Rodham By Curtis Sittenfeld *** out of 5 stars Published by: Random House; May 2020 Pages: 432 Buy It: Amazon
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What it’s about:
This fictionalized “biography” of Hillary Rodham looks at what her life may have been like if she had never married Bill. Beginning from her childhood, Hillary always felt different and never quite fit in with other people, especially boys. That’s why when she meets Bill at law school, she is overcome that he is actually attracted to her. They seem perfect for each other – each smart, each driven, each with political aspirations. But Bill’s philandering proves to be too much for Hillary and she breaks off their engagement.
The rest of the book details Hillary’s life as a Senator and eventual presidential candidate. Since Hillary and Bill never married, the political landscape changes for the United States. Bill did not win in ‘92. Hillary makes several unsuccessful attempts in democratic primaries. Then, in 2016 she found herself facing Bill Clinton as an opponent. Who will end up as the most influential person in the western world?
What I liked about it:
The premise of the book was good. I was very intrigued by what would happen if that power couple were never to get together. And it was interesting! I have never read either Clintons’ autobiographies, so this was my first glimpse (besides of course, the news) into what their personal lives were like. Even so, Hillary’s life was portrayed very much as I expected. She was a staunch feminist who felt deeply about issues she cared about, yet had trouble connecting with people. Bill’s character, although secondary and therefore not discussed in as great detail, was different than I expected, yet not completely off the mark. He was portrayed as less passionate about issues and more passionate about himself (and of course, other women).
What I didn’t like about it:
Again, the premise of the book was promising, but for me, the book fell flat. Sittenfeld didn’t exactly portray Hillary as overly likable. She always seemed off and distant, and to be honest, boring. While I liked reading about her causes and how she championed for abused children, minorities and other women, the personality just wasn’t there. This was a book that was harder for me to finish. I found myself skimming through sections that I just didn’t care about.
Overall, Rodham is still worth the read if you are interested at all in political fiction or the Clintons. That is why I gave it three stars.
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