I've read some fabulous novels this year but I just finished one that stands head-and-shoulders above the others. It's American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld and it's a stunner! It's loosely based on the life of Laura Bush (the author says 85% is fictionalized) and focuses on the modest Wisconsin upbringing of Alice Lindgren. After a life-changing traffic accident as a teenager in which she causes a fatality, Alice becomes a teacher and later a librarian in her hometown. Still single in her early 30s, she meets "churlish" Charlie Blackwell and they (oddly) fall madly in love and marry. Charlie's from a prominent, wealthy, and politically-connected family (his father is a former Governor and his domineering mother Maj [for "Her Majesty"] still rules the roost.) Charlie and a couple of his brothers work in the family business but later Charlie buys the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team, his "dream job". The main focus of this wonderful story is the evolution of Alice and Charlie's marriage: his frustrations about his legacy, her capitulations to his lifestyle and politics, his alcoholism and recovery, and his eventual election to the U.S. Presidency, but it's Sittenfeld's writing that immediately captures the reader. Alice's careful, yet honestly detailed narrative of her life and her insightful introspection as to how she ended up as The First Lady are pure magic. As much as I cannot wait for the real-life presidency of George W. to end, I will sincerely miss reading more about Alice and Charlie!
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Well, it's made my (eventual) to-read list! I loved Prep, and I'm a sucker for glowing recommendations. Thanks for the review!
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