American wife is an empathetic, fascinating, and gorgeously written story about a 30year marriage. Aug 29, 2008 would we be interested in reading curtis sittenfelds new novel, american wife, if it werent obvious that the narrator, alice blackwell, is modeled on the first lady, laura bush. Curtis sittenfelds new novel american wife is about a kind, bookish, young woman who marries a wealthy charismatic young man who eventually becomes. Conspicuously timed for the presidential changeover, curtis sittenfeld s third novel is a fictionalised portrait. Nov 25, 2008 i began american wife expecting a sharp political satire. Jul 02, 2009 curtis sittenfelds novel american wife, written 10 years ago, is loosely based on a former first ladys story, and couldnt be more relevant today. The american wife of sittenfelds new novel, conspicuously modeled after the life of laura bush as recorded in ann gerharts biography the perfect wife. And although it does move slowly, american wife is far from static. But after finishing american wife i believe her work is more complicated than it initially appears. American wife by curtis sittenfeld a little blog of books. With american wife, curtis sittenfeld has deftly crossed an extraordinarily high wirei read american wife in just two or three delicious sittings, struck by the granular clarity of the authors descriptions and the downtoearth believability of the story, bewitched by the charming, frustrating woman at the center of it.
I found instead a forensic examination of a womans psyche. Her sharp and economical prose reminds us of joan didion and tobias wolff. Much like the protagonists of her novels american wife and prep, curtis sittenfeld, and her writing, are interesting, though interesting in a very quiet way. American wife, by curtis sittenfeld new york magazine. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. Curtis sittenfelds novel american wife, written 10 years ago, is loosely based on a former first ladys story, and couldnt be more relevant today. Aug 31, 2008 the american wife of sittenfelds new novel, conspicuously modeled after the life of laura bush as recorded in ann gerharts biography the perfect wife. Sittenfeld was not out to sensationalize but to sympathize. Written by curtis sittenfeld, audiobook narrated by jorjeana marie. Jun 26, 2018 all those little triumphs and tragedies that make up a person. This explains the focus on the bonds between women in this book. Boston magazine endearing and poignant, humorous and enlightening, american wife is a mustread for sittenfeld fansand a good first read for wouldbe converts.
Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. In the novel, blackwell is an only child who grows up in a democratic family. Buy a cheap copy of american wife book by curtis sittenfeld. Our july pick for book club was american wife, by curtis sittenfeld. It must take guts and a fair amount of gall to write a book like american wife. In a coy little note preceding her radioactive, republicanbaiting scandal bomb of a novel american wife, curtis sittenfeld writes that the book was loosely inspired by the life of an american. American wife by curtis sittenfeld books the guardian.
I enjoyed reading sisterland by curtis sittenfeld a couple of years ago and as part of my ongoing efforts to read other books by authors i have discovered since starting my blog, i turned to sittenfelds best known novel american wife which was published in 2008. American wife by curtis sittenfeld book club discussion. Sittenfeld s third novel, called american wife 2008, is the tale of alice blackwell, a fictional character who shares many similarities with former first lady laura bush. Curtis sittenfeld is one of the uss finest novelists feted for american wife, a novel that gazumped laura bushs own life story. American wife, by curtis sittenfeld new york magazine book. A novel and millions of other books are available for instant. American wife book by curtis sittenfeld thriftbooks. Pdf prep book by curtis sittenfeld free download 420 pages.
The wife in question is laura bush, and it was curtis sittenfeld s inspired. Written by curtis sittenfeld, audiobook narrated by kimberly farr. American wife, which is based on the life of laura bush, represents a bit of a departure from sittenfelds usual style but still contains the elements of talented authorship. Sep 04, 2008 in a coy little note preceding her radioactive, republicanbaiting scandal bomb of a novel american wife, curtis sittenfeld writes that the book was loosely inspired by the life of an american. Novelist curtis sittenfeld american wife and her husband moved to st. I was not aware until completing this novel that author curtis sittenfeld is a woman. Like them, she has a sly and potent wit, which cuts unexpectedly but often through the placid surface of her prose. Curtis sittenfelds new novel american wife is about a kind, bookish. The wife of a funloving, doesnt take himself too seriously son of a prominent, wealthy family, becomes the president of the united states. Get this book free when you sign up for a 30day trial. Their time in the white house proves to be heady, tumultuous, and controversial. Oct 11, 2008 t wo mysteries hover over curtis sittenfeld s timely third novel, american wife, a fictional memoir by a 21stcentury first lady that was rushed out in the us to coincide with the republican. 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.
Her nonfiction has appeared in the new york times, the atlantic monthly, salon, allure, glamour, and on public radios this american life. American wife is yet another book by curtis sittenfeld which is a worldwide accepted bestseller. The young heroines of curtis sittenfelds previous novels prep and the man of my dreams, like the more mature protagonist of sittenfelds third and most ambitious novel, american wife, are sistervariants of the american outsider, the excluded, disadvantaged, often envious and obsessive observer of others seemingly privileged lives. My first read of 2010 was the latest novel by one of my favourite authors, curtis sittenfeld of prep and the man of my dreams. I began american wife expecting a sharp political satire. The main characters of this fiction, young adult story are lee fiora, cross sugarman. The life of this novels heroine a first lady who comes to realize that she has compromised her youthful ideals is conspicuously modeled on. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Pdf american wife book by curtis sittenfeld free download. Sittenfelds third novel, called american wife 2008, is the tale of alice blackwell, a fictional character who shares many similarities with former first lady laura bush. Some conservatives have described your book as a smear. In a coy little note preceding her radioactive, republicanbaiting scandal bomb of a novel american wife, curtis sittenfeld writes that the book. On what might become one of the most significant days in her husba.
