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Laura Bush: An Intimate Portrait of the First Lady
When Laura Bush moved into the White House on January 20, 2001, everyone wanted to know what kind of first lady she would be. Would she be like Mamie Eisenhower? Would she follow in Barbara Bush’s footsteps? Would she be another Hillary Clinton?
“I think I’ll just be Laura Bush,” she would say.
On Saturday, April 30, 2005, the world got a glimpse of what that meant when she pushed aside the leader of the free world and stole the show at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. Wearing a shimmering lime green Oscar de la Renta gown, Laura wisecracked that she was a “desperate housewife” married to a president who was always asleep at nine.
Replayed constantly on the air, the stand-up routine with its impeccable comedic timing turned the first lady into a glittering star. But while the performance catapulted her to new status, it did not answer the question of who this former teacher and librarian really is and just what role she plays in influencing her husband and shaping his administration. The Bushes are more effective than the FBI or CIA at keeping secret what goes on behind the scenes at the White House, the ranch, or Camp David.
Now, New York Times bestselling author Ronald Kessler draws back that curtain in the first biography of Laura Bush to be written with White House cooperation. Based on interviews with her closest friends and confidantes from childhood to the present, as well as family members and administration heavyweights like Condoleezza Rice and Andrew Card, Kessler paints a portrait of a woman who, even as she ascended to the heights of political fortune and power, never lost touch with the bedrock American values she absorbed in her youth.
In this unprecedented account, Kessler
• How Laura’s opinions have brought budget changes to a range of federal agencies and have affected her husband’s policies, appointments, and worldview.
• Why Laura told her press secretary in May 2001 she did not want to do any more media interviews.
• What President Bush said to Laura at the dinner table after giving the “go” for the invasion of Iraq, and what his father, former President George H. W. Bush, wrote him the next day about the war.
• What Laura’s own political opinions are and what her relationship with twin daughters Jenna and Barbara is really like.
• What Laura says in private about Hillary Clinton, media attacks on her husband, and his victory in the 2004 election.
• And why Laura, at the age of seventeen, missed a stop sign and caused a fatal accident that tragically left one of her best friends dead.
Laura Bush a remarkable look at the private world of this famously reserved woman, as well as the beliefs and attitudes that shape it. The book will surprise readers whose knowledge of the first lady comes from cautious media interviews and speeches.
Laura Bush’s approval rating stands at 85 percent. Since opinion polls first began asking about them, no first lady has received a higher rating. This moving biography is the first to penetrate the secret world of the president’s stealth counselor who is one of our most admired public figures.
“I think I’ll just be Laura Bush,” she would say.
On Saturday, April 30, 2005, the world got a glimpse of what that meant when she pushed aside the leader of the free world and stole the show at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. Wearing a shimmering lime green Oscar de la Renta gown, Laura wisecracked that she was a “desperate housewife” married to a president who was always asleep at nine.
Replayed constantly on the air, the stand-up routine with its impeccable comedic timing turned the first lady into a glittering star. But while the performance catapulted her to new status, it did not answer the question of who this former teacher and librarian really is and just what role she plays in influencing her husband and shaping his administration. The Bushes are more effective than the FBI or CIA at keeping secret what goes on behind the scenes at the White House, the ranch, or Camp David.
Now, New York Times bestselling author Ronald Kessler draws back that curtain in the first biography of Laura Bush to be written with White House cooperation. Based on interviews with her closest friends and confidantes from childhood to the present, as well as family members and administration heavyweights like Condoleezza Rice and Andrew Card, Kessler paints a portrait of a woman who, even as she ascended to the heights of political fortune and power, never lost touch with the bedrock American values she absorbed in her youth.
In this unprecedented account, Kessler
• How Laura’s opinions have brought budget changes to a range of federal agencies and have affected her husband’s policies, appointments, and worldview.
• Why Laura told her press secretary in May 2001 she did not want to do any more media interviews.
