Dog days of reading

My birthday at the end of July comes just in time for Dog-Days-of-August reading. August, with its heat and humidity, is perfect for seeking shelter in air-conditioned comfort, sitting back and reading. My three favorite people—Ginnie, my wife; Annie, my daughter; and Jack, my son, all gave me books for my birthday. Perfect.

Annie gave me “Horse” by Geraldine Brooks. “Horse” is about one of the world's most famous race horses before Seabiscuit. Originally named Darley, and then Lexington for Lexington, Kentucky, the book “Horse” is about slavery, an artist, a zoologist, an art historian, a museum director, and the owners, trainers, jockeys, scoundrels, and spectators surrounding the great thoroughbred, Lexington, and Lexington's secret handicap.

It wasn't uncommon in those days for an owner to bet against his or her own horse, as it wasn't unusual to buy and sell people as if they were livestock. Well written, “Horse” only whets my appetite for more Geraldine Brooks' books, like “March” for which she won the Pulitzer Prize.

Jack gave me “George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring that Saved the American Revolution” by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yeager. If it hadn't been for a secret spy ring of about half-a-dozen men and one woman (whose identity remains unknown), the British would have remained in control of New York and, in all likelihood, we would be British subjects today.

We are familiar with names like Nathan Hale (“I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country”) and the traitor Benedict Arnold, who survived to flee to England, but the Secret Six are cloaked in shadowy mystery. That is until Brian Kilmeade, through his painstaking research, digging through diaries and letters, discovered the true reason the British capitulated and surrendered New York.

With Nathan Hale's hanging, it became alarmingly clear why the identities of these American informants (spies) had to be kept top secret, even from General George Washington, even from each other. We owe the origins of our country to these brave individuals who sought no notoriety, only the knowledge that they helped their fledgling country gain independence.

Ginnie gave me “The Demon of Unrest” by Erik Larson. She has been after me for some time to read an Erik Larson book, knowing that I lean toward fiction rather than history. I must admit, Eric Larson's writing style and straight-forward approach to history was a pleasant surprise, and I learned a number of details about events just previous to the firing on Ft. Sumter, which marked the beginning of the Civil War, that I did not know.

In the Presidential Election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln tore his name off the ballot so that he couldn't vote for himself, before voting a straight-line Republican ticket. In those days the Republicans were the liberals, and the Democrats the conservatives. Lincoln was considered a “Black Republican” because he opposed expansion of slavery in new territories. There were serious conspiracies to assassinate Lincoln before he was even inaugurated.

As in today's elections, there were worries that the electoral vote would be skewered in favor of one candidate or the other, or that the Vice President wouldn't certify the electoral vote. (Sound familiar?) Lincoln's “A house divided cannot stand” statement is Biblical and Lincoln used it in a campaign speech two years before he was elected. The statement was in reference to his opinion that a nation could not be part slave-holder and part free.

After reading Erik Larson's history of events leading up to the firing on Ft. Sumter, I find that I'm still a fiction fan. For example: Larson's historical account of Jefferson Davis (President of the Confederacy) and his wife Varina, is quite dry in comparison to Charles Frazier's book, “Varina.” Charles Frazier, as you know, wrote “Cold Mountain.”

It's cooling off outside. My son is after me to start reading the Bible daily. Along with aronia juice and cancer treatment, it should be beneficial. Happy reading.

Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526 or email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com. Curt is available for public speaking.