A fictionalized biography of Laura Bush. The novel had me turning pages as fast as I could until Charley's "conversion". The final section seemed hurried and contrived, esp. w/Dena and Pete. Oh, and what about the doctor mysteriously and suddenly dying. The soul-searching that Laura did regarding the war and also if she could have been a more dynamic first lady seemed genuine. ( )

My mum gave the book to me because the main character is a librarian. As it turns out she is based on/inspired by Laura Bush. I thought I wouldn't like it, because I disagree with just about anything her husband ever said or did. But the book is extremely well written and almost made me cry by page 150.

The main character, Alice Blackwell, couldn't be more different from me. She is considerate, polite, private, docile, and shy to the point of being dull. Even though I probably would not want to spend an evening talking to her, I really enjoyed the story she was telling and thought it interesting how her affectionate storytelling even made her husband, who is based on G. W. Bush, seem less obnoxious.

I liked how the story is told in little anecdotes about Alice Blackwell's life that lead to the point she wants to make or the similarity she wants to point out. The only time this didn't work for me at all is when she compares her using the wrong door and accidentally walking out of the room and not wanting to admit her mistake and go back to her husband's refusal to withdraw troops from a Irak. Eating dinner with a full bladder does not compare to a lost war.
My other problem with the book are the quite explicit sex scenes that always reminded me that this is something I never wanted to consider about George W. and Laura Bush. No, thanks. ( )

For me, Curtis Sittenfeld is developing into one of the best contemporary American writers; American Wife cements this opinion. The life of fictional Alice Lingren drapes nicely on the real-life framework of Laura Bush's life, playing on the silences, controversies and contradictions of the latter to create an interesting and compelling portrait of what it might be like to be the wife of such a prominent politician (as a non-American, I view the awe surrounding the presidency with a similar bemusement to that expressed by Alice). Particularly interesting is the way Sittenfeld explores the (somewhat dubious) possibility of the president's wife being able to separate her personal self from her self as a political entity and citizen. ( )

Read this for my personal Orange Prize reading challenge. Was prepared not to like it due to my dislike for the "boy-who-would-be-king", but it was a well-written book. Alice/Laura is presented as a woman of integrity and tolerance. It would be interesting to read one of the biographies that the author used as inspiration. ( )

Interestingly - one of the things i have started to do is after i have read the book i will come to Library Thing and click the "will you like this" button to see if they are spot on. And there have been times that they have been....and times that they have not....this time....they were spot on. I really enjoyed the book a lot. I can see the similarity between this American wife....and let's say.....another....but it was truly it's own story.....with out going into to much detail of it (as i don't read reviews to tell me about the book per se...) my only problem.....and yes...i had one problem with the book.....it felt like it copped out in the end....just a bit.....but.....that is just me....i am a fan of Sittenfeld and will continue to read what she puts out into the world! ( )