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marisacarpico's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I pick up pretty much everything Sittenfeld writes though sometimes I wonder why the things that occupy her occupy her. As a fan fiction of real life, mileage varies. The last section is what people are waiting for, but it feels too brief and under explored. This is stronger if you view it purely as metaphor, which I think the title suggests.
It’s the story of all women in America socialized to suppress themselves for their husbands. The politics of privileged white women (which have become more relevant in the last decade) who sacrifice a larger social concern for domestic harmony. Viewed as a larger comment, this works well, feels incisive even, and the last few cycles have only helped it.
It’s the story of all women in America socialized to suppress themselves for their husbands. The politics of privileged white women (which have become more relevant in the last decade) who sacrifice a larger social concern for domestic harmony. Viewed as a larger comment, this works well, feels incisive even, and the last few cycles have only helped it.
omp's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
The mystery of the to-be-read stack that accumulates in the corner of my office is who suggested what and why, at the moment that I purchased the book, did I think it was something I should read. American Wife absolutely falls into this category.
Did I need a fictionalized novel based on Laura Bush's life? I have no idea why, who, or where, but I read it to the end. That said, the story was best consumed without that context. The twists and turns were based on Bush's life, but it wasn't necessary to like or dislike her to appreciate the plot. It is a story of family connections and relationships and developing individual character. (But, if you have some sensitive leanings, you may want to skip this simply due to the sex. It isn't the theme, but some scenes don't shy away.)
Did I need a fictionalized novel based on Laura Bush's life? I have no idea why, who, or where, but I read it to the end. That said, the story was best consumed without that context. The twists and turns were based on Bush's life, but it wasn't necessary to like or dislike her to appreciate the plot. It is a story of family connections and relationships and developing individual character. (But, if you have some sensitive leanings, you may want to skip this simply due to the sex. It isn't the theme, but some scenes don't shy away.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, and Abortion
buttercupita's review against another edition
4.0
I liked Sittenfeld's Prep, but I think I liked this one even better. The main character is more sympathetic, and as always, Sittenfeld just makes it all so believable. I guess I shared her fascination with the personal side of Laura Bush from the start (former teacher in me?), so it was a fascinating journey into the possibilities of that life.
bluehound's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked the main character but thought the story a little blah.
sconroy9697's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the beginning and middle a lot but it got a little too political at the end for me.
nienabmj's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up this book because it was on sale at half price books and because I enjoyed the author's debut book. I didn't know until I started it that she created this book as a fictional narrative loosely based on the events and life of Laura Bush. I have no idea why, but I couldn't put this down and was sad when I was done and couldn't hear about the characters anymore. I'm now obsessively researching Laura Bush to see what was true and what was fiction, and believe me, I had never devoted five or more seconds of thought to the woman before I read this book.
alicecorvo's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
beckca03's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this. It's fairly fast-paced and I really liked the fact that it was (loosely) based on the life of Laura Bush. That being said, I definitely caution the reader to read more into the whole Bush thing than is there. It is definitely a good work of fiction.
The plot wasn't neat and tidy, and there wasn't a lot of resolution at the end, but I admire books that are written that way. Prep is another book by Sittenfeld that I enjoyed so if you liked American Wife, try Prep.
The plot wasn't neat and tidy, and there wasn't a lot of resolution at the end, but I admire books that are written that way. Prep is another book by Sittenfeld that I enjoyed so if you liked American Wife, try Prep.
justplainbecca's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a really interesting read. It was a challenge, knowing that the book is Sittenfeld's imagining of the life of Laura Bush, to separate fact from fiction. I had to remind myself often that the words were Sittenfeld's, the thoughts were Alice and Charlie's, and that neither the words nor the thoughts were Laura's or George's. This was especially challenging in light of the fact that so much of it was clearly thinly-veiled fact. Charlie buys the Milwaukee Brewers, George bought the Texas Rangers; Charlie went to Princeton, George went to Yale; Charlie has a drug and alcohol problem, George had a drug and alcohol problem.
American Wife has two ingredients I really enjoy in a novel: exploration of familial relationships and long-term storytelling. I love when a novel follows a character throughout his or her lifetime (or even one that follows several generations of a family). I enjoy watching the character grow and seeing how all of the episodes of a person's life shape them and effect each successive episode. I liked that when Alice mentions she has her Giving Tree sculpture on her desk in the White House I felt invested in that, as a reader, because I'd also read about how Alice had made that sculpture.
This novel also grapples with the idea of identity and celebrity, which is fascinating to me. I really liked when Alice was describing her celebrity and how occasionally people would say to her, "wow, it must be weird to be famous," not realizing that just by making that statement, they too are contributing to the weirdness.
The greatest strength of this novel, however, is in its portrayal of Alice Blackwell as neither sympathetic nor hateful. She just is. Sometimes you sympathize with her and think "losing a loved one is so awful; having the public act as if they know you must again be awful," other times you think "ugh, how can she stay married to him?? What is wrong with her?" But you never fully swing one way or the other, you just accept that Alice has made her decisions for better or for worse and that she feels the same way about them. She's not asking for your sympathy or your condemnation when she shares the details of her life; she's just sharing.
American Wife has two ingredients I really enjoy in a novel: exploration of familial relationships and long-term storytelling. I love when a novel follows a character throughout his or her lifetime (or even one that follows several generations of a family). I enjoy watching the character grow and seeing how all of the episodes of a person's life shape them and effect each successive episode. I liked that when Alice mentions she has her Giving Tree sculpture on her desk in the White House I felt invested in that, as a reader, because I'd also read about how Alice had made that sculpture.
This novel also grapples with the idea of identity and celebrity, which is fascinating to me. I really liked when Alice was describing her celebrity and how occasionally people would say to her, "wow, it must be weird to be famous," not realizing that just by making that statement, they too are contributing to the weirdness.
The greatest strength of this novel, however, is in its portrayal of Alice Blackwell as neither sympathetic nor hateful. She just is. Sometimes you sympathize with her and think "losing a loved one is so awful; having the public act as if they know you must again be awful," other times you think "ugh, how can she stay married to him?? What is wrong with her?" But you never fully swing one way or the other, you just accept that Alice has made her decisions for better or for worse and that she feels the same way about them. She's not asking for your sympathy or your condemnation when she shares the details of her life; she's just sharing.