Two other Politics for the People readers share their thoughts today—
Josephine Coskie is a leader of the Queens Independence Club
“When I heard that our next Politics for the People book selection would be I am Abraham and that it was historic fiction, I was so pleased! This is my favorite genre with A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens being my all time favorite book.
“I am Abraham” is an incredible achievement by author Jerome Charyn. It reads like a novel, appears to be Lincoln’s autobiography, and gives an historical account of the ways of life and events during the mid 1800s. The early chapters are a lot of fun and place the reader back in the days of the “Wild, Wild West”, introducing interesting characters and providing quite graphic descriptions of life at that time and place in history.
Never having read anything about Abraham Lincoln except what is generally known about him with limited facts taught years ago in school, this book was a revelation to me! It felt almost disrespectful at first to get a glimpse into his innermost thoughts, feelings, and desires. We have the opportunity to see Lincoln as a man in addition to being our president during the Civil War.
This month’s Politics for the People conference call with Mr. Charyn will be fascinating and I am so looking forward to it.
Natesha Oliver is the founder of Missouri Independents Stand Together (MIST)
Brightest Blessings To All:
This was my first time reading Historical fiction and I have got to say I was touched, tickled, and, being African American, moved by the freeing of slaves yet kind of dismayed at why Lincoln did it… Although He seem to be torn about slavery, He could have went the other way and not freed us if that had won the war. But with that being said, Jerome Charyn’s first person depiction of Abraham Lincoln’s life was AMAZING… I Am Abraham was a very hard book to put down and when I had to put it down to “rest” my eyes or go to bed, I couldn’t wait to get back to it… I almost started re-reading it, and as long as the book was, it was like not that long at all, it had over 400 pages yet when it ended I was like, NOOOOO…
Oh my everything, I do believe Mrs. President would have been the end of His presidential career in this day and age and by her antics one would think that would have been her intention… I was actually yelling while reading, had to put the book down and come back to it after I kind of calmed down… Lincoln’s life, disappointments and successes were inspiring, yet it is bothersome that when one’s political opponents cannot win they resort to assassination… I wonder what could have become of this country had He not been killed, His push and shaping of a united Union seems to be lost with time… People political desire for separation to control and conquer is still scary and still holding, I hope as we all seek a fairer democratic process that those Presidents who’s will were to unite us all beyond race and money find solid ground… Thank You Politics 4 The People for the book club and thanks Jerome Charyn for the book itself.
