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American Wife: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.00) - 24,567 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
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
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"I considered giving this book 5 stars. While it was a very good story (never did I look ahead to see how many chapters were left), I had one main problem with it. I had trouble maintaining the separation of fact and fiction. Going in, I knew it was essentially the story of a real first lady. I didn't know enough about the book to know which one. Because of that, I was able to imagine a fictionalized Alice. Even when it was clearly revealed to be about Laura Bush, I continued my best to hold onto my fictionalized Alice and later, Charlie. For a lot of the book, that worked, but my mind keep producing images of Laura and George Bush. This was especially awkward during their annoyingly predictable bedroom scenes. I do not want to know the graphic details of their intimacies! I'd also get sidetracked looking for for other fictionalized substitutions for reality. Was Halcyon really Kennebunkport? Did Laura really love the teenager who died in the car accident? Did George have false residences in Texas? I'm sure other readers didn't have these distractions; I did, though. That said, I felt the characters were artfully developed. I really liked some of them, namely Alice and Jessica, and I really disliked most of the Blackwells, especially Maj. I will look for Prep; I think I'll enjoy it."
— Laura (4 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
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A 2008 Time Magazine Top 10 Book for Fiction
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One of the 2008 New York Times Book Review 100 Notable Books for Fiction
American Wife Listener Reviews
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" It jumps around a lot but what an interesting book based loosely on the life of Laura Bush. It really gives you a lot to mull over. "
— Amy, 2/16/2014 -
" There was something about the writing style that I just loved. I've recommended this several times. "
— Katy, 2/3/2014 -
" tricked- this book is loosely based on barbara bush... "
— Catherine, 1/31/2014 -
" I'm conflicted about this book. I really enjoyed the first 2/3 of it and I was captivated by the complex and interesting character than Sittenfeld developed. However, I was never able to understand that attraction to Charlie and found the end of the book almost tedious. Did Sittenfeld mean for readers to get so impatient and frustrated with Alice? "
— Kathleen, 1/27/2014 -
" Ummm not what I expected..... "
— Jane, 1/20/2014 -
" Read this for the second time. Love the first three sections, but was let down by the ending. Still definitely worth reading. Makes you think about your reaction to the bush administration, but also about marriage, relationships, and how people end up together. "
— Jennifer, 1/19/2014 -
" Fascinating. Charming. Based on the life of Laura Bush, who is far more interesting anyway. She even makes ole Dubya a romantic dolt. You can see how she was drawn in, and how she had the dignity & grace to thrive. "
— Erica, 1/15/2014 -
" i liked it, but it got to be a bit long at the end. "
— Samantha, 12/27/2013 -
" Very slow, in the middle of the book I started feeling I was reading a school-time Mills & Boons. Just I was about 6to enter into the actual story (I think so), I decided to get over it and will read it at later point of time. "
— Mridu, 12/13/2013 -
" The beginning of the book was better than the last third. But still, really good. A "
— Mara, 11/24/2013 -
" I really enjoyed this book. It is well-written. Author is a great story teller. While it is fiction, it is loosely based on Laura Bush's life. And a fascinating fictional portrayal. "
— Andrea, 11/12/2013 -
" Didn't get too far into the book when I realized it would not be the book for me. Too explicit. I did not continue reading the book. This is why I read many young adult books - they have good plot lines, engaging characters and no explicit language or sex. "
— Louann, 11/12/2013 -
" Very nicely written. Good details to paint the picture of the times. Makes you think twice about what it's like to be the first lady. "
— Carrie, 10/28/2013 -
" Very much enjoyed it. Opened my eyes and my mind. "
— Erin, 3/27/2013 -
" I loved this book! It was such an eye-opener into the private lives of very public figures. I know a lot of it is fiction based, and some people found it offensive, but I felt that it portrayed "real people" in real life - not just "perfect political" ones. "
— Alice, 3/14/2013 -
" Overall a pretty good book, but it took me quite awhile to get through it. The author did a nice job with the characters, but I remember preferring Prep to this book. "
— Ashley, 2/20/2013 -
" I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was touching. There were definitely certain points I couldn't put it down more than others but overall, it was well written and just a great story. "
— Alana, 12/3/2012 -
" Predictably predictable but I really liked the description of her emotions. Felt very real and I could relate! Don't really know how Laura Bush does it...but love knows no boundaries I guess. "
— Michelle, 9/23/2012 -
" Interesting -- I learned some things about former First Lady Laura Bush I hadn't known, and liked her better. After becoming interested in her from reading this book I read a biography on her and was amazed at how this novel followed real life so closely. "
— Donna, 9/21/2012 -
" It was really good.... And then it got long and slow. "
— Tammi, 3/27/2012 -
" Like EVERY other reviewer, I felt the book really flag in the last quarter. I almost loved the first three parts and it was well on its way to a four-star rating. But, sigh, I didnt know what the fourth part was trying to say. Made me feel preached to and a little stupid. "
— Nitya, 12/20/2011 -
" This book was really good. I couldn't put it down. I'm still curious how much was fact and how much was fiction :) "
— Carrie, 12/10/2011 -
" Cute. The characters remind me of .... "
— Misae, 11/26/2011 -
" This is one of the best novels of the last decade. "
— David, 11/8/2011 -
" I have always thought Laura Bush is a very decent, classy, intelligent, gracious woman with an interesting past. Whether any of this is true or not...I don't know. But I would love to believe she really is "that human." "
— Patty, 6/30/2011 -
" Reimagines the life of Laura Bush. Very disturbing to read about her and the former president in sexual situations... "
— Mimy, 6/27/2011 -
" Poignant insight into a complicated yet ordinary woman, brilliant "
— Alicia, 6/23/2011 -
" I like it until perhaps the last 100 pages - was a great exploration of what makes relationships work. But then it got all weird/political/too transparently about the Bush family. After all the liberties taken earlier, it was much too far-fetched! "
— Laurelaura, 6/20/2011 -
" Loved this book. It's loosely based on Laura Bush's life but whether you like her or not it was an entertaining book. "
— Katie, 6/19/2011 -
" Totally enjoyed this from beginning to end!! "
— Susan, 6/18/2011 -
" Written by a proclaimed Democrat who admires Laura Bush, this book is loosely based on Laura's life. I enjoyed the book, but now I want to read a Laura Bush bio. "
— Vivian, 6/10/2011 -
" Good book but for some reason it took me 3 years to read it!<br/> "
— Leah, 6/10/2011 -
" It wasn't what i thought it would be "
— Waterstoneswalsall, 6/9/2011 -
" I was surprisingly engrossed for the first 3 sections. The 4th started to lose me, I must admit. "
— Allison, 6/8/2011
About Curtis Sittenfeld
Curtis Sittenfeld is the author of several New York Times bestselling works. Her short stories have appeared in the New Yorker, Washington Post magazine, Esquire, and The Best American Short Stories. Her nonfiction has been published in the New York Times, Atlantic, Time, and Glamour and have been broadcast on public radio’s This American Life. She is a graduate of Stanford and the Iowa Writer’s Workshop.
About Kimberly Farr
Kimberly Farr is an actress and winner of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards for narration. She has appeared on Broadway and at the New York Shakespeare Festival, the Roundabout Theatre, Playwright’s Horizons, and the American Place. She created the role of “Eve” in Arthur Miller’s first and only musical, Up from Paradise, which was directed by the author. She appeared with Vanessa Redgrave in the Broadway production of The Lady from the Sea and has acted in regional theaters across the country, including a performance in the original production of The 1940’s Radio Hour at Washington, DC’s Arena Stage.