Rodham - Curtis Sittenfeld

Really happy to be a part of the Random Things Tour for this book today.

Description

‘Awfully opinionated for a girl’ is what they call Hillary as she grows up in her Chicago suburb.

Smart, diligent, and a bit plain, that’s the general consensus. Then Hillary goes to college, and her star rises. At Yale Law School, she continues to be a leader— and catches the eye of driven, handsome and charismatic Bill. But when he asks her to marry him, Hillary gives him a firm No.

How might things have turned out for them, for America, for the world itself, if Hillary Rodham had really turned down Bill Clinton?

With her sharp but always compassionate eye, Sittenfeld explores the loneliness, moral ambivalence and iron determination that characterise the quest for high office, as well as the painful compromises demanded of female ambition in a world ruled by men.

Review

‘Awfully opinionated for a girl’ was the quote that made me want to read this book. I'm not really into politics and certainly not those in the USA, but I was drawn to want to read this novel. My only concern for myself is that I recall the events in this book as fact in the future and doubts on my sanity would prevail!

The book begins with what actually happened - that is Hillary met Bill. It was so realistic that I actually thought I was reading an autobiography and had to keep reminding myself it was a work of fiction. 

Next comes what is essentially a sliding doors moment for Hillary. She doesn't marry Bill and we see her progress through her life, mainly on the campaign trail. It was these parts of the book I loved the most as it felt like real fly on the wall stuff. How her team protected her and discussed what she would say - novel or not, I had my eyes opened. 

Some of the book does have facts woven into it, albeit in an alternate history. When Bill Clinton does the famous 60 minute interview, this time Hillary is viewing it on TV, only with Bill and his wife where Hillary in real life by his side. As the book progresses Hillary ponders what would life have been like had she married Bill? It felt a little surreal at this point, as of course we know! I thought this was just genius writing by the author.

Some other hints of realism occur when Trump enters the book. I felt part of it sounded just like him and I think the author had lifted some of what he says from a real speech he gave. There was just enough of "entry level" politics that I knew what was happening, if you are more of a buff then there is a more depth too. I found I could just read the politics without too much comprehension of the whys and wherefores and it didn't affect my understanding of the book at all. 

I just marvelled at the autobiographical style of telling a story that is in fact fiction. There are many, many little details, that I kept thinking why would you think to include them, but they just made the book so real. So real in fact that at the end of it all I had a tear in my eye! To tell you why would be a spoiler, so just go and read it for yourself, it's amazing. 

I'm giving this fantastically crafted book 5 out of 5 stars.

Hardcover is out 9 July, the kindle version is available now.

My thanks to Random Things Tours for the invite to the book tour. Thanks also to Random House,Transworld Publishers and netgalley for the ARC to review.

About The Author:

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, I’ll Say It, which have been translated into thirty languages. Her short stories have appeared in The New Yorker, The Washington Post Magazine, Esquire, and The Best American Short Stories, of which she was the 2020 guest editor.Her nonfiction has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Time, and Vanity Fair, and on public radio’s This American Life.