Karen Foley
Lynn Raye Harris
Ellen Hartman
Diana Holquist
Samantha Hunter
Shirley Jump
Dee Tenorio
Jeannie Watt
A Huge Day for America. A Huge Day for Books.
The energy here in Philadelphia is palpable for the inauguration of our next president. We drove in late last night from Vermont, and there were huge signs all down 95 warning of traffic jams. There were more busses than I've ever seen lumbering down the New Jersey Turnpike, their fronts reading, "Washington D.C. or bust."
But since this is a romance novel blog, I don't want to get political. What I want to write about today is Barack Obama's book, Dreams of My Father.
Whatever you might think of Obama's politics, he's a heck of a writer. I have to tell the truth, I didn't want to read this book. I'm not crazy about biography and I'm not into politics, and the mix of the two sounds dreadful to me. I remember having to read political biographies in high school and I remember them as deadly dull.
But I was given this book as a gift, and I was blown away. Yeah, his story is inspirational. Yeah, his life story is unusual and interesting. But what got me about this book was how great a book it was. It was gripping, inspiring, emotional.
You know, kinda like a good romance novel.
In the spirit of the day, I'm going to give away one copy of Dreams of My Father to a randomly selected commenter. Please tell me what you're up to today. Me, I'm writing like mad and I'll probably watch a little of the inauguration on television if I hit my page count.
I better get to work.
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Now I have to buy it
I really am a huge Obama supporter (and I wasn't at first -- I had to grow into it), but I have looked at a couple of his books, and like you, wavered, but you talked me into it. I'll definitely be picking one or two of them up.
I love that he writes his own books, and his own speeches, and there's a great mood in the country today.
I'm starting a new book that's been circulating in my head, and maybe doing some edits, finishing the binding on a small quilt... We'll try to catch the inaug, dh wants to see it, but I know if I interrupt in the middle of the day, I lose my pace, so we'll see...
Sam
I'm just like you....
I know if I turn on the TV, I'm sunk. I'm trying hard to wait to see it on the news tonight....
Ooh...finishing a quilt! Congrats! That's a huge event, too....love that feeling!
Diana Holquist
http://dianaholquist.com
I'm giving in...
Who can resist? TV's on...
But I'll get all misty and then Mike will get a good chuckle... I'm such a sap...
Sam
Diana--I have to buy it now
Diana--I have to buy it now also. My husband's been talking about the book, so I think we'll invest.
Yay!
The new administration is official! So cute how he stumbled his lines. ;) Emotional moment for him, obviously.
Sam
Watched It
Cornell had the CNN feed on the big theater screen on campus. I couldn't resist. I went. I wept.
So my question about the book is--any tear-out posters a la Tiger Beat?
Ellen "Yes, I do have a Crush on the First Family" Hartman
You're not alone there, Ellen
Definitely a crushworthy bunch. I was disappointed, however, when I heard Pres say that he learned in Hawaii not to walk around without a shirt -- whhhhaaaaaa????
He should definitely do that. LOL
Sam
Cabinet Post
Maybe we can get Matthew McConaughey a cabinet post so he can share his shirtless "ethos" with the new administration.
Diana, sorry about this. Did you want to talk about writing? Go right ahead. I can think privately for a while. (Thanks, Sam.) ;-)
Ellen "You Can't Take Me Anywhere" Hartman
The heck with MM
I want to be in charge of that policy-making. ;)
Sam
OK, yeah, so I watched it too.
How could I resist? Very touching and well-done.
Did you see the news feed tho?
Hubby showed me the pics off a site he visits for pop culture news and it had, "Love him or hate him, Our President is HOT!" And, well, lol, he is. Surfer hot. (Hey, didn't we talk about that already?? LOL) I agree, he should do that more often.
Wow!
OK, I'm going to have to get a copy. I haven't watched any of the events yet; been up making mini pancakes for my daughter's class snack. Now cleaning up so that we can go volunteer at the school library... :)
Words
I understand that he stumbled over the words because the person giving him the oath reversed the words in the oath. The next four years should be very exciting.
