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A review by firstimpressionsreviews
I Am Abraham: A Novel of Lincoln and the Civil War by Jerome Charyn
4.0
Fond Of
You can't exactly say I am Abraham was filled with twists and turns as Lincoln's story is very well known but the way it was told was interesting. Told in small vignettes that wove seamlessly together.
The novel didn't drag with reminisces from his childhood rather moving to his old years and didn't linger too long on each point. Hitting the major developments at an enjoyable pace.
There was also a focus on his family life and liked the personal touch it added instead solely focusing on the Gettysburg Address.
Not Fond Of
On the same token, as much as I liked reading of the Lincoln family, at times I felt that too large a focus was given to Mary Todd Lincoln and her illness, almost feeling as if the novel were about her instead of Honest Abe.
Final Thoughts
The novel's ending felt cut short which was a bit frustrating but then again so was Abraham Lincoln's life so it felt like an adequate conclusion, all things considering. Overall,with fluid, eloquent storytelling, Jerome Charyn's novel met my anticipation and then some.
You can't exactly say I am Abraham was filled with twists and turns as Lincoln's story is very well known but the way it was told was interesting. Told in small vignettes that wove seamlessly together.
The novel didn't drag with reminisces from his childhood rather moving to his old years and didn't linger too long on each point. Hitting the major developments at an enjoyable pace.
There was also a focus on his family life and liked the personal touch it added instead solely focusing on the Gettysburg Address.
Not Fond Of
On the same token, as much as I liked reading of the Lincoln family, at times I felt that too large a focus was given to Mary Todd Lincoln and her illness, almost feeling as if the novel were about her instead of Honest Abe.
Final Thoughts
The novel's ending felt cut short which was a bit frustrating but then again so was Abraham Lincoln's life so it felt like an adequate conclusion, all things considering. Overall,with fluid, eloquent storytelling, Jerome Charyn's novel met my anticipation and then some.