Readalong: Chapters 3 and 4

Wallace at Unputdownables is hosting a John Adams readalong, and if you haven't joined in yet, you really should. I missed a week so, this week I am discussing Chapter 3: Colossus of Independence and Chapter 4: Appointment to France.

Okay, so I didn't post last week, and really I don't have the best excuse. I did have to read two books for blog tours. And my birthday was last Friday so that weekend was out as far as reading goes. And I did find myself completely immersed in watching the first season and a half of Glee (which is freaking fantabulous by the way). But errr... yeah, so I didn't exactly stay on top of my John Adams reading.  That is not to say, however, that I am in any way uninterested in the book. I really, truly, honestly love it. McCullough's writing is admirable and the subject matter is engrossing. And now, I am almost, but not quite caught up.

The third chapter begins with the debate regarding independence from Britain by the Continental Congress. Adams' role in all of this cannot be over exaggerated: Before casting votes, the Congress heard from speakers one last time, and it was Adams who had the final voice for independence, speaking for two hours in an impassioned argument. I don't think it's much of a plot spoiler to let you know that he won the argument... The rest of the chapter discusses the formation of the War Office, a board of five members of Congress who were in charge of every aspect of the war with Britain - no small task.

And let me stop myself right there. I am trying to figure out what to tell you next, how to summarize what happens over the next 100 pages, but it is impossible. Paraphrasing the events in a novel is one thing, but trying to convey to you the amazing amount of detail McCullough includes, both private, psychological, and political is just not possible. By the end of the fourth chapter, we have traveled across the freaking ocean more than once, Adams has written the constitution for Massachusetts, and political intrigue and spies and in-fighting have been discussed.

I do want to mention, however, that in the midst of these two chapters, my edition includes a selection of images, portraits of key figures, books from the time, sketches of important places, a "to-bring" list of Adams', letters, etc. I don't know why, but seeing this sort of paraphernalia just really leaves an impression on me. I am one of those dorks who absolutely adores museums, especially the more personal such as houses which have been preserved and the such not. I get nostalgic and gooey over historical artifacts. What can I say? I don't think I am the only one. I can tell there are more sections of images, but I am refusing to get ahead of myself by flipping through them now.

And finally, I want to share a quote from Abigail Adams:

These are times in which a genius would wish to live. It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed. The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties. Great necessities call out great virtues. When a mind is raised, and animated by scenes that engage the heart, then those qualities which would otherwise lay dormant, wake into life and from the character of the hero and the statesman.

Abigail wrote this to her son John Quincy upon his departure with his father and younger brother for France.

Anyway, time to get back to the story.