Hardback. Reserving for bookring.

Doceo33 (Arizona)
katintheboots (California)
tish2002 (Missouri)
irishajo (Indiana)
-Psyche- (Minnesota)
vzfamily (Ohio)
BigrTex (Texas)
ahythloday (Washington)
dittybopper (Louisiana)

This wonderful book covers the first year of the Revolutionary War and I fervently hope that Mr. McCullough will continue on with a series that includes the entire war. The author's research is astounding and his writing easy to follow. This is truly not a cut and dried history book but a tribute to America's ancestors, showcasing not only their incredible will and determination, but also their weaknesses and failures. It is truly an amazing story and I was sorry when the book ended and hunger for more.

My husband, who reads extremely fast and who also minored in history in college, will read this book before I send it to the first person in the ring. It should be on its way by the end of this week.


Edited to add that I believe I was trying to reenact the "Boston Tea Party" (which actually ocurred in 1773) on this book. Sadly, due to my carelessness, the book has tea-stained pages but not bad enough to distract from the reading of it.

Mailed June 20 to Doceo33.

I just recently returned from vacation and the book was waititng for me!

I just finished reading it last night. This is a gripping story and found it hard to put down especially in the second half. McCullough brings history alive.

I will mail this book very soon.

I was slowed down in mailing this out due to my recent emergency surgery, but I was finally able to mail it today to katintheboots. Happy reading!

I found this in a package on my kitchen table when I returned home after visiting the local pirate festival. Bookrings always go to the top of my pile, so I shall set aside my book on Pope Leo X's elephant and start on this.

I unexpectedly finished this one today during jury duty, appropriately enough. I say unexpectedly because although I had presumed that notes would be included with this book, I did not realize that they comprised the last 90 pages of the book. Thank goodness I live near the courthouse and was able to go home during lunch and grab another couple books.

I found two things most evident it this book: it was easy to see why McCullough has won two Pulitzer's, and it was easy to see why this was not one of them. The date referencing particularly bothered me. At one point he follows one event from 1775 to 1776, then starts discussing a second event without referencing the year. It is initially unclear whether this second event continues the timeline in 1776 or jumps back to 1775 (it turns out that he has jumped back to 1775 again). So I had problems with some of the referencing and pacing, problems that I feel that his two copy editors and editor, all referenced in his acknowledgements, should have taken care of.

Aside from those two issues, I enjoyed the book. The quotes from the various dairies and letters of the participants were quite well-chosen, though at times it seemed that I was just reading a page of quotes. However, the story is quite gripping, and I too was not quite ready for the book to end when it did.

Seeing as I finished this sooner than anticipated, I do not have tish2002's address. I'll send her a PM as soon as I hit "Submit Journal Entry."

I sent this one to tish2002 this evening via media mail.

I received this and will start reading it tonight. I will journal again when I finish. Thanks!

irishajo has asked to be skipped for this bookring so I am moving to the next person on the list for an address.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It makes me want to read more. I will have to look for other books from the time period. Thanks very much for including me in this bookring.

I am mailing to -Psyche- this week.
DC# 420550669102805213907276971436

11/21/06 USPS Status: Delivered
Your item was delivered at 1:37 PM on November 13, 2006 in RED WING, MN 55066

02/14/07 Sent pm to -Psyche- about book, will update if I get a reply.
02/26/07 Heard from -Psyche-. She doesn't think she received this book, but she is going to look for it.

Arrived many months later... the miracles of the post office, yes? It was in a damaged package, but the book looks OK! I will PM the next person and send out as soon as I'm done (which should be quick!).

RELEASE NOTES:

continuing on its wayward journey...

Received in yesterdays mail!

I couldn't get past my 50 page rule in this book. I had thought this book was going to be written from the perspective of a first person account, possibly someone in Washingtons regiment. But it was written much more like a history text book would have been.

I PM's the two people behind me - and both asked to be skipped. I PMd dittybopper for her address so this book can make it's journey home!

RELEASE NOTES:

Found dittyboppers address on RABCK.com. Sent off today. Thanks for adding me - I'm glad the book is making it back to you safely. I hope all is well with your husband dittybopper!

The book was just returned to me as undeliverable. Dittybopper - I have it. Let me know your address and I'll be happy to resend it. I used the address on your RABCK.com page!