I didn’t actually finish this book because it simply wasn’t in my interest category. That does not take away from the quality of the writing, or the relevance to someone else’s enjoyment of the book; it is simply not to my particular taste. I have recommended the title to other people who do have interest in this particular genre because I know they will enjoy it.

When I saw that Curtis Sittenfeld had written an alternate history of Hillary Clinton's life, I was intrigued. I liked what she did in American Wife, a fictionalized account of Laura Bush, and I though Eligible was a fitting 21st century update to Pride and Prejudice.

Having finished Rodham, though, I think a lot of my unease revolves around Sittenfeld's use of real people and actual events from Hillary's biography. Would I have felt better about this if the characters were like those in American Wife--different names, but modeled on real people? Possibly! There was something unsettling and off-putting about following Hillary and Bill's relationship in part 1. At this point in the story, Bill's personality overshadows Hillary, so she didn't feel particularly well-developed.

I found Parts 2 and 3 more interesting, although I expected that when she broke up with Bill, he would disappear from the narrative. No! (How frustrating.) I felt like we got a better sense of her voice in the 1991 and 2015 sections, and I liked seeing the mistakes she made and the ways that her chosen career came into conflict with her life.

I guess in the end, though, I question whether this needed to be a story about Hillary Rodham in particular. I have read fanfiction for years (so many P&P stories), but it felt a little uncomfortable at times to read an alternate history account of such an important public figure.

If you are one of those people who think Hilary Clinton got a raw deal in her marriage and in the 1016 elections, you’ll be tempted by this book. It is a “historical fantasy” in which Rodham turns down Clinton’s proposal. I was not particularly happy with the first part of the book. She seems older than her age, but later the book is hard to put down as you, the reader, share in the “what if” story. And then when she gets the Democratic nomination, plan to stay up late finishing the book. And, nope, not even chocolate chip cookies, will bribe into telling you whether she won, let alone who she ran against.

Curtis Sittenfeld's ability to write a novel focusing on what would have happened if Hillary had not married Bill Clinton is brilliant. I loved this so much. The author's imagination of how events would have played out was perfectly in tune with what so many others believe it would have been. I was hesitant to read this, but am so glad that I did!

An exciting and intriguing exploration. A "what if" that I won't be able to stop thinking about full of Sittenfeld's humor, warmth, and intellect.

Some of the most interesting books are written by people who ask the question "What if?" Phillip Roth's The Plot Against America asks "what if Charles Lindbergh becomes President and turns America towards fascism?". (It's been turned into an HBO miniseries.)



In her new book Rodham, author Curtis Sittenfeld asks the question, "what if Hillary Rodham never married Bill Clinton?" It's a daring book, one that takes factual events and blends them with fiction. Sittenfeld previously wrote American Wife, a novel based on the life of Laura Bush, where her main character was not Laura Bush, but a character with a different name. Hillary Clinton is so famous, or infamous depending on which media you follow, that a fictionalized version of her is possible.



In Rodham, we recognize the third grader who is asked to be in charge of the class when the teacher leaves the room because many of us were that girl too. We recognize the ten year-old girl who, when she opined about the Cubs versus the White Sox's chances, was told that "you're awfully opinionated for a girl". That statement stayed with her for the rest of her life.



This Hillary is diligent, a hardworker, a good student, and ambitious. Like her real-life counterpart, she graduated from Wellsley and gave a commencement speech that challenged convention and angered her "sarcastic, exacting and often mean" father.



This Hillary met Bill Clinton at Yale Law School, where she fell in love with him, much to the consternation of her best friend. Bill Clinton dated a lot of women and planned on going back to his home in Arkansas to run for Attorney General. Hillary's friends did not want her to leave behind all of the opportunities she had ahead of her for a shining career.



In real life, Hillary did follow Bill to Arkansas. In Rodham, Hillary does not marry Bill after catching him cheating on her. (Note to readers- this fictionalized Bill Clinton is not a nice guy.) The breakup crushes Hillary, but she eventually moves on, and has a stellar career of her own.



Rodham is divided into three sections- The Catch, The Woman, The Front-Runner. I found the last two sections, particularly The Front-Runner, most fascinating. Watching this Hillary fulfill her dreams and ambitions, and eventually run for political office is intriguing. How Sittenfeld ties it all up is just genius and so satisfying.



Sittenfeld has written a thought-provoking feminist novel that will talked about for a long time. It's a great book club pick, there is so much here to discuss over wine and appetizers. (I will warn you that there are some explicit sex scenes in here that may not be for everyone.) I highly recommend Rodham, but realize that this is fiction, not reality.

Link below to BBC Culture article

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20200520-what-if-hillary-clinton-had-become-president

A wild ride, from the...intimacy...of the first section of the book to the alt-reality of the last section. Very different reading experience from American Wife. I was very intrigued by Sittenfeld's version of Bill Clinton as the worst version of himself without the grounding presence of Hillary in his life.

