Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man

 Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man
2020
Weight: 18 oz
Method of Disposal: Giving Away

What can I say about this book that has not already been said?  Likely, nothing.  I can tell you that I read it before falling asleep, and I had nightmares all night about the Trump family.  I kept waking up in the night, in a stupor, frustrated with Robert Trump, who was trying to surrender a dog.  I cannot tell you how many times I woke up gritting my teeth saying, "We will take it.  We will take it.  I can't leave that dog with you.  I told you.  Just let me deal with it in the morning."  I was so tired the next day.  I said something in passing to my Dad in a text, and he wrote back, "You made me laugh out loud about a politician's dead brother coming to you in a dream requesting he surrender his dog to you.  I know exactly what that means.  It means you work too much, and you need to see less news."  He might be right about that!

Also, the other thing that is evident is that if Trump is elected again in November, we are in HUGE (YUGE!) trouble.

Christmas in Plains: Memories

Christmas in Plains: Memories
2004
Weight: 5 oz
Method of Disposal: Donating

I am surprised so many people love this book!  It is simple and uninspired.  The effort to write about race could have been good, but it was so basic and unemotional that it bordered on being offensive.  The picture that gets painted if of a nice, white, upper class guy who loves his wife, kids, and Jesus.  He also loves his old home, Plains, and is nostalgic about the days of cutting down his own Christmas trees, playing with the black children he grew up with (partly kids of the parents that worked for his family), and good ol' traditional American Christian fun in a small town.  He talks a little bit about being the President and that it was painful when he was not reelected.  His joke about the world praying for him to have relief from his hemorrhoids fell flat, but I am glad he got relief.  Strange bits like that really popped out of the idyllic world he was presenting, but there was nothing truly moving, sad, dark, or honest that came out.  All joy, all the time.  Even when surrounded by racist/sexist institutions he recognizes as such.  At least he seems to know how lucky he was. 

I like the Carters just fine, and I appreciate a lot of the good they have done in the world.  I am just not a fan of this book.