My Dearest Friend

Title: My Dearest Friend: The Letters of Abigail and John Adams

Author: Abigail Adams, John Adams, Margaret Hogan, C James Taylor

Publication date: 2007

Book's setting: 1752-1801

Random facts: I put this book on hold because my request for the letters of Victoria and Albert bounced back and I was in the mood for historical ridiculousness.

Plot summary: My Dearest Friend (not to be confused with the biography of Abigail named Dearest Friend) is a compilation of letter by John and Abigail Adams to one another. They begin during their courting period and extend to Abigails's death. It is divided into sections such as The Continental Congress and The Presidency.

Favorite aspects: Okay, so wow. They were really romantic. I felt a little weird reading the letters, they were so private and serious and adorable. Also My Dearest Friend worked very nicely as a crash course in American History... as much as I know about history my dates are eternally fuzzy. Reading the letters dated and in order helped solidify a timeline in my head.

Least favorite aspects: Their grammar and spelling was all crazy. I appreciate that the editors of this collection didn't make any changes to make the letters more readable, but at the same time this was a very slow-going book. It took me two weeks to read.

Other works it reminded me of: I've never read a book of letters before. This is a first.

Sadie's merciless breakdown: I am still unsure as to whether the fact that I read this massive collection of letters written in such weird English I practically had to translate it is a testament to my devotion to my forefathers or a pathetic example of how I have no life outside reading and munching on granola bars. But all that aside. While reading My Dearest Friend all I could think about was how embarrassed John and Abigail would be if they knew I was reading their love letters. If someone published my diaries I would die. Of course my diaries are filled with idiotic descriptions of my nonexistent love life and stupid droning about school work instead of witty political banter and insight into our nations beginnings. However the principle remains the same. I think they would be embarrassed.
But My Dearest Friend also made me mourn literacy in America. Before there was fiction readily available, before there was internet or tv, you had to be funny all on your own. I really began to understand the desire people had in that time to find a funny or "witty" spouse. If your partner didn't have a sense of humor you'd probably never have any fun. Abigail and John were both incredibly funny and intelligent and witty... making all sorts of amusing Shakespeare jokes. I'm pretty sure half of the humor went over my head, but you could still tell it was there. It made me think of Jane Austen's books and her character's never ending search for a man with wit. No wonder Lizzy did not want to marry Mr Collins.

Recommendation rate: You have to be a serious stan for your IRL OTP of John/Abigail to read this. Sadly, I'm that stan.