On what might become one of the most significant days in her husband's presidency, Alice Blackwell considers the strange and unlikely path that has led her to the White House-and the repercussions of a life lived, as she puts it, "almost in opposition to itself." A kind, bookish only child born in the 1940s, Alice learned the virtues of politeness early on from her stolid parents and small Wisconsin hometown. But a tragic accident when she was seventeen shattered her identity and made her understand the fragility of life and the tenuousness of luck. So more than a decade later, when she met boisterous, charismatic Charlie Blackwell, she hardly gave him a second look: She was serious and thoughtful, and he would rather crack a joke than offer a real insight; he was the wealthy son of a bastion family of the Republican party, and she was a school librarian and registered Democrat. Comfortable in her quiet and unassuming life, she felt inured to his charms. And then, much to her surprise, Alice fell for Charlie. As Alice learns to make her way amid the clannish energy and smug confidence of the Blackwell family, navigating the strange rituals of their country club and summer estate, she remains uneasy with her newfound good fortune. And when Charlie eventually becomes President, Alice is thrust into a position she did not seek-one of power and influence, privilege and responsibility. As Charlie's tumultuous and controversial second term in the White House wears on, Alice must face contradictions years in the making: How can she both love and fundamentally disagree with her husband? How complicit has she been in the trajectory of her own life? What should she do when her private beliefs run against her public persona? In Alice Blackwell, New York Times bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld has created her most dynamic and complex heroine yet. American Wife is a gorgeously written novel that weaves class, wealth, race, and the exigencies of fate into a brilliant tapestry-a novel in which the unexpected becomes inevitable, and the pleasures and pain of intimacy and love are laid bare. Praise for American Wife "Curtis Sittenfeld is an amazing writer, and American Wife is a brave and moving novel about the intersection of private and public life in America. Ambitious and humble at the same time, Sittenfeld refuses to trivialize or simplify people, whether real or imagined." -Richard Russo "What a remarkable (and brave) thing: a compassionate, illuminating, and beautifully rendered portrait of a fictional Republican first lady with a life and husband very much like our actual Republican first lady's. Curtis Sittenfeld has written a novel as impressive as it is improbable." -Kurt Andersen
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
Great Book:
To be honest I'm only halfway through this book, but so far I am loving it! It is a great story. We're reading it for my book club and I've heard the other member's are liking it as well. She also wrote a book called 'Prep' which I've heard is excellent!
Well crafted, great characters and an interesting concept:
American Wife is a novel "inspired" by the life of Laura Bush. The idea that you could be reading her thoughts is enticing. Throughout her time in the White House, Ms Bush has given very little away about her personal beliefs or background, and Sittenfeld uses that blank canvas as the inspiration for Alice's character and story. The book succeeds because the narrative is so honest and compelling. Alice's character feels incredibly real - as do all of the characters. However the plot follows the known... more info
Brilliant!:
Curtis Sittenfeld has such a gift for prose--I can imagine her doing her research, poring over articles and books written about Laura Bush, thinking, "but what does she feel on the inside?" This book is your answer. I know it's fiction, but one can't help but marvel at the parallels between Alice Blackwell and Laura Bush. I love the way Sittenfeld uses detail in her work as well-it never feels overdone or distracting, but serves its purpose (IE-LOVE that she includes what type of mattress they had in their... more info
Fascinating, but can't resolve Laura's moral failings. . .:
I found this book fascinating. Sittenfeld imagines a complex yet plausible scenario whereby Laura Bush might actually have fallen for, and married, George W. In his youth, Charlie Blackwell was funny, charming, sexy. Alice married him despite his despicable family (racist, elitist, boorish) and stays with him even after he becomes "born again" (she is agnostic). Those of us who have wondered what Laura (clearly the more ethical and intelligent member of the couple) could have seen in George W. may be... more info
