Rodham

A Novel

By: Curtis Sittenfeld

Narrated by: Carrington MacDuffie

Length: 13 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times Best Seller

From the author of American Wife and Eligible.... He proposed. She said no. And it changed her life forever.

“A deviously clever what if.” (O: The Oprah Magazine)
“Immersive, escapist.” (Good Morning America)
“Ingenious.” (The New York Times)

Named One of The Best Books of the Year by The New Yorker • NPR • The Washington Post • Marie Claire • Cosmopolitan (UK) • Town & Country • New York Post

In 1971, Hillary Rodham is a young woman full of promise: Life magazine has covered her Wellesley commencement speech, she’s attending Yale Law School, and she’s on the forefront of student activism and the women’s rights movement. And then she meets Bill Clinton. A handsome, charismatic southerner and fellow law student, Bill is already planning his political career. In each other, the two find a profound intellectual, emotional, and physical connection that neither has previously experienced.

In the real world, Hillary followed Bill back to Arkansas, and he proposed several times; although she said no more than once, as we all know, she eventually accepted and became Hillary Clinton.

But in Curtis Sittenfeld’s powerfully imagined tour-de-force of fiction, Hillary takes a different road. Feeling doubt about the prospective marriage, she endures their devastating breakup and leaves Arkansas. Over the next four decades, she blazes her own trail - one that unfolds in public as well as in private, that involves crossing paths again (and again) with Bill Clinton, that raises questions about the tradeoffs all of us must make in building a life.

Brilliantly weaving a riveting fictional tale into actual historical events, Curtis Sittenfeld delivers an uncannily astute and witty story for our times. In exploring the loneliness, moral ambivalence, and iron determination that characterize the quest for political power, as well as both the exhilaration and painful compromises demanded of female ambition in a world still run mostly by men, Rodham is a singular and unforgettable novel.

©2020 Curtis Sittenfeld (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“[Curtis] Sittenfeld is a clear thinker, a canny observer, and a solid, graceful stylist.” (The Washington Post Book World)

“Whatever [Sittenfeld] writes, we’ll read it.” (People)

“[Sittenfeld] is a skilled storyteller. [She] delivers a well-told, compelling story about characters so real they settle into your psyche like old friends.” (Associated Press)

“Sittenfeld makes writing lively and diverting fiction look easy.” (Chicago Tribune)

Revisionist history in the best way

Pants suit nation fan fiction - but so fun and also thought provoking. One small change, one decision, opens up an entirely different path.

Spellbinding!

Imaginative alternative universe where so much is different and so much is the same. Love the way she characterizes the Clintons and other historical figures. A must listen! Superb performance by the narrator.

Imagination is impressive not the delivery

Overall I was impressed by Sittenfeld's imagination. It could have been much more enjoyable to follow, had I opted for the print book. Sequences of different events, jumping from one year to next made it a somewhat difficult audiobook to seamlessly continue. I think I got the ending I would have preferred in real life, that is why I say I was and am impressed with how much thought Sittenfeld has put into this work. Her background research was also solid and the book did allude (or more directly address) some of the real-life events that still might have/would have happened in the world of fiction. I would recommend giving this book a try, but preferentially a paper version.

A really good read

I loved this story. It was especially good at the beginning and the end with a wee bit of lag in the middle. But I loved the way Curtis Sittenfeld brings us into Hillary’s life.

Wow! Now I can breathe again!

I ended up glued to this novel! First I felt it was embarrassingly true. I lost my perspective about what I was hearing because it is gritty, brave, eloquent, sexual and raw. Then, as a die hard Hillary supporter, I felt almost traitorous at the indulgence of loving it. But finally, I was so enthralled by Curtis Sittenfeld’s written alternate reality path. I spent every moment mentally swimming in this novel. Thinking and talking about when not listening. Blushing sometimes. Now, upon completion, my jaw remains dropped over this accomplished and highly original literary work. I want every woman to hear or read it. A verbal human journey like no other with wildly intense twists and surprises so relatable and fascinating!

Amazing!

Loved it! Plenty of fun details, very well done, I didn't think any of it was boring. It gives you satisfaction basically with everything in the news now. 

Fascinating!

I LOVED this book! Historical alternative universe, plus insightful 👏👍The author helped us imagine a different outcome working with the same facts! EXCELLENT!

Narration was off

I agree with the other comments that the narrator didn’t work well with the story. I enjoyed this alternative history though it made me sad. Bill Clinton is portrayed as quite a monster! Don’t regret this in spite of the poor narration.

A Worthwhile “What If” Story

The narrator was exceptional. So many audiobooks can lose my interest just for this.

“What If” stories are always a favorite of mine. I admire the creativity. This story covers a long span of time in the subject’s life.

I noticed the Trolls have already started to try to ruin the ratings of this book. They’re easy to spot. Ignore them.

I hope you also enjoy this worthwhile well written book, so creatively imagined; a great listen about Rodham.

Yet another brilliant novel from Ms Sittenfeld

This is a very fine novel, as a novel, whether or not the alt history / biographical aspect interests you. Like all Ms Sittenfeld's novels, there's a wonderful exercise of the creative imagination. I have no idea what the actual Ms Clinton is like, but having read one of her books (after this one) I'd say that Ms S captures her tone, or rather the tone she'd have had if she'd lived the life narrated in the novel, including many years as a law prof. The book is also quite impossible to put down. She does not fall into any of the roman a clef temptations that must've presented themselves -- there's just enough Bill Clinton and Donald Trump. I awaited this book eagerly, bought it once, and can't wait for whatever she does next. It's time to go back and listen to Sisterland and American Wife again, and the rest. The performance of the book is also excellent.