The May Book Report

I'd hoped to get in another book this month but I'll happily settle for six diverse ones. On the list, a best selling book looking back at the history of '60s presidents Kennedy and Johnson, a Hallmark-ish type of novel, a White House mystery written by a president's son, a thriller, a fascinating behind-the-scenes diary of the designer of the musical "My Fair Lady," and a funny little cat book. Definitely diverse!

"An Unfinshed Love Story" by Doris Kearns Goodwin

I'm fascinated by history and as one who became aware of politics in the 1960s, this is an area that intrigues me. And, I confess, one that I knew little about, at least in my early days. I knew that Kennedy was president, that there was this "thing" called the Bay of Pigs, that we had to duck-and-cover in case of nuclear war, and that he was assassinated. I knew he had a pretty wife and two cute kids and that Marilyn Monroe sang to him on his birthday.

When it came to LBJ, I knew a little more because the Vietnam war was kicking in. Although I didn't follow the 1968 convention, I knew there were riots, and those riots were not unknown to Michigan which had its own batch of racial unrest with the Detroit riots. I remember his speech, ending with the announcement that he wouldn't seek the another term in office. But it wasn't really till the Nixon administration and my college years that I became more politically aware.

So, reading historian Doris Kearns Goodwin's fascinating new book was both a  reminder and a revelation. Goodwin is a wonderful writer, a historian who brings the depth of presidential history into something very accessible and this book is no exception. (And you don't have to have lived through the sixties to fully appreciate it!)

If you saw the film "Quiz Show," you might recall Richard Goodwin as the investigator who helped bring down the quiz show scandal of the 1950s. A brilliant law scholar, he clerked in the Supreme Court before coming to the attention of John Kennedy as a potential addition to his 1960 campaign staff. Goodwin became a valued member of an intimate group that traveled with Kennedy, crafting many of his best known speeches. He stayed on in the Kennedy administration, forming strong bonds with the president and his family, working both within the White House (specializing in Latin American affairs) and in the newly launched Peace Corps. 

After Kennedy's assassination, he went on to work in the Johnson administration, then, as he became an active peace activist, became part of the Eugene McCarthy campaign, quitting only after his friend, Robert Kennedy, entered the 1968 presidential race. He was in California with the campaign when Kennedy was assassinated. 

Doris Kearns was a student at Harvard when she began an internship working with LBJ in the Johnson administration. The two hit it off and she later became one of his biographers, spending much time with the family at their Texas ranch. But she was no stranger to politics before that, having been involved in the civil rights and anti-war movements as well. She and Goodwin met when they were both working at Harvard, though in their rich political histories, there were many times when they were in the same place at the same time but never connected.

Goodwin was in his 80s when he came downstairs one morning and said "It's time to go through the boxes." He had saved every bit of material amassed during his life -- letters, journals, drafts and final copies of speeches written for various presidents, news clips, photographs, and personal memorabilia. Dozens of boxes awaited his attention. Together, they went through the history of 1960s politics, combining their own memories with a vast archive of materials.

Doris Kearns Goodwin tells a love story bound by politics, one that is both personal and historic. As the couple ventured through the boxes, they shared discussions, had arguments (which administration did more -- Kennedy or Johnson?), connected with others who had been at the events they recalled, some with well-known names like Bill Moyers, and others who were participants in movements like Peace Corps or demonstrations. Richard Goodwin died before her book was written but it remains a remarkable legacy to his career in politics -- and to hers. 

"Murder at Midnight" by Elliot Roosevelt

After digging into the presidential politics of the 1960s, I thought I'd step back into the 30s, but this time it was a light romp. "Murder at Midnight" was written by the son of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and the two (along with Roosevelt's faithful secretary, Missy LeHand) play roles in the mystery, with Eleanor taking center stage.

