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penguinspam's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
drusmilford's review
4.0
Interesting to read her autobiography and compare. Obviously parts of this book must have been fictionalized but there were many parts I could pick up on that actually happened. Want to hear her take on the same events.
lucyre's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
5.0
keeley's review
emotional
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
cadystanton's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jenwinnell's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lawryn's review
4.0
LOL, I seriously thought this was non-fiction for 75% of the book and kept waiting for FDR to become a love interest. Other than that, this was an interesting read.
katykelly's review
4.0
3.5 stars. It's a hard one to rate. I had the audio version and while I kept listening I can't really out my finger on - why?
This is said by the author to be based on an American President's wife of the 20th century, her life and experiences. I actually was disappointed when I read that - I don't really want to know about a President's private life and habits. The story follows Alice from her childhood and a traumatic tragedy as a teenager through to meeting her future husband and family life, up to their years in the White House.
I can't say I preferred any one part of the story - Alice wasn't for me the most sympathetic narrator. She's a librarian (which I like! It's my own career path) who cannot forget her childhood love when she meets Charlie Blackwell, himself flawed. She's not the strongest character, you want her to stand up for herself more than she does. There's a few situations you feel you'd have handled differently. Her narration is hard to stop listening to though, I enjoyed hearing how she falls for Charlie, about her wonderful grandmother, about the ins and outs of presidential life.
It's an interesting life. Towards the end though it feels even the author might be prompting Alice to do more, to take a stand and stand up for her beliefs. I won't say what happens but Alice has the chance to influence major national policies in her position as First Lady and you do wonder just what she does with her time, how she has coped being married to a man who not only has many opposing views to her but runs for the other political party.
It's a fine line the author treads I think between keeping readers engaged with a woman who falls for, marries, and helps through elections with a privileged Republican, having been raised in a middle class liberal household. I didn't always agree with Alice's decisions and path through life. Her friendship's up and downs with a childhood friend through arguments and breakdowns for example - couldn't their issues have been dealt with?
And what is it about 'The Giving Tree' (Alice's favourite book) that means it's mentioned dozens of times? It's a book I really dislike but I don't see the relevance to Alice (she doesn't sacrifice much apart from her individuality to Charlie's presidency).
But I enjoyed peeping into her world and seeing just where her path took her.
I really didn't like Charlie very much. After the initial charming courtship phase, he's an underachieving alcoholic who bounces around various jobs and finally into politics. Especially when you learn his real-life basis.
I really liked the audio version, a very easy listen with a personable narrator, made Alice come alive, with all her good points and flaws.
Worth a read - I read it because I hear the author had been selected to rewrite Pride and Prejudice as part of the Austen Project, and I wanted to try a sample of her writing. I'll definitely be searching out her version - her writing flows well, it shows insight and portrays female characters with flair.
About a 3.5 for me so I'm rounding up as I did stay riveted through 18 discs.
This is said by the author to be based on an American President's wife of the 20th century, her life and experiences. I actually was disappointed when I read that - I don't really want to know about a President's private life and habits. The story follows Alice from her childhood and a traumatic tragedy as a teenager through to meeting her future husband and family life, up to their years in the White House.
I can't say I preferred any one part of the story - Alice wasn't for me the most sympathetic narrator. She's a librarian (which I like! It's my own career path) who cannot forget her childhood love when she meets Charlie Blackwell, himself flawed. She's not the strongest character, you want her to stand up for herself more than she does. There's a few situations you feel you'd have handled differently. Her narration is hard to stop listening to though, I enjoyed hearing how she falls for Charlie, about her wonderful grandmother, about the ins and outs of presidential life.
It's an interesting life. Towards the end though it feels even the author might be prompting Alice to do more, to take a stand and stand up for her beliefs. I won't say what happens but Alice has the chance to influence major national policies in her position as First Lady and you do wonder just what she does with her time, how she has coped being married to a man who not only has many opposing views to her but runs for the other political party.
It's a fine line the author treads I think between keeping readers engaged with a woman who falls for, marries, and helps through elections with a privileged Republican, having been raised in a middle class liberal household. I didn't always agree with Alice's decisions and path through life. Her friendship's up and downs with a childhood friend through arguments and breakdowns for example - couldn't their issues have been dealt with?
And what is it about 'The Giving Tree' (Alice's favourite book) that means it's mentioned dozens of times? It's a book I really dislike but I don't see the relevance to Alice (she doesn't sacrifice much apart from her individuality to Charlie's presidency).
But I enjoyed peeping into her world and seeing just where her path took her.
I really didn't like Charlie very much. After the initial charming courtship phase, he's an underachieving alcoholic who bounces around various jobs and finally into politics. Especially when you learn his real-life basis.
I really liked the audio version, a very easy listen with a personable narrator, made Alice come alive, with all her good points and flaws.
Worth a read - I read it because I hear the author had been selected to rewrite Pride and Prejudice as part of the Austen Project, and I wanted to try a sample of her writing. I'll definitely be searching out her version - her writing flows well, it shows insight and portrays female characters with flair.
About a 3.5 for me so I'm rounding up as I did stay riveted through 18 discs.
bethlehemiteamy's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0