Living History

Rating:
Summary: Best work of fiction for the year 2003
Review: This book is the best work of fiction for 2003. Look out Harry Potter fans, this book has more fantasy and whimsical situations than all of the Harry Potter books combined. I give the writers credit for coming up with this book of fantasy. The fantasy and whimsical situations the main character is involved in are hilarious. It is a great book to use as fodder for the fire. If you really want a good laugh listen to the audio version of this book. I am surprised how life like they made the computer voice that is used in audio book. They needed to create the computer voice with some emotions.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoying the LIVING HISTORY
Review: Enjoying the LIVING HISTORY

After I finished LIVING HISTORY (author : Hillary Rodham Clinton, ... my first reaction was, the title and the cover of the book is wrong. The cover shows the lady who happened to be the US First lady at a time when there generated a crisis in White House and the lady had active role in it. Such a situation naturally indicates the lady herself is the living history. As a matter of fact she is not. In the book there are travelogue-type narration's of how the lady lived and saw lives to live in and around the White House. Are these so rare items to know ? Cannot we know these from other sources ? Is there any specialty in narration, does it help the readers to achieve a new vision ? "No". And there lies the failure of this so well publicized book. Well, the laymen may have ample interest to 'see' white house through her eyes, but for a pragmatic reader the interest lies knowing unsolved or unknown problems. The book does not show anything like that. A living history may be a plain narration of incidents and topics worth of being part of history. But none of the topics discussed possess that quality.

Evaluating LIVING HISTORY.

We know, at times the writers write books with biasness, i.e. for some motivated purpose. For example Indian writer late Nirod C. Chowdhury wrote a number of books (Atmaghati Bangalee, Atmaghati Rabindranath etc.) in which he wrote ills of the Indians, Rabindranath and the Bangalees. At that time he lived in UK and was aware, neither UK govt. nor her people could tolerate India, their ex-colony. Naturally, they praised the books, but those could not find market among the unbiased people. There are opposite streams also. MaryAnn's DRUMLIME MIGRATION, that narrates the brutal torture of the Bangalees in the hands of the Pakistanis was rejected by the Pakistanis for obvious reasons. (Whenever they get a chance the Pakistanis refute their association with the atrocities they did during Liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971).

The excellence of a book lies deep inside that even learned readers may need time to discover, immediate reactions of the readers do not always reflect the truth. Hillary's book came to the market with much of sound and light to blind-fold and dumb-founded the ordinary readers. Such actions naturally misguide the readers in evaluating books, specially the one that claims itself to have been the 'living history'. Evaluation of literature is a crucial matter and with talent it needs time.

I have an observation about the title of the book. I cannot understand what prompted her to use this big name. Is she aware of the literal meaning of "Living History" ? Is there any reason to call this book by this name ? was not a sober and humbler name better-suited ?

In US election the presidents win the post by big money, big sound and bright light. Big media's do this unfair (even though they call it 'fair') job. In the same way, it may be possible for them to make a book 'best-seller'. 'Literary excellence' however, is a completely different and I am sorry to say, I could not find much of it in Hillary's book, specially the one that appeared with such a big name. Till I shall wait with interest to see what and how far the medias can do in this matter.

Sree Arup Ratan Goswami.
Howrah, Kolkata.

Rating:
Summary: Hillary Unmasked
Review: For anyone with an interest in politics, this book is a must read. Partisanship aside, Hillary's account of her scandal-filled White House years is very interesting. Whether or not Hillary lied in writing her book is up to you as a reader to decide, not for me to enforce my political views through a book review.

However, Senator Clinton gives a very detailed account of her years spent in Washington and those beforehand. Ms. Clinton seems to have been in the right place at the right time for most of the beginning of her life. She grew up in an important generation where the times were changing for women. I disagree with one reviewer who said Hillary never had a true position on any issues. On the contrary, it seems Hillary felt passionate about many issues globally and domestically.

Hillary takes the gloves off and lets her guard down in this novel. It is truly moving to read about her anguish while her husband was in office. Her role as First Lady was a 24 hour job. She had to deal with many personal losses as well as fatigue and scandals that plagued the Clinton administration while continuing to do her job and not giving in or giving up. To add to all of that, she was and still is constantly in the public light; this only magnified anything that Hillary experienced.

Senator Clinton was faced with a challenge to juggle the traditional role of First Lady with a more modern active twist. Whether or not one may agree with Hillary's active role in the Clinton administration, this book should still be read. Decide for yourself the validity of her statements; don't let a book review influence you becaues of a political party affiliation. Hillary wrote a compelling biography that had me wanting to read more and had me reading it every spare chance I got, not because I wanted to be put asleep. Republicans and Democrats share this book alike to see how a true icon (positive or negative) of the 20th Century felt about her job.

Rating:
Summary: What a full and exciting life she has led
Review: I found this book:
a) Engaging
b) Insightful
c) Inspiring
d) All of the above

ANSWER: ALL OF THE ABOVE

I regularly read biographies and memoirs for the reasons listed above. This book has it all. I didn't know much about Hillary Clinton before, but I do now.

The real bonus for me: She is able to lovingly recall stories of her family's previous generations. How lucky.

Rating:
Summary: A very interesting journey into the Clinton legacy
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Hillary has done a great job of bringing the reader into her mindset as events unfolded. Her love for Bill and Chelsea is clear.

It's unfortunate that people have chosen to cloud their reviews with lingering dislike of Hillary and Bill Clinton. As she mentions in the book, Jackie Kennedy told her early on that charismatic politicians are magnets for hatred - and warned Hillary to be careful.

This book is not mean-spirited, although she certainly has the right to be bitter after everything. It's a good read and provides a new perspective on the Clintons that hasn't been available previously.

