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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
Still a big Curtis Sittenfeld fan but this book is way too long for what it is
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great Book! Fascinating novel that takes you into the lives of a remarkable women who went from being a small town midwest girl, to a librarian, to the wife of the president of the USA. It was written to mimic Laura Bush's wife. It talks about what it would be like to be married to a Republican who is in office when you are a devoted Democrat. Great read whether you are republican or democrat.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
A loose interpretation of the life of Laura Bush. I knew nothing about her before reading the book and it made me like her. The author intends that she doesnt agree with her husbands politics, she is pro-choice, and liberal when it comes down to it. The author sure makes pres. Bush look like a pompous, drunken, moron, nothing we didnt know already.
The story was captivating and kept me interested. Enjoyed it overall
The story was captivating and kept me interested. Enjoyed it overall
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gives a really good behind-the-scene story of a President's life from his wife's view. Really makes you think about decisions more recent Presidents make.
This book is loosely based on the life of Laura Bush. It begins with Alice Blackwell reflecting on her life and what led her to the White House. An interesting book that had me trying to figure out who all the characters were in real life. In the beginning you have Alice growing up with her parents and grandmother. The family is quiet and her grandmother loved to read. In high school there is a tragic accident that changes how Alice sees things and makes her go further away to college than she probably would have otherwise. The next section of the book is when Alice is a librarian at an elementary school. This is the time of her life when she meets Charlie Blackwell of the Blackwell family. Charlie is thinking about running for office when they first meet. The entire Blackwell family was interesting and I enjoyed this part of the book the most. The next section is after Charlie and Alice are married and living in Milwaukee. They are older, raising their daughter, and Charlie still hasn't found a true direction for his life. Last, they are in the White House during Charlie's second term. I enjoyed the entire book, but the last section felt very different to me than the rest of the book. It could be because Alice was older and more reflective, but I thought it had a different feel.
Hooray! I loved this book. It is a little too long for our book club (at over 500 pages), but it would be a fun book for discussion. Part of me is glad it is fiction, a riff on several facts about the life of Laura Bush. Part of me is tempted to read more (nonfiction) accounts of her life, but none would be as interesting as the fictionalized version. Plus, the story made me sympathetic to the lack of privacy she (and other first ladies) have to endure.
Bring on another story, Curtis!
Bring on another story, Curtis!