Curtis Sittenfeld uses Laura Bush's life as the inspiration/basis for a novel about the effects of celebrity, fame, and power on the life of an ordinary woman. This book, as did her other two, engaged me immediately. Her prose is clean and the dialogue is natural and believable. Also, as in her previous novel Prep, she revelas an astute insight into the outsider, and skillfully allows her characters to navigate the unfamiliar landscape of the privileged. I admired Alice Blackwell tremendously for her ability to stand up to her rich, overbearing mother in law. She did now cower and she was not intimidated. Although Alice Blackwell comes off at times as somewhat self-righteous, ultimately her uncompromising dignity and determination to be "ordinary" commands respect. Sittenfeld does not draw a simplistic portrait of either the president or first lady; she is compassionate but honest in her portrayal of this couple, clearly drawn from the Bushes. Alice is an extremely moral woman but still stumbles now and then. If Charlie seems oblivious to the plight of others, he still comes through with a little nudging; he is a devoted husband and loving father. However one-dimensional and cartoonish his critics wish to see him, President Charlie Blackwell is much more complicated - through the eys of Alice Blackwell -- than one would expect.
This is the story of a woman's unexpected journey and how she maintained her own identity. It also chronicles the ups and downs of marriage, how two people can disagree fundmentally but still love each other deeply. It might even offer some insight into how we can respect each other as individuals in spite of our disagreements. Maybe? Highly recommended, as are Sittenfelds other two books, Prep and The Man of my Dreams
1 comment:
Sounds great. Might try it--although most of my reading is non-fiction. Good luck on the new blog.
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