"Deftly evokes the painful reverberations of the past." New Yorker Although not an official biography, it's clear to readers of THE AMERICAN WIFE that Laura Bush's life inspired the heroine of Curtis Sittenfeld's new book: Alice Blackwell. From her work as a librarian in a small Texas town to the moment she meets her husband, a rising political star, family life at America's most famous address—the White House—is given the incisive perspective of one of America's most promising contemporary writers. Sittenfeld's first novel, "Foreplay," was chosen by the New York Times as one of the best books of 2005. It's interesting to see, in THE AMERICAN WIFE, how Sittenfeld gives voice and personality to a woman many have become accustomed to seeing regularly in the news or at official events. But few have had the opportunity to meet her, or to come into contact with her ideas and inspirations—a far cry from the more media-aggressive stance of the current First Lady, Michelle Obama. Laura always had differing views of George Bush, but it wasn't something she explored. Until now. Sittenfeld manages to tell Laura Bush's version of the presidential race, as well as her days under the world's scrutiny in the White House. We follow her journey through Alice Blackwell. A well-mannered and studious child born in the 1940s, Alice learned the virtues of politeness from her cold parents and the neighborhood of her small Wisconsin hometown. When she met the tempestuous and charismatic Charlie Blackwell, she didn't give him a second glance: he was the wealthy son of a powerful family affiliated with the Republican Party; she, a Democratic librarian. Alice thought he was indifferent to her charm. And then, to her complete surprise, she fell in love. As she learned to navigate the hostile and smug energy of the Blackwell family, navigating the strange rituals of the country club and the summer house, she remained anxious about her newfound good fortune. And when Charlie becomes president, Alice is thrust into a position she never sought—one of power and influence, privilege and responsibility. During Charlie's tumultuous and controversial second term, Alice is forced to confront years of contradiction in her relationship: how can she love her husband and disagree so completely with him?
