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charlottem18's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
courtneycox693's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
h_bs26's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
I really enjoyed this. I couldn’t give it 5 stars because I felt that the protagonist was being dragged along by the plot. I suppose this is the point, but it enraged me deeply. The husband-induced facelift in particular!!!
tracymiller13's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
whereiamnot's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A fascinating look into the mechanics of a relationship that gave me empathy for those of my grandparents generation.
raymond_murphy's review against another edition
4.0
I truly enjoyed reading this book and did so voraciously. Like many others who read it, I'd agree that the first third was much stronger than the other two, with the last particularly weak.
It's no spoiler though to say that this book is inspired by Laura Bush's life and is, at least initially, what held me in its thrall. However, what emerged more than anything were many of the same themes that Sittenfeld worked over in "Prep." And just as I felt when I reached the end of this book, this one leaves me a bit bit hollowed out and mostly sad.
Sittenfeld's seems to have gotten a reputation for an interest in disaffected outsiders. I don't agree. I think Sittenfeld, like Hollinghurt's protagonist in "Line of Beauty" or Waugh's in "Brideshead Revisited" is more fascinated by the relationship of "average" people to the moneyed and powerful in the US. To some extent, any of us who are not of the background, but through education and other privilege are exposed to it can appreciate the sense of wonderment that such a world exists. However, it is frankly naive to not know about it and there are moral choices involved in thrusting one's self into it.
Both in "Prep" and in "American Wife," this is exactly what the main characters do. Despite their initial misgivings and despite pretty obvious red flags, Alice Blackwell pushes ahead into a relationship with a man whose worldview, politics and possibly base morality are so different than her own--and so seemingly wrong. Despite this, which is obvious to both character and reader alike, we spend almost 300 more pages with Alice after she decides to marry her husband.
Toward the end, Alice asks what the people who judge her husband wants from her and rattles off a list of choices and compromises she made and wonders if it is fair of us to ask if she should have made them. After all, she says, compromise is a part of any relationship and a part of love.
That's true, but of course when we love our selves, we often avoid bad choices in the first place that lead to morally compromising situations. I am not sure Alice grasps that concept and so the book ended somewhat flatly for me.
Despite that, I found "American Wife" quite thought-provoking, touching and well-written (though a bit long). One under-explored theme is Blackwell's attraction to his wife. We spend a lot of time wondering why she is with him, but it's as interesting (if not more when you think about the Bush analogy) to wonder what he sees in her.
It's no spoiler though to say that this book is inspired by Laura Bush's life and is, at least initially, what held me in its thrall. However, what emerged more than anything were many of the same themes that Sittenfeld worked over in "Prep." And just as I felt when I reached the end of this book, this one leaves me a bit bit hollowed out and mostly sad.
Sittenfeld's seems to have gotten a reputation for an interest in disaffected outsiders. I don't agree. I think Sittenfeld, like Hollinghurt's protagonist in "Line of Beauty" or Waugh's in "Brideshead Revisited" is more fascinated by the relationship of "average" people to the moneyed and powerful in the US. To some extent, any of us who are not of the background, but through education and other privilege are exposed to it can appreciate the sense of wonderment that such a world exists. However, it is frankly naive to not know about it and there are moral choices involved in thrusting one's self into it.
Both in "Prep" and in "American Wife," this is exactly what the main characters do. Despite their initial misgivings and despite pretty obvious red flags, Alice Blackwell pushes ahead into a relationship with a man whose worldview, politics and possibly base morality are so different than her own--and so seemingly wrong. Despite this, which is obvious to both character and reader alike, we spend almost 300 more pages with Alice after she decides to marry her husband.
Toward the end, Alice asks what the people who judge her husband wants from her and rattles off a list of choices and compromises she made and wonders if it is fair of us to ask if she should have made them. After all, she says, compromise is a part of any relationship and a part of love.
That's true, but of course when we love our selves, we often avoid bad choices in the first place that lead to morally compromising situations. I am not sure Alice grasps that concept and so the book ended somewhat flatly for me.
Despite that, I found "American Wife" quite thought-provoking, touching and well-written (though a bit long). One under-explored theme is Blackwell's attraction to his wife. We spend a lot of time wondering why she is with him, but it's as interesting (if not more when you think about the Bush analogy) to wonder what he sees in her.
campaigee's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
norahbringer's review against another edition
3.0
I read this one for my book club, and it was much better than I thought. I didn't love it or think it was great literature--but it did give me a lot to think about. Sittenfeld has an interesting imagination about the inner life of people who lead these kinds of lives, and it provoked some interesting conversations at our book club meeting. I'd recommend it as an interesting story--but not as something that everyone "should" read.
pamscafati's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Abortion
yasmin15's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75