My copy of Lessons From The Edge by Marie Yovanovitch arrived yesterday.

[madaboutharry]

I can't put it down. This is a very engaging book. Her writing style is easy and familiar.

I think many here would like it. She goes after Trump right out of the gate,

[FormerOstrich]

1. I recommend the book to all

Madaboutharry, I am surprised you haven't received any replies to this post. I did a site search to see if anyone had posted about the book, otherwise I was going to start one.

Like you, I couldn't put the book down while I was reading it. She is an excellent author and the book is engrossing.

I think the book resonated with me because we started our careers, in male oriented fields, about the same time frames. Of course, my career is/was nothing compared to hers. However, I really related to much of what she experienced on some fronts.

I was very proud to be an American and even prouder we had people like her when she testified during the impeachment. The book reinforced that opinion a hundred times over. I believe her to be objective and honest.

While reading the book I kept thinking I wanted to write her a letter. I want her to know that there are people like me that are so awed by her and her work.

It seems to me that she downplayed the threats and danger when she was asked to leave Ukraine. Her testimony in the impeachment trial had more detail. However, I understand if she felt she needed to restrain some things that happened. She certainly shined a favorable light on Biden in the memoir.

I don't know anyone else that has read it. I am giving it to my sister to read next. What are your thoughts? It's always nice to discuss movies and books with others. I really want to write her a letter....she is a badass!!

[FormerOstrich]

2. Doesn't a reply

kick the thread to the top anymore?

I was hoping others might reply to the thread. However, when I looked in the "General Discussion" forum the thread wasn't there. I closed my browser and checked again...still not there (confirmed by timestamp on the threads to timestamp on post).

Hopefully, this does kick it to the top...otherwise there is probably no hope of others joining the discussion.....

[madaboutharry]

3. Hi FormerOstrich,

I also was a bit disappointed that there were no replies to my post. I thought people would be interested in her book.

I have a great respect for her. I was taken by her humility and her willingness to discuss her own vulnerabilities. Her backstory interested me, especially the way she wrote about her childhood and wrote so honestly about her achievements, including how she wasn't a very good student at Princeton. One of the most important aspects of a memoir is authenticity and feeling that the author is being honest about who they are.

She described herself as an introvert, yet choose to serve in dangerous places! She is obviously a complex person.

It was particularly galling to read about how she was targeted by Trump and his goons and driven from her job as Ambassador to Ukraine. It was sickening. She wrote about how she cried and how the entire experience was crushing. Her treatment by the Trump administration, and by the State Department, was a microcosm of how corrupt our government was under Trump. It made me hate them more.

When I saw her interviewed on television when her book came out and saw how great she looked and how she seemed at peace, it really demonstrated how strong and special a person she is.