I am reading my way through Katherine Graham’s
Personal History. At 642 pages, it wasn’t the lightest book for a carry-on but it was well worth the second-hand price of $3.00. (I wonder if the previous owner whose gold address sticker remains inside would have guessed the book would travel over 6,000 miles.) Ms. Graham’s story, and that of her parents, is fascinating and the cast of characters is incredible. Though I cannot always relate to the set of troubles that accompanies a wealthy lifestyle (removing advertisements in the jet purchased from the showroom and the need to update the pool upon moving in a new house), the challenges that she faces in her roles as daughter, wife, and eventually President of
The Washington Post are something in which any woman can empathize. Her strength of character and her ability to admit short-comings are admirable, and I look forward to these next chapters ahead in finishing the book.
Additionally, the transformation of
The Washington Post is extremely interesting to follow, especially given the heightened importance of factual and dedicated reporting in these last several years. Through reading her story, I’ve come to place an even greater value in my subscription.
This year has been the year of reading memoirs and biographies. It started accidentally and then with more purpose. Of note,
Wholly Unraveled by Keele Burgin and
Feast: True Love in and out of the Kitchen by Hannah Howard should be added to your lists.
If you have an interest in history and especially politics, I would highly recommend
Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies by J.B. West and Mary Lynn Kotz. Afterwards, watch
Jackie if you haven’t yet seen it.
The Dark Heart: A True Story of Greed, Murder, and an Unlikely Investigator by Joakim Palmkvist is also a fine addition to your booklist particularly if you’ve spent any time in Sweden.