Curtis Sittenfeld is an auto-buy author for me. She writes the most thought provoking books & this is one of them. She weaves a riveting fictional tale into historical events, to the point where you will be questioning which parts are true & which are fiction. This book has strong feminist undertones (win for me!) & really highlights what it’s like to be a strong, intelligent woman who is living in a world that is (still!) run by men. Afraid to pick it up because you lean hard right? Pick it up anyway. It’s fiction & it’s interesting. Also, check out her other novel “American Wife” for a fictionalized book of Laura Bush - also incredible.⁣⁣⁣

I had high hopes for this book- and it exceeded them!
What if Hillary would not have married Bill?
What if Bill had never been President?
What if Hillary had?
Answers all those questions and so many more in a very smart and engaging way.
Highly recommend this novel!

I'm sure other readers know the feeling of a book being exactly what you wanted it to be, and that was my experience with Rodham. I wouldn't have trusted this story in just anyone's hands, but as a longtime fan of Curtis Sittenfeld, I knew this had potential for greatness, and it delivered. Oh my goodness, this reimagining of Hillary's life if she hadn't married Bill was fascinating and thought provoking. This one switch made a huge difference in her life, his life, and American politics and I felt like Sittenfeld really thoughtfully considered the impacts and ripples of these differences. This was incredibly satisfying and also a bit heartwrenching. Love, love, love and cannot recommend highly enough.

🍃Review ⁣

This book was my most anticipated read for May. I felt like I had won the lottery when I got an ARC to review. Sadly, I didn’t love it. The concept is novel and it was extremely well written, but I was bored to tears. ⁣
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It revolves around what Hillary’s trajectory may have looked like if she would not have married Bill, both personally and professionally. It begins with Hillary’s early days and the uphill battle, she and other females faced in academia. In meeting Bill, she had found a like-minded partner to share her days. That is, until he was unfaithful on more than one occasion causing the ultimate end to their relationship. From there, it follows her political career, which is about where I started to nod off. ⁣
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The spotlight it shone on the double standard that women face in politics (and elsewhere) was bright and for that, I applauded Sittenfeld. If it would have been shortened, I think I might have even loved it. But, for me, it dragged. I also felt somewhat shameful reading about Bill’s proclivities and they’re affect on their relationship. Everyone is entitled to an opinion and lord knows, I have my own, but this is a couple who is still together. Who made a choice to remain husband and wife. What fuelled those reasons, is between them. It felt like judgment guised as fiction and while it was provocative to read, I felt bad for the real people it was based on. ⁣
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I would be interested to hear other’s thoughts on this alternate reality of Hillary’s life. It is undeniable that Bill’s career and ultimate presidency affected her, but I also hate that even in this fictional version, the man is still in the driver’s seat. That the choices of Hillary’s life were decided / changed only be virtue of their being together or apart. It ignores her autonomy as a person and that even with Bill by her side, she is a badass in her own right. ⁣
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#rodham #curtissittenfeld #netgalley #randomhouse #torontoreads #torontoreaders #bookaholic #ilovereading #sloane_reads #🇨🇦bookenablers #bookstagram #bookreview #goodreads #bookstagramreviews #bookclub #bibliophile #bookworm

I’m going to say right up front that I voted for Hillary Clinton and every single day I grieve that she’s not the one sitting in the White House. I fervently wish her path had been different, allowing her to become our long overdue first female president. But, that is only the beginning of why I enjoyed Curtis Sittenfeld’s Rodham so much.

Rodham started out true to life, beginning with Hillary Rodham’s graduation address at Wellesley College that landed her in Life magazine. It then moved on to her time at Yale Law School where she met and fell in love with Bill Clinton. Their relationship continued after law school, and she eventually followed him to Arkansas so he could run for office. He proposed to her three times. In her real life she finally said yes that third time. In Rodham, she saw too much heartache in a life with Bill and said no, leaving to make a life on her own.

“The margin between staying and leaving was so thin; really, it could have gone either way.”

But, in Rodham, it went the way of leaving and from that point on, Sittenfeld gives Hillary a life still drawn toward politics, but in her own circle of light. Along the way she cultures great friendships and allies, but also stumbles, making mistakes that opponents use to try to tear her down. Just like in the political world we live in. Hillary becomes a senator and runs for President more than once. Just like in real life. She faces cruel, personal attacks based more on her sex, than her competency. Just like in real life. At rallies for one of her opponents, people chant the cruel phrase, “Shut her up!” Just like in real life. Sittenfeld reimagines Hillary’s life, but she doesn’t reimagine the world she lives in.

