Reading in January

I finished listening to 1776 by David McCullough. It fits a place in my historical brain. Revolutionary War. George Washington. I thought it was fiction, but it was written from the letters of participants at the time. The least fictional, the least supposing and guessing. I like that. I am shocked by the accounts. First, that people actually wrote things down, described things so thoughtfully. Second, it is incomprehensible that an army could walk for days, weeks, months without shoes or a coat or food. Third, that a revered commander would make so many mistakes. That luck (or a lack of) accounted for a lot of things. How accidental it all seemed. What will someone write about this time in 200 years? They will go to a few blogs and get the idea? Gawd. The points of view.

Up next: The Mysterious Case of Benjamin Button (F. Scott Fitzgerald and also a movie); The One Hundred: a Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own (Nina Garcia); Harry: A History; Past Perfect by Susan Isaacs. Movies: Burn after Reading with Brad Pitt, George Clooney. Brad Pitt's character: priceless. Liked the summary the guys to his CIA boss. "We have a complication."

Want to read: Isabel Allende's SUM OF OUR DAYS. Memoir written as letters to her daughter Paula, who died 15 or so years ago. I read Paula when it came out year ago. I don't know how people survive tragedies like their child's death, so I am rivetted.