Who Would Like This Book:
If you enjoy character-driven stories and love to get inside the head of a complex protagonist, "American Wife" might be your next read. The novel traces the life of Alice Lindgren from her small-town Wisconsin roots to the White House, loosely inspired by Laura Bush. Sittenfeld crafts Alice as a deeply reflective, sympathetic, and intelligent woman navigating love, privilege, guilt, and the conflicting demands of private and public life. Readers who like thought-provoking domestic dramas, political backdrops, or speculative fiction about real figures will find a lot to discuss here. If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to be married to someone powerful - and not always likable - this is a story for you.
Who May Not Like This Book:
If you prefer fast-paced plots, bold heroines, or clear separation from real-life figures, you might find "American Wife" a slog. Some readers felt frustrated by Alice’s passivity or her tendency to simply endure rather than confront (especially when it comes to her husband). The book’s length and time jumps can make it feel slow or uneven, and the thinly veiled parallels to Laura and George Bush can feel either distracting or a bit too close for comfort. If you’re not into political fiction - or prefer your fiction to stray far from real headlines - this might not be for you.
About:
'American Wife' by Curtis Sittenfeld is a fictionalized account loosely based on the life of Laura Bush. The book follows the life of Alice Blackwell Lindgren, from her childhood to her time as the First Lady, divided into chapters focusing on different periods of her life. The narrative delves into the complexities of Alice's marriage, her personal struggles, and the decisions she makes, offering insights into her character and motivations.
The book is praised for its engaging storytelling and compelling exploration of Alice's life. Readers appreciate the detailed depiction of Alice's journey, from her high school tragedy to her time in the White House. The author, Curtis Sittenfeld, is commended for creating a fully realized protagonist and weaving a narrative that captivates readers with its exploration of personal growth, relationships, and the challenges of being in the public eye.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include discussions of the tragic death of a character, addiction, infidelity, and frank depictions of sexual content.
Has Romance?
The romance between Alice and Charlie is central to the narrative, although it becomes strained through the political landscape and conflicting ideologies.
From The Publisher:
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
Ratings (10)
Incredible (4) | |
Loved It (5) | |
It Was OK (1) |
Reader Stats (16):
Read It (11) | |
Want To Read (4) | |
Not Interested (1) |
1 comment(s)
I had no idea that this book was loosely based on Laura Bush and frankly it would just have confused my reading if I knew as I know very little of the Presidential couple Bush. I read this as a truly fictional book and I enjoyed it that way. I loved the look of Alice's whole life from 1950's when she was very young and towards 2007. We got the whole picture of Alice, her thoughts and ideas and later her difficulties as she dosent wholeheartedly agree with her husband Charlie's politics. An very intresting book and I'm glad I've read it not knowing much about what it was loosely based of.
What can you read after
American Wife?
About the Author:
Curtis Sittenfeld is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Prep, The Man of My Dreams, American Wife, Sisterland, and Eligible, and the story collection You Think It, I'll Say It, which have been translated into thirty languages. Her short stories have appeared in The New Yorker, The…
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