Rodham has been one of the few books I’ve read during the coronavirus pandemic that has been able to hold my interest from start to finish. In itself that’s quite an accomplishment! I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see Hillary having a different life, a life of her OWN. The last 10% of the story wasn’t my favorite. I wish it could have been handled a little differently, been a little less smarmy, but I also can’t think of a different way to have handled it. Whether or not you voted for Hillary Clinton, spending a few days with Hillary Rodham will be well worth your time.

Note: I received a copy of this book from Random House (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.

Curtis Sittenfeld's engaging novel looks at Hillary Rodham's life through this prism: what if she hadn't married Bill Clinton? In 1971, as Hillary Rodham graduates from Wellesley, she delivers a commencement speech that gains national prominence. She heads to Yale Law school--an intelligent woman, filled with the desire to help those in need. It is there she meets Bill Clinton, a fellow law student. The connection between the two is instant--for the first time, Hillary feels she has found someone who appreciates her both emotionally and physically. In real life, Hillary and Bill head to Arkansas. He proposes three times, and she finally accepts, becoming Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"The first time I saw him, I thought he looked like a lion."

But here, in this imaginative and powerful novel, Hillary does not accept Bill's third proposal. Devastated, she leaves Arkansas and embarks on a different life. The pair's paths cross again (and again) in the years ahead, causing Hillary to sometimes doubt her decision.

I found this to be such an interesting read and oddly hopeful somehow, as if Sittenfeld read my brain and created the world I dreamed of--what a great book to read during these dismal times. It takes a little time to get into the flow of the writing: the first-person narrative certainly places you in the action, but I needed to adjust to switching back and forth between time periods (Hillary's past and present). And, funnily enough, you have to remember that this is and isn't Hillary--the first quarter of the book or so loosely follows Hillary's real life, so sometimes you have to recall who is truly speaking. I am not actually reading a Hillary memoir.

I loved how this book rewrites history--and with zero apologies. Bill Clinton does not always come off looking good here, though the love and chemistry between the two is clearly palpable. You find a variety of other characters from real life, so to speak, who sometimes play their actual roles, or re-imagined versions, and it's so fun. And, why yes, even Donald Trump has a place here. What a wonderful place it is, too. If you love politics, or political satire, there's a lot to love here.

"'If Bill Clinton was my boyfriend, I'd keep an eye on him too.'"

The Hillary of Sittenfeld's world is so real, so true, and so vulnerable and lovable. (And whoa, are there sex scenes, guys.) Even better, Sittenfeld doesn't make her perfect by any stretch; she's flawed and fallible, too. It doesn't take long to see history's actual Hillary taking this path, and sometimes, oh sometimes, I longed for her to do so. Sittenfeld excels at telling a tale from another person's perspective, somehow putting herself in their shoes. I got so caught up in this Hillary's world that I read the last half of the book in one take, desperate to know what happened to her. She felt real to me, and I needed to know how her life turned out. Please, Hillary, let it all work out this time.

This book is different, yes. It might not be for everyone, politically. But I found it fascinating to think about such a thing--how the choices we make in life affect so much. Not just saying yes to a marriage proposal, but all the other actions we take on any given day. This is a smartly written book, cementing Sittenfeld as a brilliant writer and storyteller. 4 stars.

4.5 stars! What a fantastic read! This book was both entertaining and an impressive work of historical fiction. The book explored the "what if" alternate reality: What if Hillary didn't marry Bill? As mentioned in Sittenfeld's author's note at the end of the book, she did an extraordinary amount of research on the lives of both Hillary and BIll in order to write this book, and her research and creativity of weaving in fictional events using real characters was masterfully done. Some historical events past the time she would've married Bill were still the same--and some were vastly different. I couldn't put the book down because I had to know--were things the same? Or different?

The book was a perfect escape from our current reality and showcased how such decisions can alter your life and the lives of others so dramatically. I don't want to give too much away about Hillary's life after choosing not to marry Bill--but it was entertaining to see her cross paths with current and past real life people in this alternate reality--I was literally laughing out loud in some parts. This book also showcased the difficulty of being a woman in American politics, as Hillary encountered in her real life. I can see this book being perfect for book club discussions, and I look forward to you all reading it so you can discuss with me!

his book will be very polarizing! Some people will love it and some will hate it. I think it would be a great book club pick and one that will encourage lots of discussion. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t wait to find out how it ended!⁣

I was completely invested in the story and really enjoyed the re-imagining not only of what Hillary’s life would look like but the results in our elections. Would we have had a female president elected? You’ll have to read to find out!⁣

If you dislike Hillary Clinton this book is not for you. The book is told from Hillary’s point of view and also at times it was quite steamy. I appreciated that Sittenfeld had Hillary make some questionable choices at times, however I know Hillary haters will not like this book so in that case don’t read it.⁣

I enjoyed the book’s take on Female ambition, marriage, the compromises women have to make and our political climate. It had been a while since I had highlighted so many passages in a book!⁣ I found myself googling a lot of things to see if they were actually true (since parts of the book are based on real life events). Overall I think this was a very entertaining and thought provoking book!