It is believed that the book is based on the life of laura bush who is the wife to the former president bush. In the year 2000, in the closest election in american history, alice blackwells husband becomes president of the united states. Brilliantly weaving a riveting fictional tale into actual historical events, curtis sittenfeld delivers an uncannily astute and witty story for our times. It is believed that the book is based on the life of laura. Even before the book s release this month, author curtis sittenfeld already had garnered major buzz in the blogosphere. Telling the story of how a woman moves from being a mere librarian to americas first lady, this is an intriguing story. All those little triumphs and tragedies that make up a person. Boston magazine endearing and poignant, humorous and enlightening, american wife is a mustread for sittenfeld fansand a. American wife by curtis sittenfeld, paperback barnes. Would we be interested in reading curtis sittenfelds new novel, american wife, if it werent obvious that the narrator, alice blackwell, is modeled on the first lady, laura bush. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 420 pages and is available in paperback format. A bold literary experiment, eligible is a brilliant, playful, and delicious saga for the twentyfirst century.
Conspicuously timed for the presidential changeover, curtis. She is the author of the sunday times bestseller american wife, in which she painted a picture of an ordinary american girl a thinlydisguised laura bush who found herself married to a president. The first edition of the novel was published in september 2nd 2008, and was written by curtis sittenfeld. Curtis sittenfeld is the bestselling author of prep, american wife, and most recently eligible a modern retelling of jane austens pride and prejudice. Curtis sittenfeld is the author of the new novel eligible, a modern retelling of pride and prejudice due out april 2016 as well as the bestselling novels sisterland, american wife, prep, and the man of my dreams, which have been translated into twentyfive languages. Free download or read online american wife pdf epub book. Two mysteries hover over curtis sittenfelds timely third novel, american wife, a fictional memoir by a 21stcentury first lady that was rushed. Curtis sittenfeld is the author of the new novel eligible, a modern retelling of pride and prejudice due out april 2016 as well as the bestselling novels sisterland, american wife, prep, and the man of my dreams, which have been translated into twentyfive. American wife, by curtis sittenfeld the independent.
Ambitious and humble at the same time, sittenfeld refuses to trivialize or simplify people, whether real or imagined. The main characters of this fiction, historical story are alice lindgren. Curtis sittenfeld books, ebooks, audiobooks, biography. The cover of the book has a quote from joe klein, time, a brilliant noveland a grand entertainment. In her small wisconsin hometown she learns the virtues of politeness, but a tragic accident when she is seventeen shatters her. Her books are being translated into twentyfive languages. Curtis sittenfeld is a young writer with a crazy amount of talent. Author interview curtis sittenfeld, author of american wife. Curtis sittenfeld is the author of the man of my dreams and prep, which was chosen by the new york times as one of the ten best books of 2005. Hailed for her wickedly entertaining sensibility, her books have been translated into 25 languages. Nov 12, 2008 it must take guts and a fair amount of gall to write a book like american wife. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading american wife. 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. While american wife is technically a work of fiction, it is a thinly veiled account of laura and george w. 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. American wife curtis sittenfeld, 2008 random house 592 pp isbn. From the wickedly entertaining usa today curtis sittenfeld, new york times bestselling author of prep and american wife, comes a modern retelling of jane austens pride and prejudice. Bushs courtship and rise to the top of american politics. A novel random house readers circle sittenfeld, curtis on. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 555 pages and is available in hardcover format. With american wife, curtis sittenfeld has deftly crossed an extraordinarily high wire. Jun 19, 2018 novelist curtis sittenfeld american wife and her husband moved to st. T wo mysteries hover over curtis sittenfelds timely third novel, american wife, a fictional memoir by a 21stcentury first lady that was rushed out in the us to coincide with the republican. But it is alices own story that of a kind, bookish, only child born in the 1940s midwest who comes to inhabit a life of dizzying. American wife is a gorgeously written novel that weaves class, wealth, race, and the exigencies of fate into a brilliant tapestrya novel in which the unexpected becomes inevitable, and the pleasures and pain of intimacy and love are laid bare.
The book is a fictional account of laura bushs life. 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. This edition includes an excerpt from curtis sittenfelds sisterland. 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, ill say it, which have been translated into thirty languages. American wifeamerican wife by sittenfeld, curtis author on feb102009 paperback by curtis sittenfeld and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. As a high school student, blackwell kills a friend in an auto accident.
Feb 10, 2009 with american wife, curtis sittenfeld has deftly crossed an extraordinarily high wire. Nov 15, 2010 curtis sittenfeld is one of the uss finest novelists feted for american wife, a novel that gazumped laura bushs own life story. Even before the books release this month, author curtis sittenfeld already had garnered major buzz in the blogosphere. Curtis sittenfeld has thrown a powerful light on small town america and its. The first edition of the novel was published in 2005, and was written by curtis sittenfeld. A wellresearched book that imagines what lies behind that placid facade of the first ladyms.
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