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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
More than anything, I found this book frustrating. I knew that Alice was based on Laura Bush, but I didn't expect it to follow her life so precisely. So it started out as a compelling read, but
(I had this same problem with The Royal We, which was very closely based on Prince William and Kate Middleton, but at least that book was funny, and had a decent cast of supporting characters.)
Spoiler
once Charlie bought the Brewers, any surprise, any nuance, was gone. And the payoff at the end just wasn't enough for me.(I had this same problem with The Royal We, which was very closely based on Prince William and Kate Middleton, but at least that book was funny, and had a decent cast of supporting characters.)
I really liked this book - far more than I thought I would. The first three parts are energetic, fun and made me rather inquisitive. I kept wanting to know what *really* happened to Laura Bush and what was fiction. In attempting to separate fact from fiction, I was kept interested and strung along. Although there was some drama in the final chapter (I won't spoil it for those who haven't read it), I think I was less interested in this chapter (and this is the only reason the book didn't get 5 starts from me) because I already *know* this part of Laura Bush's life. This was the part I was familiar with, so I guess it wasn't AS interesting as the rest.
I thought the character development was great and I loved the young Charlie as a bad news frat boy. Also, I appreciated the parallels between Alice's grandmother and Charlie.
I thought the character development was great and I loved the young Charlie as a bad news frat boy. Also, I appreciated the parallels between Alice's grandmother and Charlie.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
I would love to know how this was written, what the Bush family thought of it, and how much was near true or parallel.
Generally this was too character driven for me, I need a plot. But I kept getting hooked by inferences to real events so I finished.
I got fatigued by the use of parentheses and side comments. But I see how it made it more of a seemingly story telling.
Generally this was too character driven for me, I need a plot. But I kept getting hooked by inferences to real events so I finished.
I got fatigued by the use of parentheses and side comments. But I see how it made it more of a seemingly story telling.
Expected to love this book and was not disappointed. Though the novel is loosely based on Laura Bush's life, Sittenfeld does a masterful job of developing the character of Alice in her own right. The portrayal of the ups and downs of Alice’s life make for an engaging story, and the characters — including the identifiable ones — are largely relatable and sympathetic (with the few exceptions being developed that way intentionally). More thoughts at bookhopping .
Sex and power, agency, personal vs political…definitely my favorite sittenfeld
They say this is a book that has fictionalised the life of Laura Bush. American Wife is the story of Alice Lindgren, a middle-class woman (and registered Democrat) from a small town in Wisconsin who grows up to become a children’s librarian but then falls in love with a young man from a famously rich and political family and eventually finds herself the unlikely First Lady of the United States.
The book is structured into three parts; the first two focused on Alice's childhood and the early years of her relationship with Charlie. The final section takes place during current events, a Supreme Court nomination and the Middle East war are at the center of the character' attention. By far, I preferred the first two sections of the book over the last section, which felt like a lot of wishful thinking about the real First Lady. The early years are filled with interesting characters and the stand-out for me was Alice's grandmother Emilie Lindgren. In comparison, the last section, which takes place during current events, felt jumpy and forced.
Not being an American and knowing very little about the real Laura Bush I don't feel qualified to say whether or not this felt like an accurate portrayal. All in all, an interesting read though.
The book is structured into three parts; the first two focused on Alice's childhood and the early years of her relationship with Charlie. The final section takes place during current events, a Supreme Court nomination and the Middle East war are at the center of the character' attention. By far, I preferred the first two sections of the book over the last section, which felt like a lot of wishful thinking about the real First Lady. The early years are filled with interesting characters and the stand-out for me was Alice's grandmother Emilie Lindgren. In comparison, the last section, which takes place during current events, felt jumpy and forced.
Not being an American and knowing very little about the real Laura Bush I don't feel qualified to say whether or not this felt like an accurate portrayal. All in all, an interesting read though.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
I'm accepting the fact I don't want to spend 10 hrs of my life finishing another one of her shitty books. So, I quit.