Really?
I like it better my way. *G* So Wordsworthian... ;)
Sam
I'm determined to be in a good mood, dammit
LOL, and how can I be in a bad mood after that inauguration? Especially when that final speaker wanted a world where "Brown can stick around". I was howling, that was so funny.
I didn't know he wrote his own speeches. Wow. Doubly impressed!
I'm going to work, pay bills, then I'm going to dig in my heels all the way to my knees to get back on track with my WIP. (What is it with me and starting Act 2 that it always starts with a dead stop??)
:)
Dee
I'm in a good mood
But have written and deleted two starts on the first chapter of the new book -- was trying first person, but it never works for me, even though it's typical in the genre I'm writing, but I just do better in third...
So, off to try it in third...
Sam
Not doing much today so far.
Not doing much today so far. I had to go clean snow off of the car because I have to take son to school after while. Baby its cold out there to. Have watch some of the inauguration and going to do some sewing here for a while. I am working on a baby quilt.
All you quilters out there...
I'm so jealous. I want to quilt, too. Maybe tonight, I'll look into a new project. I used to live near the cutest quilting store that had a square-a-month project that I always lusted after. Maybe I need to get back into that...
It's cold here, too. But not as cold as it was this weekend on the ski slopes of Vermont. Brr....
Not that we let it stop us.
I vowed I'd only watch "a
I vowed I'd only watch "a little bit" of the coverage, until the swearing-in. HELP! Now that I've turned the TV on, I can't turn it off! *G*
http://www.dianaduncan.com
Diana!
Had to pop in and shout out to my former brainstorming buddy! Nice to see you here. ;)
Now, turn off the TV, LOL But come back by Cigars. ;)
Sam
Hey, Sam! Great to see you,
Hey, Sam! Great to see you, too. I had no idea you were here. Where have I been? (Yeah, in my usual State of Confusion.)
I just "discovered" this blog on Facebook (another new addiction.) Oy. So many distractions, so little time. LOL!
http://www.dianaduncan.com
Really?
We're on Facebook? Who knew?
You have to come blog with us sometime -- drop me a note (samhunter@samanthahunter.com)
And everyone, drop by Dee's website (link on left sidebar) to see the fantastic drawing her husband did -- it's on her blog. I think it should be framed and sent to the White House.
Sam
The author of this thread is
The author of this thread is on Facebook, offering a copy of Dreams of My Father. That's what caught my eye. *G*
I'd love to blog with you sometime. However, I'd have to think of something profound to say. ;)
http://www.dianaduncan.com
The other Diana...
That would be me, the other Diana, spreading the love.
Spread away!
Uh, I think. . .not sure that sounds right... *G*
DianaD, we're not usually too profound -- fun is a major theme here, LOL...You'd fit right in. ;)
Sam
I'm impressed
I'm so looking forward to his presidency. He seems so down to earth and personable, as well as well spoken. His daughters are the same age as mine. I'd love to read that book! Pick me, pick me!
LindaC
I've been hearing a lot
I've been hearing a lot about this book. I think I'm going to have to check it out too. I used to love biographies when I was a teenager. Don't think I've read any with a political slant, though. Thanks for letting us know about it.
What choked me up
What really got me was a shot on the news just now, a picture of President and First Lady Obama's hands on the Bible at the swearing in -- his on laying on top, hers supporting it.
How perfect.
Sam
Ooo
You know, I've heard fabulous things about Obama's book - now I have to put it on my list.
Today/yesterday, well I had classes, but otherwise any time I was near a tv, it was on, and it was all day inauguration :) And... I recorded as much as possible too.
I only wish I could've been in DC!
Today I'm trying to get som
Today I'm trying to get som sewing done. I need to hem some work pants for a friend , and I am custom making a pair of work pants for another friend.