American Wife
By Curtis Sittenfeld
- Release Date: 2008-09-02
- Genre: Literary Fiction
Description
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A gorgeously written novel that weaves class, wealth, race, and fate into a brilliant portrait of a first lady—from the author of Rodham and Eligible
“Terrific . . . an intelligent, bighearted novel about a controversial political dynasty.”—Entertainment Weekly
NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Time • People • Entertainment Weekly
A kind, bookish only child born in the 1940s, Alice Lindgren has no idea that she will one day end up in the White House, married to the president. In her small Wisconsin hometown she learns the virtues of politeness, but a tragic accident when she is seventeen shatters her identity and changes the trajectory of her life. More than a decade later, when the charismatic son of a powerful Republican family sweeps her off her feet, she is surprised to find herself admitted into a world of privilege.
And when her husband unexpectedly becomes governor and then president, she discovers that she is married to a man she both loves and fundamentally disagrees with—and that her private beliefs increasingly run against her public persona. As her husband’s presidency enters its second term, Alice must confront contradictions years in the making and face questions nearly impossible to answer.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times Book Review • Chicago Tribune • NPR • Rocky Mountain News • St. Louis Post-Dispatch • The Washington Post Book World
Reviews
Enjoyable until the end
2By Ash849502I thoroughly enjoyed the first sections of this book - the story of Alice's life and her journey with Charlie. However, once they reach the White House things unravel. Rather than continuing their story, it becomes the story of the Bush administration. To spend an entire book telling a character's story and then end it with borrowed reality was a letdown.American Wife
5By Perky tooI enjoy this author. Loved PREP....not so much THE MAN OF MY DREAMS. This is another good one from Sittenfeld. It is very hard not to see Laura Bush while you are reading this book, and rumor has it...etc. regardless...I would not for a minute call it "lazy". It is a very good book.It was just ok.
3By MountaineerGadgetJunkieI started out loving this book,but the way it unfolded irritated me. I wanted to shake Alice multiple times for things that she did. Not the best book I have ever read but not the worst.Disappointing
3By ChitownCFAfter reading Prep, I expected more continuity. American Wife has moments of brilliance with insight into being a celebrity and juggling normal motherhood with the demands of her "unelected" office. Descriptions of how wealthy, powerful families live were informative and interesting. But the long paragraphs filled with tedium distracted the reader. There were times I wanted to just stop reading the novel, and others, when I couldn't stop reading it. Wordy in places, it required tighter editing.American Wife
4By OhgoodygoodyGreat book! Loved it! They beginning just pulls you in and then you can't put it down!Fabulous
5By [[miss*marilyn]]Love her work; it is ridiculous to call this novel "lazy". While Sittenfeld used a loose guideline for a character, in no way is it supposed to be true to life. Read it nonstop for two days! Such a talent!!!Lazy
1By Vedub21This is a lazy literature. Who could not take a dramatic real life , soundbites from the media and then create a work of fiction? Be authentic Curtis and create a character of your own imagination and freely give that character your biased view of politics. This is a cowardly and dishonest book. Shame on you. At the core, veracity aside, it was dull. Try writing something you know a little bit about the next time.Couldn't put the book down!
5By itspriscillahIt was just one of those books you never wanted to put down. Definitely recommend it!!Reader
5By robinl3Loved!!