Book Bingo 2020 is a collaboration challenge I am completing for the third year with my favourite bloggers, Theresa Smith Writes and The Book Muse. On the second Saturday of each month, beginning on Saturday 11th January 2020, Theresa, Ashleigh and I will complete a book review post, outlining our respective bingo card entries. The Book Bingo 2020 card contains a total of 12 squares, which we will complete over the course of the year, with the aim to complete the whole card by December. To keep things interesting for ourselves and those following along with us, the choice of bingo square to be covered will be entirely down to us, there is no crossover – that is planned anyway! We invite you to join us in this fun book related challenge, by linking your bingo card entries in the comments section of this post, tagging us on social media, posting in Page by Page Book Club with Theresa Smith Writes or by visiting our blogs The Book Muse and Theresa Smith Writes.
What if Hillary hadn’t married Bill? The sensational long-awaited new novel by the acclaimed bestselling author of American Wife.
WHAT IF HILLARY RODHAM HAD TURNED DOWN BILL CLINTON’S PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE?
‘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.
The rest, as they say, isn’t history. 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. Uncannily astute and witty in the telling, RODHAM is a brilliant reimagining – an unmissable literary landmark and truly a novel of our times.
Review:
Themes of politics and power are definitely embedded in Curtis Sittenfeld’s Rodham, a memoir like fiction piece based on the alternative life path of Hillary Rodham. Sittenfeld’s latest release is a powerful testimony to feminism, obsession, ambition, desire, friendships, alliances and life choices. I found it to be a moving speculative piece.
Rodham considers a what if style scenario, imagine if one of the world’s most powerful and well-known couples never married? Opening in the early 1970s, Rodham introduces a young Hillary Rodham, a highly ambitious student who is accepted into the Yale School of Law. Hillary’s life changes very quickly when she meets a charming man named Bill Clinton. It isn’t long before a strong connection is made, but Bill’s political aspirations and Hillary’s own high intellect seem to work to this couple’s detriment. Despite this, Bill proposes more than once to Hillary, but she turns him for a number of reasons. This is an important diversion for Hillary Rodham and it takes her on a very different path to the one that we readers know occurred. We follow over four decades in Hillary’s life as she forges her own political career, which is full of highs and lows. We also see Hillary interact with Bill again on a different level, as political opponents. Hillary’s thoughts are largely dominated by her high career aspirations, but there are moments where the sense of regret in terms of the choices she made for politics in favour of marriage and a family of her own is ever present. We learn through Hillary Rodham’s journey that with mighty ambition comes great sacrifice.
Political based fiction or non fiction is not an area of interest to me reading wise. However, I have seen more than a few favourable reviews of Rodham, by Curtis Sittenfeld. An online book event with one of my favourite interviewers and Curtis Sittenfeld convinced me to cast my doubts aside and give Rodham a chance. I’m so glad I did as this book is about far more than simply US politics. We are presented with a story about feminism, choice, love, relationships, friendships, sex, desire, tough life decisions, regret, loneliness and so much more.
My experience of Rodham was actually in audio book format and it took me a number of weeks to get through this piece. However, I really enjoyed my daily walks listening to the strong and formidable voice of Hillary Clinton. Hillary’s narration was honest, revealing, assured, reflective, vulnerable and powerful. I was completely enraptured in her life story, which travels from Hillary’s early students days, through to her law work, political career as a senator, through to her eventual presidential bid. I really appreciated the creative spin Curtis Sittenfeld took to this key figure’s life. The scenario that Sittenfeld puts forward with Hillary turning down Bill’s marriage proposal and instead choosing to live a life as a single woman bound for her own political success was fascinating.
I attest to knowing very little in regards to US politics yet I found Rodham to be accessible, enlightening and educative in a positive sense. It doesn’t mean that I will be suddenly following politics closely, but it means that I now have an appreciation for the world Sittenfeld issued within the pages of Rodham. I also developed a new found sense of understanding for Hillary. The beauty of this book was the perfect balance between fiction and reality. Sittenfeld inserts a number of real life figures in the political system and media world that I found enhanced this novel’s journey. I also enjoyed the friendships, bonds and relationships that Hillary made over the decades.
I think this will be a rather sparse review as I don’t want to delve into some possible spoilers in relation to this alternative life path narrative. I will say that I valued the author’s approach, forceful narration, excellent characterisation, rich political content, feminist considerations and above all, the unflinching honesty of Hillary’s voice. Sometimes books surprise you and this was the case with Rodham, I think Curtis Sittenfeld’s latest is a visionary piece of contemporary fiction that I enjoyed a great deal.
**** 4 stars
Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld was published on 19th May 2020 by Penguin Books Australia. Details on how to purchase the book can be found here.
To learn more about the author of Rodham, Curtis Sittenfeld, visit here.
