So word on the street (and by street, of course, we mean Google news feeds) is that, after much speculation, Laura Bush has finally sold her memoirs to the highest bidder, Scribner. If the publishing house has indeed won what was purported to be a fairly spirited competition for the rights to the soon-to-be-former First Lady’s story, what will we get from it? Trenchant, blow-these-doors-wide-open analysis of her husband’s dramatic and heavily divisive eight years in office? Or a breezy, let’s-just-keep-those-doors-nice-and-closed tour of White House place settings, Easter-egg hunts on the Great Lawn, and evening strolls with First Pooch Barney?
One could argue that her story has already been told via Curtis Sittenfeld’s recent bestseller, American Wife (though one would also need to attribute super-duper powers of omniscence to Sittenfeld, who has never met Laura). One could also argue that the First Lady, determinedly private and almost unilaterally uninvolved in the day-to-day policy-making of her husband’s administration, neither needs nor wants to produce the kind of memoir that a former FW like, say, Hilary Clinton — who got a cool $8 million for her post-White House memoirs — did: a doorstop-weight work of score settling, you-are-there politicking, and other tales from the near-center of the Oval Office storm. On the third hand (because I have three arms, naturally), Laura is a lifelong reader, passionate about both literature and literacy, so she’s quite possibly in a better natural position to pen her own story with the sort of eloquence and insight that G.W., alas, has never been known for.
What’s your take, readers? Do you long to know more about this mysterious woman with the Mona Lisa smile and the Dorothy Hamill haircut? Or would you rather eat this book than read it?
I’m sure she will eloquently and politely gloss over or ignore everything she doesn’t want to talk about, which is probably all of the stuff the public would be interested in. She kind of reminds me of Marge Simpson or Lois Griffin or Wilma Flintstone (you see where I’m going with this?) in that she’s obviously superior to her husband in just about every way, and yet no matter what stupidity he’s involved himself in during a given week, all is forgiven, etc. I kind of feel sorry for her, but she made her bed and she seems content to lie in it.
One aspect of the book will undoubtedly continue the propoganda engine now in full force to prop up our departing beloved president. First Condy Rice, then various presidential “aides”, and now a continuing procession of Bush sycophants all invested in trying to convince us we (at least the majority of us) are blinded by not recognizing what W has done for us and this country the past 8 years. I am sure the other aspects of the book will cover Laura’s impeccable fashion sense. Yawn.
Though I was never a fan of her husband, she is one classy woman and I have the utmost respect for her. I dont think I would read her book, but more power to her.
I’m currently reading “American Wife” and it’s a fascinating story. If Mrs. Bush does decide to open up the vault, it’s a pretty interesting story. There’s a fascinating woman behind that icey facade and a autobio would make her easier to relate and identify with.
However, I doubt the Bushs would really allow her to be very candid, it would have to be a pretty watered down version of her life and courtship with George W. Plus, I doubt Barbara Bush would want another unflatering portrait of her matriarchism out
there.
I love biographies and autobiographies but I can’t help but feel that this book will find its’ place better shelved with fiction. There is no way she’ll let loose on anything remotely controversial or less than deferential to her husband and her husband’s family. She lost a great deal of respect from me when she did not advocate for the Obamas to move into Blair House so that a) the kids could start school and b)save the taxpayers a whole lotta cash by not having to pay for extra security and other costs incurred by having to stay at the Hay-Adams. There is no standard or traditional move in date as she (or her spokesperson) stated. It was surprisingly bad form for someone who has actually come out of the past four years with dignity and poise.
I love biographies and autobiographies but I can’t help but feel that this book will find its’ place better shelved with fiction. There is no way she’ll let loose on anything remotely controversial or less than deferential to her husband and her husband’s family. She lost a great deal of respect from me when she did not advocate for the Obamas to move into Blair House so that a) the kids could start school and b)save the taxpayers a whole lotta cash by not having to pay for extra security and other costs incurred by having to stay at the Hay-Adams. There is no standard or traditional move in date as she (or her spokesperson) stated. It was surprisingly bad form for someone who has actually come out of the past eight years with dignity and poise.
Laura was the most USELESS first-lady.
In 8 years the only thing she did was:
1) Asked women to wear Red Dresses for Cancer. I’m not sure HOW that helped anyone. I’m wearing red right now & I still know lots of people with cancer.
2) Showed up at the Republican National Convention because nobody wanted GEORGE at the event.
3) Bought White House China costing $500,000 before she leaves. Seriously out of touch. That money could have been thrown onto the national debt.
When are they leaving again? Couldn’t be soon enough for me.
I’d rather sh*t on this book than read it.
After reading American Wife, I have to say that I am intensely curious about Laura Bush’s autobiography. I probably wouldn’t be interested at all except I am in love with Sittenfeld’s book.
Perhaps Laura Bush will tell the story of how she killed a man. Doubt it; this book will probably more defensive rewriting of history regarding her idiot husband. And if she does have eloquence and insight, would it have been so hard to share that with him these past eight years?
Yeah, it was Listen 2 This. I liked those, but then they started not being exclusively about music, (they started to include video games & comic books too) http://cleaning.emenace.com/upholste2b/21.html commercial cleaning undefined
Laura Bush is a lady. She married a “man”, who is also a gentleman. It is hard to find that combination in modern political society. Her detractors, as well as her husband’s, are threatened by people so “comfortable in their own skins”. When we compare this couple with recent occupants of the White House, it is clear they accepted their place in history and helped a nation recover and proceed. Laura Bush had no “hidden agenda” or personal ambitions. She was simply “the best!”