• What President Bush said to Laura at the dinner table after giving the “go” for the invasion of Iraq, and what his father, former President George H. W. Bush, wrote him the next day about the war.
• What Laura’s own political opinions are and what her relationship with twin daughters Jenna and Barbara is really like.
• What Laura says in private about Hillary Clinton, media attacks on her husband, and his victory in the 2004 election.
• And why Laura, at the age of seventeen, missed a stop sign and caused a fatal accident that tragically left one of her best friends dead.
Laura Bush a remarkable look at the private world of this famously reserved woman, as well as the beliefs and attitudes that shape it. The book will surprise readers whose knowledge of the first lady comes from cautious media interviews and speeches.
Laura Bush’s approval rating stands at 85 percent. Since opinion polls first began asking about them, no first lady has received a higher rating. This moving biography is the first to penetrate the secret world of the president’s stealth counselor who is one of our most admired public figures.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
25 people are currently reading
397 people want to read
About the author
Ronald Kessler
38 books106 followersRonald Kessler is the New York Times bestselling author of 21 non-fiction books about the Trump White House, Secret Service, FBI, and CIA.
Kessler began his career as a journalist in 1964 on the Worcester Telegram, followed by three years as an investigative reporter and editorial writer with the Boston Herald. In 1968, he joined the Wall Street Journal as an investigative reporter in the New York bureau. He became an investigative reporter with the Washington Post in 1970 and continued in that position until 1985.
Kessler's new book is "The Trump White House: Changing the Rules of the Game."
Kessler has won eighteen journalism awards, including two George Polk awards--for national reporting and for community service. Kessler has also won the American Political Science Association's Public Affairs Reporting Award, the Associated Press' Sevellon Brown Memorial Award, and Washingtonian magazine's Washingtonian of the Year award. Franklin Pierce University awarded him the Marlin Fitzwater Medallion for excellence as a prolific author, journalist, and communicator. He is listed in Who's Who in America.
"Ron Kessler...has enjoyed a reputation for solid reporting over the past four decades." Lloyd Grove, The Daily Beast. "Kessler's such a skilled storyteller, you almost forget this is dead-serious nonfiction..." Newsweek. "[Ronald Kessler] is the man who broke the story about the [Secret Service prostitution] episode in Cartagena...." New York Times. "His [Kessler's] book quotes both flattering and unflattering observations about presidents of both parties." FactCheck.org. "[Ronald Kessler] is one of the nation's top investigative journalists." Fox & Friends. "Ron Kessler appears to get everything first." Slate.
Ron Kessler lives with his wife Pamela Kessler in the Washington, D.C. area. Also an author and former Washington Post reporter, Pam Kessler wrote "Undercover Washington: Where Famous Spies Lived, Worked and Loved." His daughter Rachel Kessler, an independent public relations consultant, and son Greg Kessler, an artist, live in New York.
Kessler began his career as a journalist in 1964 on the Worcester Telegram, followed by three years as an investigative reporter and editorial writer with the Boston Herald. In 1968, he joined the Wall Street Journal as an investigative reporter in the New York bureau. He became an investigative reporter with the Washington Post in 1970 and continued in that position until 1985.
Kessler's new book is "The Trump White House: Changing the Rules of the Game."
Kessler has won eighteen journalism awards, including two George Polk awards--for national reporting and for community service. Kessler has also won the American Political Science Association's Public Affairs Reporting Award, the Associated Press' Sevellon Brown Memorial Award, and Washingtonian magazine's Washingtonian of the Year award. Franklin Pierce University awarded him the Marlin Fitzwater Medallion for excellence as a prolific author, journalist, and communicator. He is listed in Who's Who in America.
