Controversy (book review + life choices)

I finished the book I'm reading for my grad school critical essay - this is the final piece of the admissions pie.  (Assuming of course that I score high enough on the GRE not to be laughed out of Denver.)

A picture is worth a thousand words.

I am scared to death a bit intimidated at the thought of writing an essay of this type.  It's been a long time, people.  I marvel at how I was ever able to do this.

In general, I think of my life in broad strokes:  I do this for a living.  I like to travel.  I like living in Denver.  Oh, and I've decided to go back to grad school.  But when I start delving into my plans, I'm gripped with anxiety; there's this pervasive feeling that says, "This is never going to work out."  Which is ridiculous because I already have a Master's Degree!  I have managed to do this type of academic work at a much younger age and with significantly fewer of life's experiences under my belt.

It's like riding a bike, right?  RIGHT?  I think it was Erma Bombeck who said, "In five years I will either be 40 years old with a college degree, or I'll be 40 years old."  (I can't find the quote so if I'm wrong about it, sorry.)  The point is, the next few weeks, months, years are going to pass regardless.  I might as well work toward this goal for myself.  I feel it is a good fit for me and the right thing to do.  And if I put myself out there and don't get accepted?  Then that's OK, too.  There are plenty of mountains to climb after all.  :)

So in order to procrastinate gather my thoughts before diving in to the Grad School Deal Breaker, I thought I'd do a quick book review for you.

American Wife by Curtis Sittenfield

If you have never read anything by Curtis Sittenfield then get your butt online and order everything she has ever written.  Without a doubt she is one of my favorite authors of all time.  In fact, she has a new book out (Sisterland) that I pre-ordered before it was released and it is taking literally all the restraint and self-discipline that I am capable of not to drop everything, call in sick at work all week, and read it.

She is perhaps best known for her book, Prep, which has been called a modern-day Catcher in the Rye, with good reason.  She nails the complex emotions and experiences of adolescence.  Moreover, she nails the complexity of a range of life's experiences.  A few years ago I had heard about the controversy of her book, American Wife.  I had heard it was a fictional account of Laura Bush's life, written by an obvious Liberal-with-a-capital-L, and that Laura Bush was refusing to acknowledge it in any way or to read it.  (I'm not sure if this part is true, but it was the hype that got me hooked.)

I picked it up not having read any of Sittenfield's other works, and expecting this to be a juicy thrashing of a conservative woman's character by a liberal bully.  I'm not even that political but I was intrigued because it is one thing to read a novel about, say, Eleanor Roosevelt, who is no longer alive and well.  It's an entirely different thing to read a fictional creation about a first lady, that was clearly researched and written while her husband was in office, and who will (we hope, we suspect) be alive and well for decades to come, who is fully able to lambast the author if she so pleases!  That type of writing takes some cojones.

In my opinion Sittenfield portrays the protagonist, Alice, in a fair and positive light.  She is a pragmatic woman with an interesting childhood - it's clear she is heavily influenced by her lively and opinionated grandmother who lives with her family and who loves to read - and despite the good head she has on her shoulders, she manages to get herself into a few pickles.  Namely, she "causes" an automobile accident that kills a classmate (and romantic interest).  This, of course, haunts her for the rest of her life and becomes an undercurrent for her life choices, and for her perspective.  The book goes on to detail her adult life, her (quick!) courtship and marriage to budding young politician, Charlie Blackwell, her adjustment to his entitled family, and their struggles as husband and wife, and parents, through the years that eventually lead to the White House.

On the one hand, if I were Laura Bush and I read this book, I would think Sittenfield painted me out to be simplistic and boring.  Also, there would be a good deal of, "who the bleepity bleep do you think you are to assume you can essentially make up the context of my life?!"  But as an average reader, knowing that Sittenfield probably does not agree with one decision the Bush administration ever made, I am impressed at how grounded and intellectual and sophisticated and smart and lovely she made Alice.  (I have some good friends who read the book and actually never finished it because they were disgusted...so obviously there's room for interpretation.  But I have read it twice now, and still feel this way.)

In fact, Sittenfield admitted that she decided to write the book because of how interesting she found Laura Bush, according to interviews she had seen and read.  I believe her intent was positive, but the result?  Well, that's up for interpretation.  :)

Guess I better start on that paper.  Happy Reading!