The first review for 24 Hours at the Capitol just came out and it was a STARRED review! That means it is among the top forthcoming books per Booklist, a publication of the American Library Association. They wrote that the book is a “compelling oral history of this dark time in the history of the U.S.” and that my writing “effectively communicate the chaos,” which made me laugh a bit. The scenes in the book are definitely chaotic!! But my favorite line was this: “Current actions to whitewash the January 6 insurrection make this an especially important document.” That’s exactly why I wrote this book, and it’s nice to see that’s being recognized.
Here’s the full review:
The riotous January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol, when Congress was meeting to affirm the election of Joe Biden as president, was months in the making. Seeds of insurrection were planted by conspiracy-mongers, militias, and Donald Trump himself. Through interviews with journalists who covered the white supremacist movement and the insurrection, people who were working in the Capitol that day, police who fought off the violent mob, rioters and families of those caught up in the event, and transcripts from the House committee that investigated the insurrection, Neus (24 Hours In Charlottesville, 2023) has penned a compelling oral history of this dark time in the history of the U.S. Twitter, Parler, Telegram, and other communication channels among groups like Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, along with their actions, including assembling a “Quick Reaction Force” of guns and ammunitions in Virginia, show that the deadly January 6 assault was not spontaneous or patriotic. Descriptions of air thick with bear spray, tear gas, and mace, officers being surrounded and beaten, and staffers sheltering as rioters pillaged Congressional offices effectively communicate the chaos. Current actions to whitewash the January 6 insurrection make this an especially important document.
Thanks Booklist and as a reminder, the book is, of course, still available for pre-order!