Rating:
Summary: Fact or Fiction ?
Review: LIVING HISTORY : Fact or Fiction ?

I don't think I am in a position to review Hillary Clinton's recently published book "LIVING HISTORY". After reading the book and numerous reviews/comments my first question was "Whether it is a fact or fiction". Being away from USA I know much less about USA and I rely upon the comments of US citizens. Based on their comments and from the few anomalies that I noticed between my acquired information and that supplied in this book I have to opine, "the book does not reveal facts". A book needs certain qualities to become fiction. The most essential quality of fiction is, after finishing it the reader must feel something positive about some of the topics discussed in the book. I did not notice anything of that sort. After finishing the book none of USA (as a political entity), US government, US President, or the post of First lady appears in the mind of the reader with a new or brighter dimension. The information supplied are the same as one knows from other sources. There is no analysis of the situation or no suggestion for improvement. The language of course fluent and good. But the narration is close to those by the journalists. Probably Mrs. Hillary hired services of journalists. In that case I have a suggestion. The journalists could have verified the information from genuine sources and could raise it to the status of facts. In that case no one would look for language or type of narration, but it would become a part of US history. Loosing the qualities of both fact and fiction the book has turned into a pass-time book. I know the story of the president or first lady is one of the most attractive items for the common US citizens. I won't wonder if this books to turn to a popular pass-time material at home and abroad.
...

Rating:
Summary: Future US resident ?
Review: LIVING HISTORY : Future US President ?

I want to express my thoughts on the book "LIVING HISTORY" (author : Hillary Clinton) from the angle, how far it was essential to write this book. The leaned persons write books such that people can acquire knowledge. This is not that type. It is not a fiction either. There are numerous sources that say how things happen in the white house and around. Information presented in LH are not dependable even. Some people write books for earning money. The author of LH is not in that state. Some write to become famous, the author is already famous. So, the natural question is, what prompted the author to write this book ?

The simple answer that even a boy knows (be it a fact or not) is, she wants to become US president. Whoever may like it or not, the author is free to do it. But as soon as some one writes with this secret intention in mind, she places her 'work' to have been evaluated by another criteria. This criteria is, the work reflects the minds and capability of future US president. By this time we know, the US president is the most important person in this world. And knowing his/her mind and capability is the sacred duty for all. By that consideration the book will dishearten any reader, whether at home or abroad. How can a person of that status present such untrue information ? How can the writings of the man of that level be so 'easy going' ? How can his/her vision be so 'short' ? Why is this 'popularity-earning' tendency in his/her writing ? Where is the depth of thinking of a president ?

And there are more important questions also. The author's husband's tenure, specially during the closing years were full of events with crucial importance. At that juncture the author played significant role. This book could have been an attempt to present logical explanations to those of her activities. Unfortunately, the accounts presented in the book not only failed to justify those activities, on the other hand turned some more 'hilarious' (sorry, no relation with Hillary). The more the book will be read all over the world the more people will feel, they want to see a much better and more responsible person as the US President.
Jon...

Rating:
Summary: Emphasis on the "Living"
Review: She is a woman; she writes like a woman; she tells us what it was like to have lived towards and through eight years as a presidential spouse, having been thoroughly competent and independent before--and now after--having lived as the spouse of an extraordinary citizen. I enjoyed reading the book, enjoyed feeling her communication of a mid-western mainstream Protestant upbringing (an ethos similar to mine), and especially enjoyed her responses to the most severe criticisms of her husband's and her eight year tenure as President and First Lady. Despite what I read above, I do believe that these responses are "new stuff." I do believe that they are credible and I do believe that such information is long overdue--in fact a revealing condemnation of the state of our current "news" media.

Rating:
Summary: Let the fawning admiration begin.
Review: This book represents HRC's re-entry into the public view.
It was accompanied by fawning admiration by many in the media.
Ghost-written, it attempts to evoke sympathy for the 'woman scorned'. This, it is hoped, will whisk her off to the White House in 2008.
Those who want to see a(n other) socialist in the Oval Office will welcome her book. Those who dread seeing the tenets of radical leftism lived day by day in the highest office of the land will criticize her book.

Rating:
Summary: I'm Glad I Borrowed This One
Review: One of the most 'vanilla' books ever written by any politician anywhere at any moment in world history. This book is an obvious jumpstart to her 2008 Presidential campaign: Throw out a few small bones, lightly cover the scandals, set up the victim role and move forward through the backwater of the past.

"Furious" to hear of Bill's indescretions with Monica? What an insult to any reader with a sliver of historical knowledge and common sense. There are many other examples of her 'shock and dismay' over events during the Clinton years: Whitewater, Travelgate, Mark Rich, insider stock trading, etc. Hillary, please, you insult us with your attempts at being above the fray when you were often in the middle of it.

As we close in on 2008 I can hear it now about any question she's not comfortable with: "I won't go into further discussion on that topic...I covered it in my book."

I do not like-but respect-the political saavy of Senator Clinton. There are a few insights into the daily inner workings of the White House that are intriguing and informative. However, this book is nothing more than an attempt to smooth out and gloss over the events that the general public already knows about in order to clean her plate for the '08 run. Anyone who can't see this is naive at best, smitten by the Clinton bug at worst.

Not only is this 'history' completely bland, but most importantly, it's questionable in its veracity and authorship. Once again, the Clinton dodging techniques are front and center. This book belongs in the "let's sugarcoat reality in order to gain future political traction" category. Where's the section on eight solid years of disrespect to the military-even those excellent men and women who served long stints in the White House and on Air Force One? But I digress-check out "Dereliction of Duty: The Eyewitness Account of How Bill Clinton Endangered America's Long-Term National Security" for that info.

There is very little substansive reason to buy this book unless you're a die-hard Hillary fan.