Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

Last night I finished Jim Murphy’s The Crossing: How George Washington Saved the American Revolution, all through the reading of which I was reminded of David McCullough’s 1776. It’s true that it’s been quite a while since I’ve read the latter–I’m pretty sure it was at least two children ago, making it close to a decade and a half–but Murphy’s book covered most of the ideas I remember. The frustrations of building, retaining, and training an army provide a strong accompaniment to the frustrating New York campaign, and the desperately needed triumph of the Battle of Trenton makes for an underdog-style triumphal end to the year of McCullough’s focus. Murphy continues into early 1777, but not so far that the feel of the two books differs significantly.

I will say that books about the American Revolution aren’t my go-to historically; on the other hand, I couldn’t help reading bits aloud to my hubby as I followed Washington through what may well have been the most stressful year of his life. On the other hand, Jim Murphy is one of my go-tos for intermediate nonfiction–along with Russell Freedman and Susan Campbell Bartoletti–and so if that’s a genre you’re looking for, you definitely want to give him a try. In the meantime, I have a solid list of things to do today and not nearly the energy I could wish for as I do them, so I’d better get to it. Have a great weekend all!