Primary Colors

Publisher's Summary

Primary Colors is the riveting story of a governor-from-a-small-state's quest for the presidency, and a jaded Beltway insider's search for a leader to believe in. Spending nearly a year on the New York Times bestseller list, this blockbuster novel has sold well over one million copies.

Primary Colors offers a richly detailed look at life on the political stump. As former congressional aide Henry Burton is dazzled and lured into presidential hopeful Jack Stanton's fledgling campaign, he becomes a cog in Stanton's unstoppable political machine. Burton illuminates, through his actions and observations, the sometimes seamy, sometimes steamy and sometimes surprisingly noble ascent to the presidency.

Filled with spin doctors, power brokers, and loyal followers, this story of a presidential race spans the spectrum from bedroom farce to high moral drama. Narrated with commanding presence by Peter Francis James, Primary Colors paints such an authentic picture of national politics that it's become one of the most talked-about political novels.

©1997 Anonymous (P)1997 RECORDED BOOKS

Changed my life

No really. I was a Communications major, Political Science minor, in hopes of becoming a speechwriter. Unfortunately, I saw too much of Libby Holden in myself.

Personal stuff aside, Peter Francis James does a marvelous job narrating what must, at times been difficult, with some of the subject matter. Hands down, the manic-depressive investigator is my favorite character.

The staffer/candidate comes across quite candidly. I was intrigued by the firestorm that came with Primary Colors' release. The book was even better than the media frenzy surrounding its release.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

If you liked the movie read this book

I chose this rating because I really liked the movie and the book is just like the movie.just like what actually happened in real life of the troubles
At the time governor Clinton was facing. And how he overcome those troubles to become president.

Political "fiction" at its best

I've always loved the movie with John Travolta so I was excited to experience the book. It's obviously a thinly veiled look into the Bill Clinton campaign for president and it's so well done. Check it out.

DISAPPOINTING FROM THIS DISTANCE

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would change when I read/heard it. It'd have been better during the Clinton years than it now seems.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I would have made the candidates' shennanigans even more outrageous.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Peter Francis James?

Someone whose voice had more narrative authority.

Could you see Primary Colors being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I think this has happened already.

Any additional comments?

A compelling, but not surprising, glimpse behind the scenes in a Presidential campaign.

N

I have wanted to read this book for years, and was always disappointed that it was never available in audio format. I have to say, however, that I was a little let down. The narrator speaks very slowly, so it took awhile for me to get used to his style of speaking. After all these years, I guess the fizz has gone out of this novel. It was fun trying to guess who each character was based on, but the book kind of lost its way toward the end. Glad I read it, but not as good as I had hoped.

2 of 4 people found this review helpful