Scan barcode
lambsears's review against another edition
3.0
Again - I wish for 1/2 stars, as this deserves more, but not a full star.
I loved Sittenfield's writing in "Rodham", so knew that she was a wonderful writer, and wasn't disappointed. She definitely paints a thoroughly fleshed out character who is actually closely modelled on former First Lady Laura Bush, about whom I knew nothing.
It's a compelling read, so kept me engaged, but it really could have done with a firmer editor. There was far too much rumination and background explanation, especially in the final section of the book which wandered on for much too long.
Despite that, I'll certainly read her next tome.
I loved Sittenfield's writing in "Rodham", so knew that she was a wonderful writer, and wasn't disappointed. She definitely paints a thoroughly fleshed out character who is actually closely modelled on former First Lady Laura Bush, about whom I knew nothing.
It's a compelling read, so kept me engaged, but it really could have done with a firmer editor. There was far too much rumination and background explanation, especially in the final section of the book which wandered on for much too long.
Despite that, I'll certainly read her next tome.
katiekillmore's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jeanajen2024's review against another edition
5.0
I know this is a fiction book but it did have some basis in fact. I had no idea that Laura Bush Alice Blackwell had so many skeletons in her closet. Nothing that was insurmountable, but still. I did have to NOT picture our current President and First Lady through much of the book because Charlie Blackwell seemed so much more manly than George Bush. Overall, I enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
sp3cia1j's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
I really enjoyed this novel, but it was not exactly what I thought it was going to be. Marketed to me as a tale of George W. Bush and his wife, this was to me, much different. Most of the novel focuses on the time before the White House, and the husband (named here as Charlie Blackwell)'s ascent into politics is largely glossed over. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the story we got, that of Alice Blackwell.
I saw reviews that the book was too long. For most of it, I enjoyed the meandering musings - it sounded much like a proper Midwestern lady telling the story, and the voice really worked for me. It was only in the last 10-15% that I really noticed the length and was eager for a resolution.
Overall an excellent story, and I will continue to read Sittenfeld.
I really enjoyed this novel, but it was not exactly what I thought it was going to be. Marketed to me as a tale of George W. Bush and his wife, this was to me, much different. Most of the novel focuses on the time before the White House, and the husband (named here as Charlie Blackwell)'s ascent into politics is largely glossed over. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the story we got, that of Alice Blackwell.
I saw reviews that the book was too long. For most of it, I enjoyed the meandering musings - it sounded much like a proper Midwestern lady telling the story, and the voice really worked for me. It was only in the last 10-15% that I really noticed the length and was eager for a resolution.
Overall an excellent story, and I will continue to read Sittenfeld.
amies808's review against another edition
2.0
I read Prep and liked it well enough, so I assumed I would have the same reaction to this one--with the added bonus of this being a fictionalized look at Laura Bush's life (ooh, gossip! The Oval Office! A peek at a very interesting marriage!) American Wife was, however, plodding and meandering, and downright dull despite the requisite beach trash moments. I kept hoping--and hoping--and hoping-- the story would pick up, but all of a sudden I was 250 pages deep in a 460+ page book that I wasn't even enjoying. I felt like Sittenfeld kept trying very hard to make eloquent, grand statements about love and marriage, which ceased resonating with me after page 50 and ended up being simply pretentious. I didn't mind Alice so much as a character, but I kept screaming in my head the classic freshman year lit mantra: "SHOW, don't tell!!"
chelseagoeke's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
tense
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? Yes
4.0
hannahtlucero's review against another edition
4.0
This was my bus book for August and September! Such a great book-inspired loosely by the life of Laura Bush. I was a little weary to read a book about a Republican politician and his wife written by a Democrat, but Sittenfeld approached this book with a pretty neutral ground. SOO GOOD!
ccarrendale's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
lioness1120's review against another edition
3.0
I couldn't make it through this. I got more than halfway through before I gave up and it was a difficult decision- in that I had no opinion one way or the other. There was nothing truly awful that forced me to quit but I felt weighed down by continuing to read. Too many insignificant details that broke the rhythm of the prose and frankly, I was just plain tired of the protagonist and how she just had no willpower or real characteristics that defined her. She would have faded into the background in real life- not a desirable trait to base a book upon.
jrosenstein's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to love this book. I loved her first novel, Prep and I really liked the idea of a novel based on the life of Laura Bush, who I think most librarians will agree is an intriguing woman. However, I found the book to the rather slow and too introspective. The main character's husband doesn't become president until almost the end of the book. I see that Sittenfeld is trying to focus more on the character of the First Lady and the dynamics of a marriage, but frankly, for me part of writing a book about a First Lady is talking about her experiences in the White House and how she got there, not just why she decided to marry her immature alcoholic husband.