Welcome to Litsy!

Up next on audio 🎧 (I checked out a hard copy to see maps/photos/etc.)

My first by this author…looking forward to it!

108/150 It is easy to get swept up in this amazing adventure and grueling struggle for Survival. After losing the presidential election of 1912, Theodore Roosevelt decided to join an expedition to explore part of the Amazon known as the River of Doubt. Looking back with 20/20 hindsight, the expedition was ill-conceived, ill-equipped and hopelessly optimistic about their voyage. What was planned as a pleasant jaunt ⬇️

The tagged book really was that good. It wins its bracket. #readingbracket2023

#two4tuesday Thank you @TheSpineView for the tag!

1) tagged
2) I learned so much about Roosevelt, South America, Brazil, the Amazon—& the book read like a thriller. It was excellent.

Initially I had mixed feelings about Roosevelt, as he was unable to accept he lost the election & he ran again with an oversized ego, and pouted when he lost again. But it turns out, he was brave and selfless, in endless quantities. He and native Brazilian Rondon set out to map a lengthy deadly uncharted Amazon river, one that promised danger and treachery. This book reads like a thriller of the highest order. #Brazil #readingtheamericas

My next audiobook. #readingtheAmericas2023 #Brazil @Librarybelle @BarbaraBB

some of this was a bit too detailed for me but what an adventure. illustrates how very different all parts of our lives were only 100 years ago. a great peek inside a period of true exploration. shows roosevelt as a very unique and iconic american president.

There are a lot of ways to die on the Amazon as proven by former President Theodore Roosevelt. This was a great audiobook. I found myself especially interested in the life of Kermit Roosevelt, the President‘s second oldest son. #ReadingTheAmericas #Brazil

An intense tale of survival. Why these explorers trusted people with little to no experience to prepare the supplies their lives would depend on, I just can‘t fathom. I didn‘t understand where the Author obtained first hand accounts from the Amazonian tribesmen. I didn‘t see such information listed in the bibliography. I hope i just missed it.

What an amazing adventure! Teddy Roosevelt‘s epic journey down an unexplored south American river. Reminded me a lot of Into thin air in its sense of doom and foreboding.

A great telling, it is done so well you can picture every but of the journey feels like you're there

I love Millard‘s narrative nonfiction writing style - she really engages the reader in the topics about which she writes. In the tagged book, she chronicles former President Teddy Roosevelt‘s exploration of the Amazons. Along with his son and others, the group wants to investigate the River of Doubt, notorious for its deadly predators, both human and animal. #Fever becomes a deadly weapon, too...will the group survive? True story. #Movember #NFNov

How's everyone's #reversereadathon going? This is my first post during it - getting online can really derail me and I feel like I'm just kind of half participating since I went to work this morning anyway. But I got some audiobook in at the office - I started this yesterday to get my "set in South America" book for #GoodreadsSummerReading
#toomanychallenges

Theodore Roosevelt‘s exploration of the #WildWorld of the Amazonian jungle almost led to his death. Millard, who wrote Destiny of the Republic (one of the best books ever, IMO, which explored President Garfield‘s assassination and medical practices of the late 19th century), does a masterful job conveying the dangers Roosevelt and his group faced. #MarchIntoThe70s

Theodore Roosevelt be cray cray.

I am bewildered someone would voluntarily undertake a journey like this. 😂 #howjessreadsin2019

Day 12 Red Velvet Cake tea, a black tea. It is rich and creamy and delicious.

Day 11 Snow Day, a herbal tea. It is made with peppermint leaves and chocolate. It would indeed be great for a snow day. I am more than half way done with this book and loving it. I just learned a lot about an Amazon Tribe that was discovered by Roosevelt and his expedition team.

Holiday shopping lunch break

Day 9 White Cranberry Bark, a fruit infusion tea. Added just a little bit of sugar.

Day 8 Zest Wishes oolong tea. It is a nice breakfast tea with cardamom, cinnamon, orange, and apple. I had to add sugar because I like my tea sweet. The candy cane hunt is over so I am enjoying the lovely sunny 62 degree weather on my patio. A hot cuppa with leftover party cookies (gingerbread, and caramel apple cookies). Starting my new read about Roosevelt's trip with his son into the Amazon. It did not go well.

Teddy!

I‘m going shopping for my Litsy exchange matches and having studied them, I‘ve been making lists for possible purchases. You should look at your tbr... is it you? 🙂

#audiobooking while I do some stuff around the house. Next up, tackling this craft drawer. I swear I organized it less than a month ago. 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

Reading about an Amazon journey at a Minnesota lake seems logical to me!

