Welcome to this month's reading group selection. David Von Drehle mentions The Melting Pot , a play by Israel Zangwill, that premiered on Broadway in 1908. At that time theater was accessible to a broad section of the public, not the exclusive domain it has become over the decades. Zangwill carried a hopeful message that America was a place where old hatreds and prejudices were pointless, and that in this new country immigrants would find a more open society. I suppose the reference was more an ironic one for Von Drehle, as he notes the racial and ethnic hatreds were on display everywhere, and at best Zangwill's play helped persons forget for a moment how deep these divides ran. Nevertheless, "the melting pot" made its way into the American lexicon, even if New York could best be describing as a boiling cauldron in the early twentieth century. Triangle: The Fire That Changed America takes a broad view of events that led up the notorious fire, noting the gro
It appears that this is the next reading. Therefore, I sent a request form to my local library. I hope the print size will be large so that it can be readable.
ReplyDeleteIn truth, this appears to be a good read.
This looks interesting, The Roosevelt I Knew by Frances Perkins,
ReplyDeletehttp://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/1,,9780143106418,00.html.
Apparently not very many pictures of FDR with Perkins.
The Roosevelt I Knew by Frances Perkins will be available June 28 in paperback and ebook. I'm going by Amazon's information.
ReplyDeleteYou can get the 1946 edition at abebooks for as little as $5,
ReplyDeletehttp://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=frances+perkins&bi=0&bx=off&ds=30&recentlyadded=all&sortby=17&sts=t&tn=the+roosevelt+i+knew&x=61&y=6
Do we have a quorum for "The Woman Behind the New Deal?"
ReplyDeleteI think I"m the only one _not_ in, Gintaras. If I can squeeze it in, I will -- but I'm a little over extended at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI'll pick up a copy of the book at the library tomorrow and check as to whether I can read its print.
ReplyDeleteI've looked at the paperback in a store and the print was rather tiny for me. Not sure yet if I will be joining you, but if I do, I'll buy the kindle version.
ReplyDeleteReading glasses, Marti. I had to give in a couple years ago.
ReplyDelete^ Reading glasses don't work for me ~ makes me dizzy!
ReplyDeleteAs for Downey, I'm in - just got my copy & will start on it right away.
I've been wearing reading glasses since my early 30's. I probably need new lenses. I wear them for reading on kindle as well as on everything else.
ReplyDeleteSorry to say, didn't like the book and returned it to the library after reading about 90 pages or so. It was a bit too dry and wordy. Small print didn't help but that's my problem, not anyone else's.
ReplyDeleteAny interest in William Clark? We once talked about picking him up at some point. I still have this one on my stack:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.com/William-Clarks-World-Describing-Unknowns/dp/0300139012/
In fact, I have a whole stack on my stack....
Sorry to hear that Trippler. I'm still waiting on my copy. Maybe To Kill a Mockingbird?
ReplyDeleteReading that Santorum felt that things were better before 1965, the year Medicare was created, makes it a good time for a "reality check."
I think I read that when I was in jr. high school, and still remember Boo Radley. It's amazing how a fictional character (and even his name) can stick with you after all those years.
ReplyDeleteOuch - now I feel kinda guilty about returning the Perkins book. But if enough people want to read it, I can always get it back.
ReplyDeleteNothing to feel guilty about, trip. I was planning on buying the Perkins book anyway. Seems only you and I had committed to the book. If there is a consensus for Mockingbird or some other book, would be glad to read along.
ReplyDelete