Rodham: The SUNDAY TIMES bestseller asking: What if Hillary hadn't married Bill?

I am a big fan of Curtis Sittenfeld and particularly love American Wife, so I had this on pre-order from February as it wasn’t published until July here in the UK.I wasn’t disappointed; however, I amgoing to try and say what I think of the book in a spoiler free way.The obvious question that Sittenfeld explores in this novel is the one on the front cover — what if Hillary hadn’t married Bill? She does this by creating an alternative history with many of the same characters popping up, but not with the expected outcomes. And that’s what is so thought provoking about this book.First of all, the character of Hillary comes across really well. Her geekiness, and her fierce intelligence, but also her refusal to play the part American society, or at least, some sections of it, appears to expect her to play. Her humanity: “I wondered, as I almost never did any more, if I had kissed a man on the lips for the last time.” And the brutality of life in the public gaze: “ who would want to date a woman whose likeness was replicated in nutcrackers?” This is a woman who confesses she finds dating apps “anthropologically fascinating”, and is excited in a sometimes naive way by interest shown in her by men. I found this imaginative exploration of character really absorbing.And then there’s Bill, and Barack, and Donald. All play parts in this book to a greater or lesser extent - but not necessarily in the way you might predict. And that’s what makes this book so thought provoking. What if, indeed?The characters sing off the page — particularly Trump, you can hear his voice as you read his words.I’m not wholly sure which bits of history are real in the book, but Sittenfeld does give examples of the speeches that are authentic at the end of the book, and some of the speeches I recognised. But there is one event that is central to the plot that I didn’t expect, and can’t believe happened in real life. However there are plenty of examples of the pettinesses of the way female politicians are treated in the US that made me think about how far we still have to go in terms of equality. The race issue is also dealt with in a way that makes Hillary look thoughtless.What I took from the book was a realisation of how an alternative his-story could have been written. It’s only when you see the way the characters behave in fiction that you re-visit the way they behaved in real life, and reappraise your thoughts.I don’t know if some people might find the book too political - it’s certainly more political than American Wife, for example, but just how could you write an alternative version of Hillary’s history without being political in some way?An absorbing and thought provoking novel. I would recommend it.

Rodham, Curtis Sittenfeld. 4/5. 🏛What if Hillary hadn’t married Bill?They meet, they date, they fall in love. But Hillary turns down his proposal and the rest isn’t history. Curtis explores how the landscape of American politics may have looked if Hillary Rodham had never become a Clinton.I really enjoy Curtis Sittenfelds’ work, her female characters are always so well explored and written. Rodham is absolutely fascinating, a constant inner monologue and alternate history where Hillary Rodham would still have excelled WITHOUT Bill, she is far more extraordinary than he. (I won’t debate this, he may have been president but she was always more qualified for it).Over the years Hillary has presented a controversial figure to many but I love an unapologetic woman & the final pages of this present a real “if only” moment. Really striking. Strong prose, well crafted, i savoured every word.Instagram: @laurenslittlebookcase

I loved the innocent and sense of purpose of young Hillary. Her character was resolute and only briefly shaken by her love for Bill Clinton.Along with the personal aspects, the political developments were engaging. Some very effective satire.

It was slightly irritating in that it suggested ideas about what Hilary’slife would have been had she not married Bill Clinton, buti can believe her drawingof the characters and the conclusion to be very close to being believable.

I thought it was a good read howeverI didn't particularly enjoy the first 25% of the novel.