaryAnn (EmilyD1037) wrote: "Jan C wrote: "I have all three of these books. Started Team of Rivals years ago, but haven't gotten back to it lately.

Currently reading [book:"They Have Killed Papa Dead!": The Road to Ford's The..."

Join the club!

it has also been suggested that we read West from Appomattox: The Reconstruction of America after the Civil War

so, any thoughts on the first read? What would your choice be?

I now have all four of them so I'm good either way.

West from Appomattox: The Reconstruction of America after the Civil War

Please vote below if you would like to start with the book listed above.

If not, write in your vote: (only 1 ) we will go with the voted majority.

Doris Kearns Goodwin Team of Rivals
Ron Chernow Grant
Michael Korda Clouds of Glory, The Life and Legend of Robert E. Lee

I am hoping for at least three to participate to begin with and even more when everyone sees what a great group we are.

I can "lead" the reading group or someone else can. Please be aware, it will move slowly if I am leading. Depending on the book, maybe a chapter a week with "friendly" discussion.

Works for me

As noted, I'm okay with any of the books. I don't exactly read in a hurry either.

Richard and Jan, it looks like it is just we three ... but we are enough;
anyone else that wants to join may jump in anytime.

I will get a discussion thread set up this weekend. Start reading whenever you are ready.

Hopefully not too late .. tho I'll go along with any book we choose. Been leaning towards Doris Goodwin's Team of Rivals and appears might be some other slight leans that way as well :) Didn't realize til the other day that the book was about Lincoln and the fascinating cast of characters surrounding him ...

Do see it's 900+ pgs. Took me a month each to read my last 2 400 pagers and I'm 2 weeks & 200 pgs into a Thad Stevens biography right now . so appears my pace is eerily consistent :)

Note: I will have to pick up a copy of whichever book we choose, but wouldn't anticipate that being a problem .. and will be more than happy to catch-up if need be.

Ok, MaryAnn - do your darnedest :)

Team of Rivals sounds like a great book ... we all have it and want to read it. It is "people driven" rather than "period driven" so will be a good "neutral" beginning for all of the group.

It is slightly less then 800 pages (paperback edition), dense and meaty, multiple major characters, and ripe with discussion possibilities.

My proposal:
We do Team of Rivals as a quarterly read beginning April 1st.
We can cover 9 chapters per month, with 8 in the final month.
I will look for some discussion questions and post in a new thread.
I can work on it this week to be ready by the 1st.

I have never led a reading group before, but I will do my best.

I am excited to read with you all !

Read and discussion thread has been created.
See you there !

Happy to read Team of Rivals - but I'm not going to re-start it.

I have to find it and not sure how far I am in it.

So glad you are happy !!

No problem ! I wouldn't want to start over either.
I also couldn't remember that long, so would probably have to though ;-)

MaryAnn (EmilyD1037) wrote: "Team of Rivals sounds like a great book ... we all have it and want to read it. It is "people driven" rather than "period driven" so will be a good "neutral" beginning for all of the group.

It is..."

Good choice MaryAnn & a nice short inviting intro! As an aside, the writer in me thinks even the strongest story crumbles without engaging characters & great characters can make a good story out of almost nothing ;)

Like both the pace & direction you're headed ... Hopefully we'll be relatively casual with discussions and your challenge will likely come from corralling the mass of material here (my Recon thread showed how easily a broad subject can sprout tentacles :) :(

Was in a discussion group some years back & moderator always included same 2 questions in every session - (1) What most surprised you in your reading? .. and (2) Who were your most & least favorite characters you came across? ... Just a thought - the 1st one led to some amazing overlookings on your own part :)

You'll do fine! Readers are a docile group . it's writers you gotta worry about :)

Jan C wrote: "Happy to read Team of Rivals - but I'm not going to re-start it.

I have to find it and not sure how far I am in it."

No way I would restart this monster again :) Jan, I'm sure as discussion evolves you'll start to remember things you've read . and then things you didn't :) And please join in the discussions from day 1 !

Magooz wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Happy to read Team of Rivals - but I'm not going to re-start it.

I have to find it and not sure how far I am in it."

No way I would restart this monster again :) Jan, I'm sure as di..."

I'm only 100 pp in, so I could re-start, but I won't. Started to look at it this morning but apparently decided I would prefer a nap.

Jan C wrote: "Magooz wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Happy to read Team of Rivals - but I'm not going to re-start it.

I have to find it and not sure how far I am in it."

No way I would restart this monster again :) Jan,..."

Rest up & pace yourself Jan - we shouldn't be to page 100 for a few weeks :)