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carysn's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Sexism
Minor: Violence, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
rhosynmd's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I can see what this book was trying to do, and in some ways it did succeed. I loved the way that parts of what really did happened Donald Trump being involved, allegations of sexual harassment, and the chanting at rallies were included but used in different and unexpected ways, however overall I felt like it just fell a bit flat. The last section where she is actually president and so happy made me sad to think about what might have/should have been. Plus the sex scenes were beyond cringe worthy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Sexual content
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cancer and Suicide
my_plant_library's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Minor: Racism
marionrosa's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexism, and Sexual assault
ifersinklings's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was an interesting story. It is an alternate history where Hilary didn't marry Bill Clinton. The first 30% of the book seems like it loosely followed their original story (I say loosely because I'm personally not sure of the early history.) Then it all goes off the rails. This is where it threw me off and kind of took me out of the story. There were some dates that weren't accurate to things that happened in real life, and those little things really bothered me. But I think that is a personal issue with alternate history stories. They just don't really work for me. If this book had been 100% fictional and not alternate history, I think it would have been a 5 star book for me. It is definitely worth the read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
holomew151's review
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexism, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Cancer
robbiclaire's review
challenging
emotional
informative
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
4.5
Poignant. Thoughtful. Provocative in the very best ways. I confess I was reluctant to read this because the reminders of what could have been felt like a purgatory. But I did and I am so glad. If you have ever hollered at the television when Hillary is asked to defend her husband’s actions, this is for you. Who does Hillary become if she chooses not to marry Bill? No spoilers here - but the read to find out is very worth it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
ekmook's review
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexism
hazelgirl21's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent and Terminal illness
amyvl93's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I thought this was a lot of fun. Rodham is a fictionalised memoir of Hillary Rodham, who - when Bill Clinton proposed for a third time - said no. Curtis Sittenfeld then explores what could have happened to this version of Hillary Rodham, what would her life have looked like if her public identity was not wholly attached to a man?
As a reader, you spend all of the novel in Hillary's head. As a person to spend time with, she is funny, sharp and deeply ambitious. If you want a novel that doesn't show someone's flaws this is not for you - Hillary takes action in this book that are not the 'nice' or maybe even 'right' thing to do, but are actions that progress her goals and it was pretty refreshing to read about unashamedly ambitious women. Sittenfeld doesn't make her a perfect person - she is still a Hillary we recognise and her blind spots (e.g. race) are still here and unchanged. She also invests time in building Hillary's relationships - you totally understand her and Bill's relationship, and Hillary also has a range of female relationships that Sittenfeld builds complex and real-feeling bonds.
Part of the fun of the novel is how Sittenfeld plays with the narratives we know and tweaks them slightly - so I wouldn't want to give too much away but there are some great wink wink moments. However, one of the things that Rodham gets right is that whilst some things are different, a lot of the responses to a woman running for a position of power feel very real.
There were aspects of the novel that lagged a little, and the 2015 section felt a little too neat for me - but overall, I really enjoyed this.
As a reader, you spend all of the novel in Hillary's head. As a person to spend time with, she is funny, sharp and deeply ambitious. If you want a novel that doesn't show someone's flaws this is not for you - Hillary takes action in this book that are not the 'nice' or maybe even 'right' thing to do, but are actions that progress her goals and it was pretty refreshing to read about unashamedly ambitious women. Sittenfeld doesn't make her a perfect person - she is still a Hillary we recognise and her blind spots (e.g. race) are still here and unchanged. She also invests time in building Hillary's relationships - you totally understand her and Bill's relationship, and Hillary also has a range of female relationships that Sittenfeld builds complex and real-feeling bonds.
Part of the fun of the novel is how Sittenfeld plays with the narratives we know and tweaks them slightly - so I wouldn't want to give too much away but there are some great wink wink moments. However, one of the things that Rodham gets right is that whilst some things are different, a lot of the responses to a woman running for a position of power feel very real.
There were aspects of the novel that lagged a little, and the 2015 section felt a little too neat for me - but overall, I really enjoyed this.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexism
Minor: Infidelity and Racism