Hamilton: "Had I read Sterne more and Voltaire less, I should have known the world was wide enough for Hamilton and me."
I FINISHED IT. THE ONLY ACTUAL IMPORTANT DEADLINE FOR THE READALONG AND I DID IT. The sense of accomplishment, it is as rich as I had expected. Because this was not only a two month readalong, but a grueling two month readalong. I acknowledge this! But who wanted to be reading this book for three months? I thought not. I have read ALMOST NOTHING ELSE this year, but I'm going to openly declare that it was worth it. Why?
1) The immense length of this ostensible biography actually led to it being an overview of early American history, making me feel like for the first time I have some real notion of how our country was formed
2) Politics were as screwed from the very beginning of America as they are now. Everything's not about to collapse. It's all going to be fine.
3) I don't like Aaron Burr, but him saying "my friend Hamilton, whom I shot" is pretty funny.
4) Also, Burr's heart described as "stuffed with cinders raked from the fires of hell" is maybe a bit strong.
5) "His spirit is in heaven and his form in the earth and I am nowhere any part of him is."
You know the best thing of the Hamilton cast recording? When you're done sobbing over Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story, you can press play again and everyone lives again.
Thanks for doing this readalong, guys. I know it was hard. But we learned so much! And if you haven't finished yet, I BELIEVE IN YOU.
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