This book has been fascinating to read! "He could not stand idly watching others at a time when action was required."

Whew. What an adventure this was! Millard excellently weaves the journey in to a story that kept me engaged. I really enjoyed the extra information about the Amazon's ecosystems and this history of Brazil and the Amazon. If you want to know more about Theodore Roosevelt, the Amazon, or early 20th centurl exploration, check it out!

The harrowing story of one of Teddy Roosevelt's last major adventures on a largely unexplored river in South America. It is a cautionary tale for those who leap before looking.

I didn‘t know that Teddy Roosevelt had been shot while campaigning for a third term as President (as a Progressive), against Democrat Woodrow Wilson and Republican incumbent president William Howard Taft.

This is a memorable description!

Who knew that Teddy Roosevelt had a voice that sounded like he had inhaled helium?

Good Saturday morning, Littens! Here‘s to holding on to some peace and joy today. 💜

I'm rendered almost speechless by how good this book was. It wasn't a fast read but it is densely poetic, exquisitely researched and empathetical written. I've no grounding in Roosevelt's history and limited exposure to exploration non-fiction but this was a truly magnificent book.

High, highly, highly recommended.

#review #recommendation

Quite humbling - I find it hard to conceive of a world without penicillin in it but .... here it is. 1914, you're Theodore Roosevelt in the Amazon charting an unexplored tributary of the Amazon, cut your leg and.... hope that the infection you catch doesn't kill you. Mind boggling.

I'm deeply in love with Kermit Roosevelt.... of *course* when exploring an unknown Amazonian tributary you have to keep your books over the food... good man, that one, good man.

I admit that though it came highly recommended, I did wonder how a non-fiction book roughly summarized "Ill-prepared men attempt to document unexplored Amazonia river. Goes as well as expected, title character survives" was going to maintain 353 pages. Answer - exquisite attention to detail, broad research and prose like this. Quite a joy to read, this book, quiet.

"In general, long term peace between the telegraph-station workers and the Indians was rare".....

What worries me most about this is that I currently live in India. Hopefully the universe knows the difference between Indians and I don't meet any telegraph workers...!

Every expat I've ever known has carried a suitcase like that so I'm glad to see even Theodore Roosevelt liked a taste of home.... 😊😊😊

#quote

😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

And in a nutshell, that is why I hate Amazon India,
Because every single book turns up damaged.

😡😡😡😡😡

#purist

Just finished this. Wow! Theodore Roosevelt was a renaissance man, an adventurer, they don't make them like him any more! Very slow start, slow storytelling, but it's true and worth the read!

First thought for the prompt #welcometothejungle. Teddy Roosevelt was many things - not only a US president, but a supporter of the environment, a soldier and an explorer. Millard details Roosevelt's exploration of a Brazilian river and the deadly consequences of such an adventure. Millard writes an amazing narrative nonfiction. #JuneTunz

Just started this. I flipped a coin and it won over Lost City of Z. I think it will be next. I've been in the mood for adventure reading. Has anyone read Lost City of Z?

#aprilbookshowers Day 17: On the nightstand

Millard has a gift for crafting compelling narrative and characters out of piles of research. What a satisfying read, full of who-knew facts and human connection.

I don't think it's possible to read this book without finding something to love or admire about Theodore Roosevelt. This daring adventure seems more like something from a Hollywood movie than a tale from a former American President's Retirement years. Millard is a superb writer that blends Travelogue, history, and natural history into a gripping story that is hard to put down. Essential reading for anyone casually interested in Roosevelt.

How could not pick this book for today's book set in South America? It's Teddy Roosevelt! On the Amazon! #booktober

#mapsinbooks, also #recommendsday: The River of Doubt, later called Rio Roosevelt, was a uncharted tributary of the Amazon when Theodore Roosevelt and son Kermit decided to explore it. It took several months and they almost died. Some of their men did die. Also the piranha and candiru are unforgettable 😳. Overall very gripping story. My dad sent this to me a few years back with a note thinking I'd be interested (he knows me well).

Amazing retelling of Roosevelt's incredible journey down the River of Doubt in South America. The strength of character, physical endurance, and dogged determination of Roosevelt, Rondon and crew left me in awe.

Teddy Roosevelt in one of his last campaign speeches. Perhaps we could keep this in mind for the current election?

So many details I didn't know. I've been reading snippets out loud to whomever I can get to listen!

Heard Candice Millard at the Unbound Book Festival in Columbia, MO last month and I threw 'bows to scoop this up. SO GOOD, y'all.

A phenomenal read that makes you wish there were more unknown frontiers to explore! Millard pulls the reader into the books and you feel as if you are triumphing and suffering with the past.