"Ron Kessler...has enjoyed a reputation for solid reporting over the past four decades." Lloyd Grove, The Daily Beast. "Kessler's such a skilled storyteller, you almost forget this is dead-serious nonfiction..." Newsweek. "[Ronald Kessler] is the man who broke the story about the [Secret Service prostitution] episode in Cartagena...." New York Times. "His [Kessler's] book quotes both flattering and unflattering observations about presidents of both parties." FactCheck.org. "[Ronald Kessler] is one of the nation's top investigative journalists." Fox & Friends. "Ron Kessler appears to get everything first." Slate.
Ron Kessler lives with his wife Pamela Kessler in the Washington, D.C. area. Also an author and former Washington Post reporter, Pam Kessler wrote "Undercover Washington: Where Famous Spies Lived, Worked and Loved." His daughter Rachel Kessler, an independent public relations consultant, and son Greg Kessler, an artist, live in New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
March 2, 2024
I enjoyed most of this book. Although not a fan of GHB, I tended to like Laura and so picked this to read. I learned that distortion and lies and white lies are all part of the modern media. I also learned what the Bushes ate, how many parties they had and who attended, how much they spent on clothes and such, and how perfect the First Lady was. That was the part that made it 3 stars.
But it is indeed a look behind the scenes (or a peek), and another perspective on the President and First Lady and some of the monumental decisions and events of the Bush presidency.
You may enjoy it even more if you are a fan of this President.
But it is indeed a look behind the scenes (or a peek), and another perspective on the President and First Lady and some of the monumental decisions and events of the Bush presidency.
You may enjoy it even more if you are a fan of this President.
April 11, 2010
This is a very sympathetic book to Laura Bush and if one has an interest in Laura's view point this book will provide. I found it to be an easy read and it reinforces why Laura had an 85% public approval rating.
The most interesting story for me was about George Bush during his first term as governor of Texas in 1994; in December of that year the Texas Education Agency gave him the third-grade reading test results from Texas schools: 43k third graders could not read, by spring the number was 52k of the 230k third graders could not read; per Karl Rove he had never seen George Bush so angry. Bush brought in experts and this was the explanation that he was given "a faddish approach to teaching kids to read was behind the poor test scores. Introduced in the 1970's, the "whole language method" held that the traditional, phonics-based method of teaching kids to sound out letters was boring. Instead, under the whole language approach, kids were taught to read by simply giving them books and expecting that they would become so enthralled that they would figure out the words themselves. Essentially, that meant kidss were not being taught to read at all. Long story short phonics were reintroduced and the percent of third graders that could not read fell within a few years fell from 23% to 2%.
Unbelievable.
The most interesting story for me was about George Bush during his first term as governor of Texas in 1994; in December of that year the Texas Education Agency gave him the third-grade reading test results from Texas schools: 43k third graders could not read, by spring the number was 52k of the 230k third graders could not read; per Karl Rove he had never seen George Bush so angry. Bush brought in experts and this was the explanation that he was given "a faddish approach to teaching kids to read was behind the poor test scores. Introduced in the 1970's, the "whole language method" held that the traditional, phonics-based method of teaching kids to sound out letters was boring. Instead, under the whole language approach, kids were taught to read by simply giving them books and expecting that they would become so enthralled that they would figure out the words themselves. Essentially, that meant kidss were not being taught to read at all. Long story short phonics were reintroduced and the percent of third graders that could not read fell within a few years fell from 23% to 2%.
Unbelievable.
May 8, 2010
I was looking forward to reading this book as I am an admirer of Laura Bush. Instead of an "intimate" story I found a disjointed bunch of quotes which seemed to be written with the only purpose of discounting other books and articles written negatively about Mrs. Bush.
I did not really learn anything new about L. Bush. She did not ever tell us how it was to become a member of one of the most powerful families in America. She rarely mentioned, mother in law, Barbara Bush. Most of the book was describing parties and dinner events and how she has stayed friends with her Texas and school friends. Very disappointing.
I did not really learn anything new about L. Bush. She did not ever tell us how it was to become a member of one of the most powerful families in America. She rarely mentioned, mother in law, Barbara Bush. Most of the book was describing parties and dinner events and how she has stayed friends with her Texas and school friends. Very disappointing.