When a member of the president's "brain trust," Judge Horace Blackwell, is found dead in his bedroom at the White House by an African American maid, Sara, in the wee hours, she is immediately arrested despite her protests of innocence. Eleanor is concerned that investigators are jumping to conclusions because Sara is black (and granted, what was she doing in Blackwell's room at that time -- her story is not convincing). Together with Secret Service agent Pickering and Detective Sergeant Rainey, she continues to investigate the case from within the White House.

This one is a bit of fluff -- good after reading about the turbulent sixties but not a particularly memorable outing. It's a bit like empty calories, yet the Roosevelt angle is fun and being written by the First Lady's son brings a sense of what it might be like behind the scenes at the White House in 1933. 

"The Last Garden in England" by Julia Kelly

Let me start by saying that books with multiple narrators bug me. And I'm not all that fond of books where there are a lot of multiple narrators AND the plot bounces back and forth between time periods (in this case, the three time periods are 1908, 1944 and present day). Nor am I all that fond of obviously romantic novels that seem a bit too much like a Hallmark movie. 

So, I wasn't predisposed to having this be my favorite book of the year (and it's not).

But "The Last Garden in England" has a lovely setting, is set in the English countryside and is based around gardening, so there is indeed much to enjoy here.

The constant in the book is Highbury House, a manor house in the Midlands of England. We initially meet Vernetia Smith, a rare woman gardener designer in the early 1900s, who is hired to create the gardens and landscaping for the house, coming up with several individual gardens (the Bridal Garden, the Tea Garden, the Winter Garden, the Poet's Garden, and more). Then we flash to present day when gardener Emma is hired by the current owners to restore the garden to Venetia's designs to the degree possible. We also meet Beth, a Land Girl during World War II and an aspiring artist whose assignment is near Highbury and who becomes friendly with its owner of the Highbury during this period, Diana, and is allowed to sketch there.

Confused yet? We also hear from Diana and Estella (Highbury's cook). And of COURSE there are predictable love interests in each of the three women's stories. And of COURSE there is tragedy and sadness. And of COURSE there are issues that pop up that may throw a monkey wrench into those relationships. And of COURSE you can figure out how the book is going to end and the lives of the three woman will wrap up long before the book brings the stories together.

That said, there is much to love about the writing of the garden and the house with the vivid descriptions of the plants and foliage. One can almost believe it is a real garden (or collection of small gardens) and it does let the imagination wander -- "What if I had a tea garden AND a children's garden?" (Since I can't even keep things in pots alive all that well, it is indeed a fantasy!)

Would I recommend it? Oddly, yes -- if you like romantic novels set in multiple periods. It is lovely and while it was empty calories and might not be my cup of tea overall, I was  not sorry I spent time with it. 

"Is Your Cat a Psychopath?" by Stephen Wildish

I've been pondering this question of late. No, I never  thought Lizzie was a psychopath but I'm pretty sure she has an oppositional behavior disorder. So, when this arrived in my box from a good friend, I had to indulge! 

This tiny book is one of those "for fun" books. Not much text or depth but delightfully witty writing in brief bits with an array of very well done cat illustrations. The best part of the book is a 40 question multiple choice quiz to determine your cat's personality, much like the personality tests many of us have taken.

Lizzie is a "BURN" (Bold, Unsociable, Restrained and Nice) and referred to as "Mother Purresa" type. "A pleasant cat that lives frugally at a somewhat leisurely pace. (Somewhat?!!) Why waste energy on walking when sitting and watching will do? Mother Purresa is not entirely bothered with food (Nope -- it's Lizzie's passion). Although she is restrained, her bold streak means Mother Purresa knows her own mind and will be stubborn and sometimes lash out if things don't go the way she wants them to. (Like choosing puppy pads over the litterbox that is RIGHT NEXT TO THEM!)

The tips for a peaceful coexistence tell me, "Left to her own devices, Mother Purresa will do nothing all day (yup) and not interact with you at all (unless she wants something. Lizzie is the most transactional cat in the world.) She needs gentle coaxing with play and new and flavorsome treats regularly. 