I am not sure what I thought I was getting into when I started this; I knew it was speculative fiction based on Hillary Rodham Clinton's life and an alternate reality, but I still had a really hard time with the book. I mean, I'd read American Wife and I knew that was fiction based on Laura Bush, but there was more of a story there, maybe because all the names had been changed? I couldn't help wondering what HRC thought when she read it (has/will she read it?) and that left an icky feeling. And maybe I should have had that feeling with AW, too, but I didn't.

First, there were the first 50 or so pages of tons of sex with Bill Clinton. Waaay more info than I needed, thanks! It was hard to slog through it. I get it, he was (is?) a horn-dog and they were still in college, but I just didn't want those images in my head.

The second half of the book picked up some steam, and since it was speculative, it was a little easier to read as fiction. But even there, it felt pretty heavy-handed. Unfortunately, Ms. Sittenfeld is preaching to the choir when she writes about the sexism and misogyny in politics and media. The people who don't already recognize it aren't going to read this book.

At the end of the day, I felt like it was more about those things that about HRC, and I think it could have been better if it hadn't been so specifically about someone who has been in the public eye for so long, but more of a fictionalized character based on her.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rodham is mentioned in my recent book roundup for Mashable here:
https://mashable.com/article/spring-book-preview-2020/
Thanks!

I was living and studying abroad when the infamous 2016 election took place. When the results started rolling in, I felt incredible sadness and defeat wash over me. You see, I have always been an admirer of Hillary Clinton. Now before you back away, let me first say this-I know she is a polarizing figure across both sides of the aisle, and she has many political faults. But, she is smart, accomplished and a strong woman and that is why the November 2016 election to me was such a shock. I am still not over it (not sure I ever will be!) and keep remembering how much better off we might have been, especially during our current crisis around the world, had Hillary become the 45th President of the United States. Luckily, Curtis Sittenfeld’s new novel Rodham arrived in my inbox from NetGalley and Penguin Random House and it made my month! Sittenfeld has written a semi-fact based historical fition novel that asks the question, ‘what would it be like if Hillary had never married Bill?’ This premise immediately got me excited to read this book. What if! Perhaps, she’d be President today.

In Rodham, Sittenfeld uses real moments of Hillary’s life from a young university student, to a law professor to her eventual emergence into politics as a Senator. The reader experiences it all. Yet meeting Bill changed her life regardless of circumstance. She continually encounters him over the years after their very passionate and strained relationship at university and beyond. The reader is engaged with her inner-most thoughts, feel her passion for Bill when they meet, and her anger and sadness when she is consistentley looked over because she is a woman in power. Sittenfeld does an incredible job of emoting such resounding character within THIS Hillary, it feels very personal and emotional at times. Mostly, because I am sure a lot of women regardless of age, when they read this will have their fury reignited over how often women are betlitted and scrutinized in a way that no male has ever experienced. The novel emphasizes this in each portion of Hillary’s life, and it is a perfect representation (this is loosely fact based), of the scrutiny and bizarre treatment that a woman in power receives.

There was one passage that really struck me, and hit home. Sittenfeld writes, “…but as much as I wanted to be president, I wanted a woman to be president-I wanted this because women and girls were half the population and we deserved, as a basic human right and a means of ensuring justice, to be equally represented in government…Of all other presidents…none of them had run because they hoped to gain entry to the highest office of power on behalf of an entire gender. Yes, I was me, Hillary, but I also was a vessel and a proxy.” This perfectly summed up the entire 2016 experience for me, and without any spoilers, I felt a sense of poignancy at the ending of the novel and it made me very emotional. I lived this moment in history, but I was also emotional because of the fact that an accomplished woman was robbed of something she should have been rewarded by. It’s still hard to swallow, but I hope one day that a woman will be in the White House. Until then, this novel was a nice emotional placeholder. So thank you Curtis Sittenfeld, for writing this.

No spoilers here, but I rated this four out of five stars because I felt that I could have done without the incessant sex scenes with the fictional Bill, it was a tad uncomfortable at times. I would have preferred even more focus on Hillary herself, to focus even more so on what a treasure we lost out on in the White House. I also felt that I would have enjoyed it a bit more had we not had a bizarre (I’m sure there’s a better word) brief cameo by the orange idiot as well. However, this was an excellent read that will no doubt cause a bit of commotion in the publishing world when it is released on May 19th . This was one of my most antipated novels of the year, and it did not disappoint.

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for sending me an ARC to read and review.

Wild alternate history imagining the possibilities a singular woman could have when not distracted by lowering her standards. It was fun to read a world inspired by fact and research but which took on the fantasy of paths not taken. Escapism at its best.