August 17, 2020
I enjoyed this book. I admire Laura Bush; it is interesting to learn that she had such a normal middle-class upbringing. She is the woman I would love to be: soft-spoken, refined, well-read, a great friend, high morals & ethics. She has always had quiet loving influence on her husband, the President.
February 11, 2011
I found this book to be terribly biased and, overall, disappointing. The author spends a good portion of the book pointing out why Hillary Clinton was such a terrible first lady, instead of talking about Laura Bush. I also found the writing to be mediocre at best. Interesting facts about the Bush family, but her new autobiography is probably a better place to get them.
October 7, 2010
This book is based on interviews with Laura Bush's friends. It reveals friendships that are full of caring, insight, wit, loyalty and sincerity. Laura is an authentic, thoughtful and loving friend as you will learn. She has remained close to her childhood friends throughout her life and no matter what.
In reading this book, your also learn that Laura Bush, loves to clean. I found that we share a love for Clorox and Windex. As another reviewer wrote, "Now, when something around here needs cleaning, I think of Laura's enthusiasm. I find that it is much easier and more fun to tackle cleaning with enthusiasm than to go through it with a dismal attitude."
I liked Laura Bush before I read this book, we share several similarities: we are both only children and we both love to read. This book was an insightful read about a "lovely, witty and gracious" First Lady. She truly is a First Class, First Lady.
In reading this book, your also learn that Laura Bush, loves to clean. I found that we share a love for Clorox and Windex. As another reviewer wrote, "Now, when something around here needs cleaning, I think of Laura's enthusiasm. I find that it is much easier and more fun to tackle cleaning with enthusiasm than to go through it with a dismal attitude."
I liked Laura Bush before I read this book, we share several similarities: we are both only children and we both love to read. This book was an insightful read about a "lovely, witty and gracious" First Lady. She truly is a First Class, First Lady.
October 20, 2009
I really enjoyed this book, well, at least the first half. It was interesting as far as biography’s go, but that all changes once he wins the presidential election and they move into the White House.
The whole book is saying what a caring person Laura was, but then, the author didn't pass up any opportunity to demonize the former inhabitants. I am not a Democrat, so this isn’t a political opinion. I just found it odd that Mrs. Bush would not “allow” any of the staff to speak bad of the Clinton’s yet the author has free reign to add bits in, where some really didn’t have anything to do with the story being told.
It is sort of like bashing the other side makes your “side” appear better, when in reality the opposite is true. I wish the author had thought before writing, but too little too late.
The whole book is saying what a caring person Laura was, but then, the author didn't pass up any opportunity to demonize the former inhabitants. I am not a Democrat, so this isn’t a political opinion. I just found it odd that Mrs. Bush would not “allow” any of the staff to speak bad of the Clinton’s yet the author has free reign to add bits in, where some really didn’t have anything to do with the story being told.
It is sort of like bashing the other side makes your “side” appear better, when in reality the opposite is true. I wish the author had thought before writing, but too little too late.
October 1, 2008
A decent biography. I kept feeling like I wanted more in-depth reporting, but considering Laura Bush's ladylike personality, I imagine writing more would've been completely impossible as she is not one to kiss and tell (so to speak). At times the writing seemed disjointed. Still, this book helped me appreciate the First Couple a bit more.
June 7, 2010
Just finished this and I can't exactly say it was a page turner. I learned a few interesting things including the fact that she had to pay for her own clothes and hair while she was the first Lady. She talks much of her relationship with other spouses of world leaders, particularly Vladmir Putin's wife. She never really gives you any sense of what keeps her up at night.
February 27, 2018
This was a very insightful book. It explained the differences between her and her husband.
