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At times the book is kinda dry, but for the most part it flows pretty well. This book was a big surprise for me--I actually liked it very much. Her comments on the events of those days and Life With Bill is interesting, even if not entirely believable. It starts with her upbringing, through her college days, marriage to Bill, the governorship, and finally the White House and Senate. Whatever one thinks of Hillary's politics, one has to admit she has lived a very colorful, eventful,fascinating life. I don't believe the spin she put on her life, but I was still caught up in her story.
Most of the time it seems that Hillary has just put her daily diary together but the part where she has to deal with the personal trauma of Bill's infidelity is very moving. I wish Hillary had used a professional writer for this biography that encompasses a most difficult time in modern history.an account of Bill Clinton's youthful success as the governor of Arkansas to becoming the president and going down with Monica Lewinsky.
Hilary Clinton is a hero and inspiration to all Americans. A fascinating and moving biography on one of the most interesting political figures of our time.
And as far as personal stories are concerned, the writing felt stilted, forced, as if Clinton was struggling with whether to include any personal stories at all. It is one thing for a biographer to wave away the subject's failings, but coming from the autobiography, it reads as conceited. Even if you believe that the other side is pure evil, something that's silly, writing at length about it is pointless given that it will not win anyone over who wasn't on your side from the beginning. Purely from a literary and historic point of view, when writing an autobiography/memoir, being humble goes a long way to endear you to the reader. It is interesting piece of Americana, but nothing is here that one cannot get from Bill Clinton's much better (in comparison and despite its length) autobiography, i.e., "My Life." Perhaps if she hadn't used ghostwriters, it'd be better; or given them partial credit, since it would have been easier to explain literary shortcomings of the book. It is one thing for a biographer to champion the subject of the book, quite another for an autobiographer to do the same. Clinton, however, appears to take credit for all the positive things that took place in her husband's presidency while trying hard to distance herself from things that have been blunders. It is one thing to be proud of one's accomplishments, but quite another to star in your own Harry Potter novel with you as Hermione and Republicans as Dementors (and Star or Newt Gingrich as Voldermort) who may have been quite literary responsible, according to Clinton, for killing your friends by stress.
What's obvious in the reviews is that either you like the Clintons or you don't. A wonderful life and book. What's there to say. What's surprises me is that even with the numerous examples of being on the right side of issues, our beliefs stay the same - I guess that it shouldn't surprise me (but it still does). I can't recommend it highly enough. A brilliant woman who is dedicated and committed to what matters most, people and democracy. Enough examples of her and her husband accomplishments that would one would find it difficult to find other such examples from any recent President or distant President and his wife unless you go back to the Roosevelts.
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