- 7/4/2025 - The Declaration of Independence: A small, thin, and handsomely hard-covered book containing the Declaration of Independence and short biographies of the signers of the document.
- 7/6/2025 - Stoner by John Williams: Is about William Stoner, who is born to a farming family at the beginning of the 20th century. He attends college and discovers his love of literature, eventually becoming a teacher/professor at the same institution. The story explores how he lives life's tribulations with stoicism and resilience. At the end of his life, he finds solace in his love of books.
- 7/28/2025 - The City and The Pillar by Gore Vidal: The story follows a young athlete, Jim, who has a close sexual encounter with his friend Bob. They part ways as Jim graduates and moves on. Jim follows suit a year later. He is following Bob but is also exploring his own sexual identity and how he fits into the society of wartime (WW2) America. They do eventually meet up again, and Bob is married. The ending isn't the neat wrap-up you might expect.
Reading summary July 2025
In honor of my country's birth this month, I took out my thin hardcover copy of the Declaration of Independence on the 4th of July and read it. I've often gone years, even decades, without giving this document much thought. In the current political climate, depending on one's political leaning, one may find little to celebrate or take pride in. Although I am also appalled at those leading our country at this time, I still think it is every American's right to celebrate. The government does not exclusively belong to one political party or another. It belongs to every American. As a former President once said, " There is not a liberal America and a conservative America - there is the United States of America." Celebrate it always.
Stoner by John Williams was I've seen recommended by many reading/book enthusiasts on social media. Part of it was the cover by the New York Book Review(NYBR) of the stoic middle-aged man staring at the ground, looking deep in thought. We follow the life of William Stoner, who was born about 1890-1, but the book essentially starts as he enters college, intending to learn more about farming to help, and I assume to take over the family farm he grew up on. One day he discovers his life's love of English literature and books. His life is forever changed as then stays at the college to teach and live his life there. He marries and then has a daughter. Has professional squabbles within his profession. Has an affair with a coworker. He does find satisfaction in his work, and he still loves his literature. He then passes away from cancer on the verge of retiring, clutching his book in solace. It is not a book of high drama or action, but this book kept me interested throughout. I'm writing more about this in a later post.
I find Gore Vidal an interesting writer and person. The City and the Pillar was one of his earliest novels, published in 1948. For some reason, I thought it was his first, but it was actually his third book. The book is notable as it looks at male homosexuality as it was during World War 2. The main protagonist is Jim who is a high school athlete and is close to his friend Bob. In a moment of passion, they have a sexual encounter in an emotional moment as they will soon be parting ways. Bob is graduating and moving away and, eventually join the Merchant Marines. Jim stays to finish school and then graduates, and moves out on his own. Joins the service(there is a war on), but he stays stateside. Meanwhile, he is coming to terms with his own sexuality. Bob is never far from his mind. After having a relationship with a movie star and writer he ends up back home. Coincidentally, Bob is also returning and has been successful in his career and is married. The book ends on an unfortunate note, and it doesn't end neatly.
