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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
I made it about a quarter of the way through this book before the author just lost me. Alice's response to tragedy was so bizarre, and the resulting tone of the book so depressing, I couldn't continue. I also found it difficult to read a book so specifically inspired by a single event in a real person's life, and I was always questioning where it diverged and whether or not the novel remained respectful to its inspiration. This just wasn't the book for me.
I devoured this book and felt so thoroughly in it that I felt my moods changing with Alice’s. The only reason I haven’t given in 5 stars is I really wanted more of some moments, I wanted to know how Alice felt when she was called names by Charlie and his mother in the moment rather than later. Regardless Sittenfeld is an excellent writer and I genuinely could not put this book down
i wish i new more about laura bush, so that i could separate the fact from fiction. i enjoyed this one, but the first half was way better than the second.
I read this a long time ago, but what stands out is that the author used the same language to describe anger, orgasm and diarrhea.
For the length of this book, not much happened. Given the synopsis was about her becoming the first lady, I was getting bored at 3/4 of the way in when her husband still isnt even active in politics.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5 stars. Maybe five. It was going to be five until the end was ponderous -- I can only imagine the author doesn't yet have enough distance from the events described to refrain from long-winded political musings.
I LOVED this book. A fictional account of Laura Bush's life (and oh how I wish I knew how much of this story was fiction!). The book concentrates on her -- I read it described as a "character study" and I think that's accurate, for the most part. Alice, the main character, is a fascinating woman of depth who makes very conscious choices in her life to simply disregard issues which would bring un-fixable conflict, if they were addressed.
Alice was someone that I would love to know, and have as a friend. The book suffers somewhat from the modern lack of editing, but for the most part is an interesting perspective on the major events of Alice's life.
I LOVED this book. A fictional account of Laura Bush's life (and oh how I wish I knew how much of this story was fiction!). The book concentrates on her -- I read it described as a "character study" and I think that's accurate, for the most part. Alice, the main character, is a fascinating woman of depth who makes very conscious choices in her life to simply disregard issues which would bring un-fixable conflict, if they were addressed.
Alice was someone that I would love to know, and have as a friend. The book suffers somewhat from the modern lack of editing, but for the most part is an interesting perspective on the major events of Alice's life.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I love curtis sittenfeld's writing and I was sucked into this book. I did not know much about laura bush but this made me curious about her story
That's really a 2.5. That last section was so hard to get through. It's almost like someone else wrote the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue part.
Slightly disappointed with the ending. The book was great for the first 550 or so pages then it seemed to tail off. Worth reading though.