1776; A Hollywood Ending
66. David McCullough, 1776
The title of this history is basically self-explanatory: McCullough describes the progress of the American Revolution from late 1775 to early 1777. The central figure is unquestionably George Washington, whose military conduct and public persona are explored in some detail. McCullough also follows some other key players of the Revolution, including General Nathanael Greene and bookseller-turned-soldier Henry Knox. Drawing from letters, diaries, and firsthand accounts from Patriots, Loyalists, and British, 1776 describes the ragtag Continental Army and its major military encounters from the siege of British-occupied Boston to the famous crossing of the Delaware.
I was so glad to finish this book! :) However, I found it very fascinating and well-written; it’s easy to see why it became such a popular history. McCullough writes in a very accessible way, but it’s obvious that he’s done prodigious research as well (the list of sources, both primary and secondary, is truly impressive). The emphasis of the book is definitely on the military strategy and the battles, not on psychology or character. Although the book follows Washington almost nonstop, I didn’t feel like I got a lot of insight into his personality. However, since 1776 isn’t a biography, that probably wasn’t McCullough’s goal. Long story short, I would definitely read more by this author.
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67. Robyn Sisman, A Hollywood Ending
Famous Hollywood actress Paige Carson apparently has the perfect life: she’s rich, she’s beautiful, she’s acting opposite the hottest actor in L.A. in a blockbuster movie, and she never has to do anything for herself. But lately she’s been feeling confused and unhappy. Her costar may be hot, but he’s also a total jerk. No one seems to appreciate her hard work or take her very seriously…and then there’s the fact that she’s getting old (29! Gasp!) and is having trouble finding new roles. In an effort to branch out, she flies to London to act Shakespeare on the British stage. There she meets - and quickly conflicts with - her sarcastic British landlord, Ed Hawkshead, an intellectual documentary filmmaker who views all movie actresses as brainless bimbos. Insults (and sparks) fly as Paige loses her heart and finds herself.
I really like Sisman’s novels in general for fun, witty chick lit, but I was disappointed in this book. First of all, Paige is really quite irritating in the beginning of the novel. She complains about how disrespectful her arrogant costar is, but completely ignores her own diva-esque and spoiled behavior. Nor do we see any evidence of a change in the course of the novel. Ed is more interesting, but he’s still a bit of a cliché (self-made man, deeply wounded by the death of his father and abandonment by his first love). The biggest problem, though, was that he isn’t introduced until over 100 pages of the book have gone by! In a romantic comedy, this is not a good thing - it made the romance between Paige and Ed a touch unbelievable. Once the two characters meet each other, the book picks up considerably, and there are some very nice moments. However, this is by far the weakest Sisman novel I’ve read so far, and I would recommend Just Friends or Summer in the City instead.