November 2, 2010
This is a very nice companion read to Laura Bush's autobiography, Spoken from the Heart. In that book Laura, being the humble, unassuming person that she is, did not give glowing accounts of herself. But in this book, Kessler interviews her friends, family and professional associates and they certainly did spoke most highly of her in every way possible. They talked openly and honestly about how calm, serene and dignified she is, yet spoke of her also as fun, friendly, open and honest.
This account gives a brief background of her early years and then concentrates on her life in the public arena - a life that she did not willingly choose for herself, but one that she willingly accepted as important to her husband. And her role of support and wise counsel to her husband is one that she assumed quietly. This book especially gives her great credit for taking on some very basic issues during her White House years and making a significant impact whether it be for support of Afghan women or raising the awareness of books through her initiative, the National Book Festival. As an avid reader, I certainly appreciate her public support for books, reading and all things literary.
Without question, Laura Bush is simply my favorite first lady, my favorite public figure and is for me a great role model of a great lady - quietly working for her causes, but never asking for popularity and fame.
This account gives a brief background of her early years and then concentrates on her life in the public arena - a life that she did not willingly choose for herself, but one that she willingly accepted as important to her husband. And her role of support and wise counsel to her husband is one that she assumed quietly. This book especially gives her great credit for taking on some very basic issues during her White House years and making a significant impact whether it be for support of Afghan women or raising the awareness of books through her initiative, the National Book Festival. As an avid reader, I certainly appreciate her public support for books, reading and all things literary.
Without question, Laura Bush is simply my favorite first lady, my favorite public figure and is for me a great role model of a great lady - quietly working for her causes, but never asking for popularity and fame.
February 3, 2009
I have never had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Bush and I know this may sound silly, but I've referred to her for years as "my friend, Laura." She always seemed like someone I would enjoy being around—perhaps discussing books with.
After reading this very sympathetic biography, I understand how important her family and friends are to her. She is committed to being a good wife and mother and a loyal friend. She also learned that she can do hard things—teaching in an inner-city school, giving a speech, campaigning successfully for her husband, and touring the Mid-east during tense political times.
Ronald Kessler's biography at times is a little disjointed. He starts a story and I keep waiting for the "punch line" before realizing that he's talking about something else. The last third of the book appeared rushed. At times it seems like the book is a list of which friends she invited to certain functions. Frankly, I could not keep them all straight and most readers will not care who attended a certain White House party, a particular weekend at Camp David, or a relaxing weekend at Crawford Ranch. But overall, I enjoyed this book. Even though she is not really my friend, I feel like I know her a little better.
After reading this very sympathetic biography, I understand how important her family and friends are to her. She is committed to being a good wife and mother and a loyal friend. She also learned that she can do hard things—teaching in an inner-city school, giving a speech, campaigning successfully for her husband, and touring the Mid-east during tense political times.
Ronald Kessler's biography at times is a little disjointed. He starts a story and I keep waiting for the "punch line" before realizing that he's talking about something else. The last third of the book appeared rushed. At times it seems like the book is a list of which friends she invited to certain functions. Frankly, I could not keep them all straight and most readers will not care who attended a certain White House party, a particular weekend at Camp David, or a relaxing weekend at Crawford Ranch. But overall, I enjoyed this book. Even though she is not really my friend, I feel like I know her a little better.
September 16, 2016
I think Mrs. Bush's story is incredibly interesting. Having said that I did not enjoy the format of the book. I felt like I got whiplash from trying to keep up with the timeline. The author did bounce around seemingly aimlessly. On another note, I coincidently listened to American Wife on audiobook just prior to this book, and contrary to what other readers have said I do not see any similarities between the two ladies at all. One last note, if you are looking for a non-political book on Mrs. Bush, then this might not be the book for you. The author definitely has an agenda, and at times says things about people other than the Bush family that I don't think are in very good taste regardless of whether I like them or not. The book I really wanted to read was the autobiography on Mrs. Bush, but this book was all that the library here carried. I did learn a lot about her, and that was the main objective.
