The Revolutionary War lasted over eight years, and it seems to be taking me almost as long to read Rick Atkinson’s magisterial trilogy about the war.

I somehow finished the first part, The British Are Coming, in the three weeks my library allotted me. I’m not faring as well with the second installment, The Fate of the Day. This is in no way a criticism of the book, only a comment on the time I’ve had to read it.

As it stands now, I’m less than halfway through the 880-page tome — and I have a decision to make. Either I will fold gracefully and wait another few months to see how things go with the ragged Continental Army. (Spoiler alert: I hear they make out well in the end.) Or else … I skim.

Skimming: the secret weapon of avid readers everywhere. I skimmed a bit to finish The British are Coming. But given that book three won’t be out for another year or two, I’ll probably save that secret weapon for my next go-around.

I can rest easy knowing that the Battle of Monmouth is over, the Continental Army has begun to come into their own, and General Lee has been court-martialed. With these facts under my belt, I can surrender the book to the next reader.

(Washington Rallying the Troops at Monmouth by Emanuel Leutze, courtesy Wikipedia)