Book Club Learned About John Adams

Readers at the got a new perspective on historical characters thanks to the Armchair Historian's Book Club on Wednesday. 

The group meets monthly to discuss works of historical fiction and, in doing so, have revived their inner history buffs by exploring stories left out of history textbooks. Established a year ago, the club meets to discuss novels revolving around historic figures and events in American history.  Discussions are held at the library by Chris Schnupp, a librarian and former history teacher.

"The club has been a great way for me to get back to history," said Schnupp, who has led the club's discovery of various figures from Robert Moses to Theodore Roosevelt.

This month, the group learned about America's second president, John Adams.  Adams was long considered one of the worst presidents in American history because of his uninspiring leadership, until the publication of  John Adams by David McCullough.

"Adams was a real American," Schnupp told the group.  "His ideals were so American that if he were taken out of colonial America and dropped into today's America, he probably wouldn't be out of place."

Each member enthusiastically raved about the novel, although they found the over 800 pages of reading to be slightly exhausting.  Excited for the next assignment, members hope to gain the perspective of Adams' wife, Abigail, whom they found out after reading John Adams, basically "ran the country" and proved, said one reader, "behind every good man is a great woman."

The next meeting of the Armchair Historian's Book Club is Jan. 25.