Rage Book Review

Journalism at its core, is supposed to be non-partisan and non-political. But sometimes, those who work in that industry have no choice but to be partisan and political. Especially when the future is at stake.

The new book by respected journalist Bob Woodward, Rage, was released back in the fall. The follow up to his 2019 book, Fear: Trump in the White House, the reader is taken into a world and a presidency that few have ever seen. Using 17 on the record interviews as the back bone of the narrative, the man he portrays on the page is arrogant, in denial, and believes that he knows it all.

Reading this book, I thought I had a good idea of the man whom we unfortunately refer to as President. I could feel a chill down my back as I delved into the story. Between his inability to stop the destruction that Covid-19 is wreaking on us and the delusional idea that he will have another 4 years in office, it was as if I was reading a fictional political thriller.

The one thing I was struck by is that not everyone who works or worked in the administration is either related to him or got the job by becoming a brownnoser. There were and still are many who genuinely believe in the work they are doing because they understand the importance of this country and the constitution.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

Thoughts On the Bridgerton Trailer

There is nothing like a good BPD (British Period Drama). It has the power to sweep the audience into another world and for a short time, take them away from their everyday life.

The full trailer for the new Shondaland Netflix series, Bridgerton, premiered earlier today. Based on the series of books by Julia Quinn, the audience is introduced to the influential Bridgerton family living in Regency England. As the program progresses, they deal with the ups and downs that are unique to that world and that era.

The characters and the narrative are in the vein of Jane Austen, but the stories are not specifically based on any Austen novel.

I am intrigued by the casting of Julie Andrews as Lady Whistledown, the all knowing gossiping narrator who, according to the trailer is only heard, but not seen.

From a writing perspective, the couple pretending to be in love to get others off their back is one of those storylines that is used semi-regularly. The question is if the writer(s) make it their own or just copy what has been done before.

I am really excited for program. I can only hope that the promises made in the trailer are kept.

Bridgerton premieres on Netflix on December 25.

Telling Dr. Biden to Change Her Name is Wrong

In 2020, what should good for the goose should also be good for the gander. Unfortunately, sexism is still alive and well, stating that there are one set of rules for men and another for women.

Last Friday, Joseph Epstein, a writer with the Wall Street Journal wrote an op-ed suggesting that Dr. Jill Biden drop the Dr. from her name.

This is a textbook definition of sexism. If she was a man, the suggestion would never be considered. But because she is a woman and married to the President-Elect, she has to (according to Epstein) choose between her career and her marriage. If that was not enough to make my blood boil, he referred to her as “kiddo”.

Anyone who has earned any sort of degree can attest to how much work and effort is needed to claim it as your own. To have earned the title of Dr. (regardless of whether one practices medicine or not) requires multiple years of commitment. Not only is the question demeaning to Dr. Biden, it is demeaning to the millions of women around the world who have earned advanced degrees and can call themselves Dr.

Dr. Biden is not the first political wife to have to choose between her marriage and her career. Decades ago, Hillary Clinton changed both her name and her image to ensure that her husband could keep his job.

What it comes down to, for me at least, is that feminism is a movement that is still needed. We just needed a kick in the literal pants to be reminded of that.