Review by @drconstance45 -
If you’re looking for some deeper understanding of Hillary or some piece of commentary, “Rodham” is not the place for it. Instead, this novel presents dozens of different topics, emotions & ideas in a complicated & ambiguous way. I loved the author’s “American Wife” novel about Laura Bush, but this is a very, very different kind of novel. First of all, because we know much more about Hillary than Laura, and also because at some point the novel diverges from the original timeline.
The first part of the book is slow, but sittenfeld writes Bill and Hillary’s love story in a deeply moving and realistic way. The sex scenes are sometimes cringe-worthy and other times feel important to the plot.
The real treat though was afterwards: from 1991-2016, because the novel picks up the pace and the multiple events and storylines that sittenfeld created are so so so interesting, creative and smart. Every significant thing that happened to our real-life Hillary, happens to “Hillary Rodham”, but at different times and under different circumstances: cookie-gate, Whitewater, vince Foster, her falling out with Marian Wright edelman, chants at her opponent’s rally and more.
It’s clear that sittenfeld is a big fan of Hillary. While she’s no saint in the book, it’s written with love and empathy, not to mention such attention to details. At some point I wanted to kiss the book.
BUT, the book is also very hard on Bill. If you’re a massive fan of his, not sure you’ll enjoy it (or at least the depiction of him).
In conclusion, it’s a wildly entertaining novel. You shouldn’t take it too seriously (some on the left were actually upset that Bernie doesn’t exist in this book! Ha!). If you do that, you’ll enjoy it. Thoroughly. In the last third of book I found myself laughing out loud more times than I can count.
Hope this review is helpful!
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