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sterling8's reviews
2145 reviews
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
4.0
I wasn't sure what to expect from a book based on the life of Laura Bush. I didn't know much about her before starting this book, although I did know that she had been in an accident which killed a boy in her class when she was in high school. And of course, I'm familiar with the Bush presidency.
I've read some scathing reviews of this book which claim that the author set out to do a hatchet job and reviled the Bush family. I think that these people must be easily offended. It is true that Laura killed a classmate, and I think the author dealt with her grief and shame (which she surely must have felt, whatever the relationship between her and the boy) in a realistic manner. The Bush DUI did happen, as well, as did of course the war in Iraq. I felt that Sittenfield tried to make both the Laura Bush and George W. Bush characters sympathetic, but she did so by portraying them as flawed human beings, not as paragons of virtue. Much more believable, if you ask me. I actually could feel more for Charlie, the main character's husband, as he was shown to be alternately tender and callous, humorous and harsh. I could see why she fell in love with him. With the actual ex-president, there was such a need to portray him as the fearless leader who never doubted himself. I never got a sense of his humanity. Leadership is all well and good, but how about a little introspection?
As for the Laura Bush character, I could understand and empathize with her feeling that her job was to be her husband's support instead of putting her own views forward. But she was sometimes so passive and martyr-like that I wanted to smack her to snap her out of it and get her to stand up for herself. On the other hand, I thought that the author did a great job with portraying the complexities, regrets, and compromises of any marriage. That is the great strength of this book, and why it should be a popular book club selection.
I've read some scathing reviews of this book which claim that the author set out to do a hatchet job and reviled the Bush family. I think that these people must be easily offended. It is true that Laura killed a classmate, and I think the author dealt with her grief and shame (which she surely must have felt, whatever the relationship between her and the boy) in a realistic manner. The Bush DUI did happen, as well, as did of course the war in Iraq. I felt that Sittenfield tried to make both the Laura Bush and George W. Bush characters sympathetic, but she did so by portraying them as flawed human beings, not as paragons of virtue. Much more believable, if you ask me. I actually could feel more for Charlie, the main character's husband, as he was shown to be alternately tender and callous, humorous and harsh. I could see why she fell in love with him. With the actual ex-president, there was such a need to portray him as the fearless leader who never doubted himself. I never got a sense of his humanity. Leadership is all well and good, but how about a little introspection?
As for the Laura Bush character, I could understand and empathize with her feeling that her job was to be her husband's support instead of putting her own views forward. But she was sometimes so passive and martyr-like that I wanted to smack her to snap her out of it and get her to stand up for herself. On the other hand, I thought that the author did a great job with portraying the complexities, regrets, and compromises of any marriage. That is the great strength of this book, and why it should be a popular book club selection.
Made from Scratch: Discovering the Pleasures of a Handmade Life by Jenna Woginrich
2.0
What this book is for: a quick reference guide to those who want to learn just a little about beekeeping, gardening, sewing, or dog-sledding. There isn't enough depth in the book for it to be really useful if you are ready to start a project, but it will make you think that if the author (who comes across as kind of a ditz) could do this stuff, you certainly can too.
There are anecdotes from the author that will make you feel better about your occasional lapses in judgment: she leaves a basket of baby chicks where her dogs can and do get at them, she ends up having to kill a rabbit after her dogs terrify it into breaking its own back in a struggle to get away from them. Sense a theme here? As a Buddhist vegetarian raising rabbits for their woolly fur, the author ended up having to step up and end the rabbit's life. That brought home the whole "nature, red in tooth and claw" concept for her.
So, you will not be ready to start a hive of bees or a garden after reading this book. But the back of the book does give a lot of good references if you would like to do further research. That is probably the book's biggest strength. That and the boost of confidence that the author's sunny writing style should give you.
There are anecdotes from the author that will make you feel better about your occasional lapses in judgment: she leaves a basket of baby chicks where her dogs can and do get at them, she ends up having to kill a rabbit after her dogs terrify it into breaking its own back in a struggle to get away from them. Sense a theme here? As a Buddhist vegetarian raising rabbits for their woolly fur, the author ended up having to step up and end the rabbit's life. That brought home the whole "nature, red in tooth and claw" concept for her.
So, you will not be ready to start a hive of bees or a garden after reading this book. But the back of the book does give a lot of good references if you would like to do further research. That is probably the book's biggest strength. That and the boost of confidence that the author's sunny writing style should give you.
The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie
4.0
I liked this one. It was a lot of set-up for what looks to be the main plot, but that's okay. Lots of interesting, flawed characters that I am interested to see develop. Well written, good fight scenes.