How is everyone doing with Mr. Adams? Anyone bogged down? Wondering how you'll ever finish it at all, let alone by the end of November? Whatever you do, don't worry over it. To reiterate, the idea behind this endeavor was to enlarge our sphere of reading and share the results with others in the family. Since we did not plan to suggest a book for December, you can of course continue reading Adams to your heart's content.
For those of you who are into the book far enough to have formed some opinions and ideas, have you learned something about that time period you didn't know before? Has anything in particular impressed you about John and Abigail or other significant participants in our country's beginning days?
If you find 750+ pages a bit overwhelming, consider checking to see if your library has an abridged version on CD or MP3. Mine did and I didn't feel like I missed anything significant.
Good luck and most of all, enjoy!
I personally am loving it. I am only about 200 pages in though but am hoping to have some time the last week of November to read once business stuff has settled down.
ReplyDeleteI have been impressed with the great records both John and Abigail kept, their letters to one another and love for each other.
I have also been surprised to find that the founding of our nation and our nation's independence didn't come as quickly as I had assumed. I particularly appreciate how John Adams wrote that even though he often wanted to push the idea of plan of independence along faster, he knew that change was gradual and doesn't just happen overnight. I think too often we today expect so much to happen immediately-because we live in a world where so much is immediate. But great change takes time and I have come to appreciate that more by reading about John Adams.
I, too, am still reading (OK, listening) and really enjoying it. Can I just say that I really like this guy! I try to keep a pencil and paper handy to jot down stuff that I want to remember. I liked his observations of his students when he taught school right after law school - he could see adult traits in their childish behaviors. I remember a preschool teacher reassuring me that one of my boys was going to be just fine, even though he was a terror in class. She saw in his behaviors admirable characteristics that would serve him well later in life.
ReplyDeleteI found Adams' description of Thomas Jefferson very different than I imagined.
I also found it interesting that slave trade was such a booming business during this time. I'm impressed that John Adams never owned a slave. Good for him!
I am looking forward to finishing it. Something I would never have chosen to read myself, so, glad we are reading it together.
Leisa and I, also, are still trying to finish reading the book (and listening along the way). We have enjoyed it as well. Up to this point it is interesting to us how some of the founders have been able to stay under the radar in today's history. Why don't we remember people like Adams today?
ReplyDeleteAdams very much reminds me of people I know today. They are very smart and educated and very passionate about their beliefs and morals...but they don't parade them around. They are quiet in their dignity. Adams reminds me very much of a man Elder Christofferson described in his talk "Moral Discipline".
Did anybody else think it interesting that the Vice President was the one who lost the popular vote for President and so was made the Vice? I had never heard of that. Must have made for an interesting 'working' relationship??
ReplyDeleteWell, I will be the first to say I made it through the first chapter, (pg 78). I felt that was a great accomplishment- then couldn't make myself pick it up again. I did enjoy it, I found it very interesting, maybe I am a little intimidated by the size, I think it would have taken me another 2-3 months to finish. (Although I did buzz through the 3 books in the Hunger game series while I was reading John Adams). I was ready to give it up, but after reading the above comments,and speaking to Cherlyn, I will try it again on CD.
ReplyDeleteThanks to the encouraging/motivating words above.
FINISHED!!
ReplyDeleteWow, what an interesting read (audio). Seriously, I had to have a notebook next to my sewing machine while I listened/sewed because I was always stopping to jot down notes. Some things that I found worth jotting down:
-Abigail's father was William Smith (interesting . . . )
-Did Beth relate to the 10 wagon loads of books carted off from Jefferson's library??
-that the books in Adams' library were marked and noted in, such that some of the notations were conversations with the author of the book. In one of his books, the marginal notes amounted to over 12,000 words!
-I really enjoyed the last part of the book, the letters between him and Jefferson.
-And the coincidences of their respective deaths, how they both died within hours of each other on July 4th, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. And how someone was quoted as saying it must have been a manifestation of divine favor.
-Did anybody else find it odd that his son, John Quincy, had to buy his father's possessions at an auction after his death??
Several quotations I want to find in full, so I'll have to find a copy of the book. I was really impressed with what Jefferson wrote to be read at that last 4th of July when he passed away. I think that ought to be read at every 4th of July celebration. And one of Adams' quotes I noted: "No effort in favor of virtue is ever lost."
-I also really appreciated his belief in God, in God's handiwork, in God's hand in human life. Some of that being read almost sounded like scripture.
Great (albeit LONG) read. I'm anxious to start seeing some lists of what we want to read next year.
Well, I made it about 1/2 way through and finally turned it back in to the library. I had another 3 weeks I could have checked it out but it sat silent for weeks and somehow I lost interest. After reading Cheryln's last post, I wish I had read to the end. It would have been an accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to the things that Cheryln listed about Adams and his wife's father being named William Smith.............his wife's name was Abigail Smith Adams.
They named their daughter Abigail and she married a Smith - - thus Abigail Adams Smith. I thought that was unique.
I also was surprised that he lived to be so old. For that day, it was pretty old I'm sure. Can't remember now exactly how old but I'm thinking high 80's.
I found alot interesting and learned alot. Bill and I also watched the DVD's about John Adams that Beth mentioned.
That's it from me.
I am still trying to finish the book. It is such an interesting read but with the holidays it has just slipped away from me. I made it through the first section and then decided to watch the DVD series.
ReplyDeleteWhile the DVD series was interesting, they definitely took some liberties with what was true and what wasn't. For instance, in the film they only had Abigail going to Paris, not Abigail and Nabby. Also, they had Nabby dying earlier than she actually did. Those are a few of the things that I remembered most.
What I found most interesting was that what we think is history, ie: a bunch of men sitting around in Philadelphia itching to gain independence really wasn't: it was a long struggle and consistent efforts at trying to show why independence was necessary.
While coming home from Aunt Beth's yesterday we crossed into Pennsylvania and there was a sign that said, "Pennsylvania, the Independence State". Scott said to me, wasn't it Pennsylvania who didn't want to claim independence? We thought that was funny.
I can't wait to start reading some more. Hopefully things will be calm and I can get some more under my belt.