November 10, 2009
Would recommend: Yes
I borrowed this biography from the library after reading American Wife, by Curtis Sittenfeld, because it was one of the first books listed in the acknowledgments section. I enjoyed seeing the parallels between the novel and the biography, and I think Ronald Kessler did a nice job giving dimension to Laura and George W. Bush. I really liked reading about their lives before the two presidential terms. However, once Bush's presidency started, everything started to blur for me. The anecdotes didn't seem as tight or interrelated, and I got all the names mixed up. The last quarter of the book was much less interesting to me, even though it probably should have been the most relevant. Overall, I liked this book very much, and I'm glad I read it after I read Sittenfeld's novel, rather than the other way around.
I borrowed this biography from the library after reading American Wife, by Curtis Sittenfeld, because it was one of the first books listed in the acknowledgments section. I enjoyed seeing the parallels between the novel and the biography, and I think Ronald Kessler did a nice job giving dimension to Laura and George W. Bush. I really liked reading about their lives before the two presidential terms. However, once Bush's presidency started, everything started to blur for me. The anecdotes didn't seem as tight or interrelated, and I got all the names mixed up. The last quarter of the book was much less interesting to me, even though it probably should have been the most relevant. Overall, I liked this book very much, and I'm glad I read it after I read Sittenfeld's novel, rather than the other way around.
December 19, 2007
I liked this book but it wasn't great. I was wanting some insight to Laura Bush and her marriage. Mr. Kessler didn't do that. He repeated numerous stories that the media had already reported and responding to Kitty Kelley's The Family book. I felt like this book was rushed. He didn't go into a lot of explanation and I felt that her childhood along with the governor years were very glossed over. I wanted Mr. Kessler to talk about the librarian/school teacher years of Laura Bush's life. After reading this book, I wanted to feel like I knew her. Instead I feel like I barely scratched the surface. Some of that may be that Laura Bush is a private person. I don't know. I just had higher expectations after reading some Mr. Kessler's other books and he didn't not fulfill my expectations.
September 23, 2013
Laura Bush certainly did her part to uphold the dignity of the title "First Lady." Supportive wife, gracious hostess, humble leader, loyal friend, she did seem to have it all. Even if the author's approach was a bit sugar-coated, the reader couldn't help but think that was because there was nothing negative to be said! My admiration was already in place, but it increased as I read this book. She is exactly my age, and I find that so much of what she experienced in her youth and high school days mirrored my own - right down to dancing to 45's at every opportunity! The missing last two stars above have nothing to do with Laura, but more to do with the author's style which relied heavily on quotes and included some vignettes that seemed to lack punch.
April 26, 2009
No, I have not gone over to the dark side... :) Just read these books after reading American Wife to see just how closely it followed Laura Bush's life (surprisingly closely, actually...). This one was definitely the more well done biography of the two I read -- Kessler called upon many more sources than did Gerhart, whose work read more like an unauthorized biography of Bush (fun, but a little sensationalistic...). I definitely have far more respect for Laura Bush than I did before reading these three books but still question some of her opinions about education policy (not to mention choice in husband...). Okay, I'll stop. :)
May 23, 2014
So, nothing in this book that will knock your socks off, that I can tell. It seems like it basically answers the question "What do Laura Bush's friends say she was like when she was younger, and what do they say her general outlook is today?"
If that's a question you'd be interested in the answer to, then this is probably a good bio. The one thing that did stand out a little was that it refutes some things in some other less-than-reputable bios such as Kitty Kelley rumormongering.
It's relatively vanilla, and seems to have been developed without any input from the subject. But by chatting with those who have spent time with her, it's a fairly pleasant sort of long essay.
If that's a question you'd be interested in the answer to, then this is probably a good bio. The one thing that did stand out a little was that it refutes some things in some other less-than-reputable bios such as Kitty Kelley rumormongering.
It's relatively vanilla, and seems to have been developed without any input from the subject. But by chatting with those who have spent time with her, it's a fairly pleasant sort of long essay.