They tell me she is not a psychopath, but a quiet, simple-living cat. No arguments here!

Overall, a fun book for cat owners and a real delight.

"Nine Lives" by Peter Swanson

More thriller than mystery, but not that scary, "Nine Lives" begins when nine different people, seemingly unconnected and living in places across the country, receive a letter in the mail with nothing on it but the names of the nine. Shortly after, the death of one on the list triggers an investigation. It appears to be murder -- but with what motive?

As "Nine Lives" plays out, we meet the others on the list, ranging from an FBI investigator, a waitress, an author, an actor, an aspiring composer, a professor, a business man, and a younger man.  We also learn that the list has attracted the interest of the FBI because it includes one of its agents. After a second murder, the FBI provides police protection for as many of the names as they can find. But will it be enough?

While we never form deep relationships with any of the characters, the plot is intriguing and a tough one to figure out. (I did, but couldn't nail the motive). I'd love to tell you more about this page turner but to do so might be to scoop some of the action and I don't want to spoil it.

What I can say is if the thriller genre is a favorite of yours, this is a a good entry with minimal gore (despite the quantity of murders). Swanson weaves a good tale and while the end felt a bit abrupt to me (what DID happen to the FBI involvement, anyway?) it was a satisfying read.

"Cecil Beaton's Fair Lady" by Cecil Beaton 

When I think of Cecil Beaton, I think of his photographs of royalty, particularly the Queen Mother, whom he once described as his favorite subject. I had forgotten that he was the recipient of four Academy Awards for his work on "Gigi" and "My Fair Lady." 

This little gem of a book is his diary from his Hollywood experience designing the sets and costumes of "My Fair Lady," one of the last musical blockbusters of the 1960s and arguably, one of the most beautifully designed films of all time.

Beaton arrived in Hollywood from England for about nine months to design and supervise the art direction and costumes for the musical and this book delves deeply into his experiences, from working with director George Cukor (the relationship started well and later soured), stars Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison (among others) and the countless costumers, make up artists and set technicians responsible for turning his designs into reality. 

The cast was enormous. There were hundreds of extras -- theatre goers in the opening scene, the elegant at Ascot, the vendors in the Covent Garden market, the friends of Eliza's father and the guests at the Embassy ball. All had to be costumed, coiffed and made up, some with enormous hats, others in clothing that allowed them to dance with abandon. Amusing is the fact that the casting went through dozens, no, hundreds of women looking for those who were beautiful and elegant. "Doesn't Hollywood have any showgirls," Beaton moaned after rejecting another large group. (I'd love to pull a few more quotes from here about his succinct descriptions of the wardrobe staff -- brief but so clear you could recognize each one in the street.)

Equally impressive was the set design. For Henry Higgins' home, a replica was built of Beaton's physician's Wimpole Street home -- three stories with multiple staircases and rooms. (It's a magnificent set.) The sets of Ascot, Higgins' mother's home and the ballroom were equally grand, the Covent Garden area looking aged with time.

Beaton is a lively writer and diarist and in addition to the stories about the film work itself, he also recounts his feelings of being in California -- far from England both physically and in personality. His story of learning to drive the L.A. freeways is delightful and his observations astute. 

As I read this I decided I needed to revisit the movie, which I'd recorded when it was streamed. I'd always found it beautiful (if long) and well acted, performed and designed. But now I looked at it with fresh eyes, noting the details of the props and recalling the stories of how it came to be. 

A note. This 128 page gem (it has pretty tight leading and should be more pages!) was published in 1964 in England. (It was one of my treasures found in the basement!) It may be difficult to find but if you love musicals and movies or are fascinated by design, and if you appreciate witty and insightful writing, it is well worth chasing down. I did see the hardcover version on Amazon for a hefty price. But I'm inclined to think it might be worth it.

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