American Wife

A Novel

By: Curtis Sittenfeld

Narrated by: Kimberly Farr

Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best seller.

Named one of the 10 best books of the year: Time, People, and Entertainment Weekly.

A kind, bookish only child born in the 1940s, Alice Lindgren has no idea that she will one day end up in the White House, married to the president. In her small Wisconsin hometown she learns the virtues of politeness, but a tragic accident when she is 17 shatters her identity and changes the trajectory of her life. More than a decade later, when the charismatic son of a powerful Republican family sweeps her off her feet, she is surprised to find herself admitted into a world of privilege.

And when her husband unexpectedly becomes governor and then president, she discovers that she is married to a man she both loves and fundamentally disagrees with - and that her private beliefs increasingly run against her public persona. As her husband’s presidency enters its second term, Alice must confront contradictions years in the making and face questions nearly impossible to answer.

Named one of the best books of the year: The New York Times Book Review, Chicago Tribune, NPR, Rocky Mountain News, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Washington Post Book World.

©2008 Curtis Sittenfeld (P)2008 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A gorgeously written novel that weaves class, wealth, race, and fate into a brilliant portrait of a first lady. (From the author of Rodham and Eligible)

“Terrific...an intelligent, bighearted novel about a controversial political dynasty.” (Entertainment Weekly)

Really good!

This book is patterned after Laura Bush, so I was excited to get into it. Great story and narration and I highly recommend this one!

The amazing creation of the wife’s persona— a strong support and love for a husband who views she does not share.

The narrator’s voice was spot on. The perfect soft tone of clear-thinking and measured cadence.

American Wife

This was a very good book. It was most intertaining and I would recommend it to any one who enjoys reading. Well written!!!

Excellent book, limited recording

This is one of my favorite books, but I felt the abridgment of the story for the audio version gave the characters—especially the main character—limited depth. For this reason I recommend the print version above the audio.

A rendering of life inside politics

American Wife was an interesting look at life on the inside of politics, and a slice of what life inside the White House may be like. I found the narration of this book to be excellent, the reader had a quality of excellence you would expect from a first lady. Also fascinating is that the American Wife is modeled after Laura Bush, so you are privy to what might be going on in Laura and George's marriage away from the press and out of the public eye. The story will keep you entertained, and might change the way you think of first ladies!

Each of Us Must Endure, Our World Filled With Changes

This story, written by Curtis Sittenfeld, was brilliantly written. I enjoyed listening and learning so many things about our ever changing world, both about past generations and about issues that are still relevant today.

My favorite, was listening to the narrator, Kimberly Farr. Her voice is so clear and lovely that towards the end of this book, I wished there were more chapters left and that I could listen to her express the writers insights for much longer than when the story ends. This book becomes greater because of this narrator. Bravo, Kimberly Farr. 🎉🤗🙏

A good listen

This was a really good book. To hear one's life from being a child to a grownup made me reflect on my life and listening to her describe the ups and downs of love, marriage, I think anyone could relate. I enjoyed it.

Democratic tale fictionalizing Laura Bush’s life

Disappointed in the negative characterizations of the Bush family from a liberal and secular worldview. Story kept my interest and narrator superb. It seemed the author had a political agenda in writing this book.