September 17, 2009
This book contained many interesting vignettes about the First Lady, but did not seem to have a common purpose. The stories seemed to be snapshots of her life events rather than a linear tale of her life story. Often times the author jumped from date to date or story to story will little explanation. Finally, all information was gleaned from interviews with friends and family - it was disappointing to hear no first hand accounts in this "intimate" portrait.
March 11, 2010
The author seemed to be just streaming quotes and anecdotes together to tell the story of the Bush Family. It was as much about the president as it was about Mrs. Bush. According to the author and others quoted in the book George and Laura were "down to earth" people who don't make themselves seem better than others.
The book was okay, but I found myself falling asleep while reading most of the time. Thankfully, the book wasn't very long.
The book was okay, but I found myself falling asleep while reading most of the time. Thankfully, the book wasn't very long.
July 30, 2011
I did appreciate learning a little more about Mrs. Bush through this book, but was disappointed by the lack of political information and by the occasional slamming of former First Families. I didn't feel like I knew that much more after reading it than I did before because the author seemed to focus completely on her every virtue, with no mention of anything else, so there was no full picture to it.
November 12, 2008
Very bias - but good facts in the book regarding her young life - before "Bushie". Needed to read this after reading American Wife to check out the facts, but after a while could not read any more about the good motives of George...perhaps he had them, but as they say "the road to hell is paved with good intentions".
April 27, 2009
This was a good review of the life of Laura Bush. It clarified lots of
details of her youth, including the car accident when a friend was
killed. It also gave lots of time to her friendships, many from
elementary school through college. The Bushes have a real gift for
long-time friends. I enjoyed the info about the daughters. I switched
from preferring Barbara to liking Jenna.
details of her youth, including the car accident when a friend was
killed. It also gave lots of time to her friendships, many from
elementary school through college. The Bushes have a real gift for
long-time friends. I enjoyed the info about the daughters. I switched
from preferring Barbara to liking Jenna.
October 27, 2009
This has some new perspective to the former first lady; definitely very carefully selected perspective but still new. I enjoyed reading this mostly because you never heard about all of the helpful things Laura Bush has done for libraries, schools, teachers, and reading in general. It is very admirable, whether you agree with her politics or not. Reading should transcend all of that.
September 14, 2009
I learned some things about this classy First Lady, but I was disappointed. I expected it to be an author who has interviewed the First Lady and her actual thoughts and feelings. It was a book based on interviews of those friends that surrounded her throughout her life. Glad I read it but not as good as I was hoping.
August 4, 2011
Nearly finished with this book. A book that accurately describes the former First Lady. This is an easy and enjoyable book. It has just solidified my my already very positive view of this woman who captured the hearts of over 85% of the public. One of the most well-loved First Ladies in U.S. history.
November 29, 2012
I meant to read a different book about Laura Bush and didn't realize it was the wrong one until I was halfway through. This book was OK and I learned a few interesting tidbits but the last half of the book felt disjointed and mundane. I'll be honest... the reason I wanted to read about Laura Bush is because I miss having Republicans in the White House!
May 7, 2013
This is a very interesting book that shows the character of our former First Lady...and a Lady is definitely applicable to her. Ever a fan of hers anyway, this book just provided a more in depth look into her life and experiences as she served our nation. Kudos to Kessler. It held my attention throughout.
September 19, 2013
Just okay. This is the first biography I have read about Laura Bush and while I did learn quite a bit about her the book was not balanced. Even though I am a Republican's Republican I cannot imagine that the only thing less than perfect about Laura Bush is that she used to be a smoker and bums the occasional cigarette.
December 26, 2007
I read/skimmed most of this book at my SIL's house on Christmas Day. I wanted some insight on the First Lady but I found I knew most of what the book had to offer. I like Laura Bush but not all of her ummm "choices," LOL! It was obviously a quick, OK read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews