Four star review, originally posted here on January 20, 2024.
This is really a 3.5 star rating. I am glad that Cheney wrote this book, and that I read it. I am glad to have one more record of the madness surrounding January 6th, and of the fight for the truth that followed (and continues to this day). I feel so unoriginal saying this, but, as a left-leaning American, I disagree strongly with Cheney on virtually all policies, but nevertheless am in awe of her courage an perseverance in doing the right thing where Jan 6th is concerned. I have a lot of respect for people who honestly follow their own moral compass, even if their compass doesn’t always align with my own. The fact that Cheney is unique amongst Republicans in following her compass in this case is enraging. I keep starting to say that Cheney was courageous, but I don’t think that’s quite right; she gives the illusion of courage because all the other Republicans around her were just such fucking spineless cowards that her choices appear courageous by comparison. But really, her actions should have been the BASELINE. Condemning Trump’s attach should have been the bare fucking minimum. But instead, she was an outlier. So. absolutely. maddening.
Cheney herself sums it up best when he speaks of a conversation she had with a fellow Republican congressperson. The coworker said that he agreed with Cheney, but that he was scared for the lives of his wife and young child because Trump’s supporters were threatening them. Cheney’s response? (paraphrased cuz I don’t remember the exact quote) “I sympathized with him. But I also thought he was in the wrong line of work.” Indeed. 100% spot on. JFC these stupid freakin’ cowards.
I didn’t learn much from this book, largely because I’m a voracious consumer of all news related to Jan 6th. Living in the DC area will do that to you. I watched Proud Boys park their car in front of my house during the previous rally. I was placed under emergency curfew on the 6th (and snuck out to walk my dog- very eerie.) I have friends who were onsite fighting the insurrectionists. So I’ve been paying attention. I watched all the hearings. I seek out news reports about every arrested insurrectionist. This is the 3rd Jan 6th memoir I’ve read (Previously I read Michael Fanone’s and Cassidy Hutchinson’s books. Both very good, 5 stars each!) Cheney’s book shares a different perspective which I very much appreciated. It was interesting to hear her recollections of reactions and comments from specific congresspeople. One of my favorites was when Jim Jordan offered her his hand during the attack, claiming they need to protect the woman, and she swatted away his hand and chucked an F-bomb at him. Amazing stuff.
That being said, I can’t give this book 5 stars (and am barely scrounging together 4 stars) for two main reasons. One, it is very repetitive. It has to be, to a certain degree. But not quite THIS repetitive. Second, I would have liked to learn a bit more about Cheney herself. I didn’t know much about her personally before this, and I still don’t. I’m not saying I need her full life’s story, but it would be helpful to get more than just a tiny tidbit of backstory. What makes Cheney tick? What about her, specifically, made her the exception (along with Adam Kinzinger) where Trump is concerned? But easily the biggest gaping question I have that remained unanswered is this: How can Cheney and I be so similar in our understanding of the right thing to do in this particular context, but be SOOOO far apart where other major issues are concerned? I want to understand her thinking better, so that I may understand her better. But there was very little of that here; the closest we got were a few references to her history-loving mom instilling a love of history in Cheney (something I can certainly relate to.) Now, maybe that’s not the focus of this exact book. But in that case, maybe take the word “Memoir” out of the title.
Helga without the H 