What are you reading now?

[Jim Garrett]

Volume Three of Shelby Foote's The Civil War. I had read all three volumes in the 1970's. I still find it a "mixed bag" of sorts. Foote is too detailed for me-I find myself getting lost or bored in the narrative. Still, I recognize that it is probably just me-obviously the work is a masterpiece.

My wife got me the trilogy for Christmas right after the Ken Burn's series came out. I made it through volume 1 and have never picked it up since. A couple of years after the Burns series I attended a lecture given by Foote. He started off by reading a few short remarks. He put me to sleep. Then he put the prepared remarks away and started just talking on the fly and taking questions. He was remarkable. He was the Shelby Foote that everyone wanted as their uncle after watching "The Civil War".