Hillary's Choice

Rating:
Summary: Biased and Damaging
Review: Believe it or not, I am one of the few in the country that is not intimately familiar with all of the scandals of the Clinton presidency. I had hoped that, in reading this book, I would understand a little bit more in depth what had happened to have the nation in an uproar and gain some valuable insights to Hillary Clinton. Unfortunately, the bias is so evident in this book that I know that I do not have a complete picture as to what actually happened.

In Ms. Sheehy's eyes, Clinton is a proverbial villian and she just assumes everyone else feels the same way too. While she could still present her case against him and not interfere with the integrity of the story, she takes every opportunity to make jibes and call him names. It is hardly objective to call him a philanderer incessantly - whether he is or not. However, the main problem with this attitude is that she lets this get in the way of reporting the evidence fairly. For instance, she makes reference to the stories of the State Trooper's quite frequently. She is overly eager to use their stories against Bill when it concerns his affairs. However, when the same sources indicate that there was an affair with Vince Foster by Hillary, she refutes their legitimacy. Then she goes on to refer to their allegations against Bill, seeming to forget that they also made allegations against Hillary. Which is it? Were they really discredited? Were parts discredited? If so, what parts and how? If they were discredited, why include a remark from an alarmed Bill Clinton to the effect that the AR governor should not be upset because he controls the state police? This only legitimizes their stories which gets us back to, so what's the deal with Vince Foster? As you can see, this book left me with many more questions than were answered.

While I do have a clearer picture of Hillary Clinton, the picture painted of her while in the White House, gives me serious reservation about how she would act if she was actually the President. If this book's assertion that there was really nothing to hide is true, it means that Ms. Clinton can not be trusted to be forthcoming when she believes that the hand is being called - even if she knows she has a winning hand. It would have made more sense to lay out the evidence against her and then give her argument as to specifically why she was withholding evidence. Maybe I could have seen myself doing the same thing if faced with the same situation but this is presented as a woman's grudge against the media for no justifiable reason. Of course, she also nevers really hits the question as to whether records were withheld by Mrs. Clinton. She spends a few paragraphs on the possible reasons an administrative assistant might not come forward with a box if she had been asked to find it and, not finding it, found it under her desk months later. After spending almost a hundred pages on her early life and college years, couldn't we spare a few to address the questions that would undoubtedly be brought up by events during the presidency? It simply doesn' hold water in my opinion. People have to have a reason for doing what they do. Especially people with advisors.

Rating:
Summary: SHE WHO CAUSES WINTER
Review: Generally, I get more out of books written by thoughtful authors such as Ms. Sheehy. An inviting compassion underscores this new work. Yet Ms. Sheehy is not squeamish, probing the times when Hillary is in full battle mode, a truly polarizing figure. The book confirms my sense of Hillary, that she tends to fall prey to duality: Someone is to blame, someone must pay, in order for the good she espouses to materialize. Whenever the book shows Hillary displaying this punitive mind-set, H. reminds me of a line from the Narnia series, by C.S. Lewis, about the ever-shrieking witch character: "IT IS SHE THAT MAKES IT ALWAYS WINTER." As insightful as the book is, my hope is that Ms. Sheehy will write further. To my knowledge, no author as yet has painstakingly dissected the spiritual angle to Hillary's life, which I believe provides clues to her inconsistencies, which her foes interpret as hypocrisy. By implication the book paints Hillary a frustrated closet-seeker. Hillary comes alive, animated when she ponders religion. Yet she seems to take, exude, give, little joy regarding her political work (her power-preaching on social issues is as tedious to her, probably, as it is to me and probably others). Ms. Sheehy's perceptive book causes me to wonder if a sense of weary confusion, and not a true calling, keeps Hillary yoked to politics. In this specific area of spirituality, the book seems incomplete: As a longtime spiritual seeker I recognize Hillary's ongoing series of Dark Nights of the Soul. Years ago, it amazed me that Hillary pursued my beloved mentor, Fr. Henri Nouwen, who died September 1996. Politicizing this, her White House staff asserted afterwards that Fr. Nouwen had agreed to meet Hillary at the White House. Yet from several sources it's clear to me that Fr. N. told his friends that he'd alerted the White House he did not want to advise the White House; be used; or seen to be used, by politicians. (For example.see the last two books by Fr. N's protege, Wayne Muller). Ms. Sheehy's book provides an important basis for examining the spiritual avenue, and the questions it raises: Why would Hillary be interested in a priest who struggled but urged commitment to (1) a forgiving silence against personal attack (Hillary, NOT rebutting?) (2)the necessity to subdue ego (Hillary -- NOT center stage?) (3) being clear and honest, even if that means exposing one's fears and vulnerabiities (Hillary, NOT indulging in lawyerspeak?) and most of all, in leaving behind his intense political activism in Latin America, he stressed in later years the greater usefulness of (4) one-on-one behind the scenes altruism ; a life of prayer, not politics (Hillary -- NOT cheerleading at a rally?) Yes, it could all have been Hillary's ruse to court his favor, though, as the Sheehy's book leads me to believe, Hillary is really struggling with self-awareness, of her heart's authentic desires. An absorbing read.

Rating:
Summary: RECOMMENDED FOR HILLARY WATCHERS
Review: I have had the dubious pleasure of reading and rereading quite a number of works addressing the life and times of Hillary Clinton.
While I am not a great fan of Billie, I must admit to sort of an admiration for Hillary. Be-that-as-it-may, I enjoyed this book. It was well written and I thought pretty well ballanced. Many of the "facts" presented, will have to be tested by time, but for now, I feel they are probably as close to the truth we will get.
Ms Clinton is certainly one of the more fascinating individuals of our times and I am quite sure history will continue to judge her as such. She is an interesting subject. In many ways, she is us. The author of this book is an interesting writer and between the author and the subject, we get a very interesting story. Thank you Ms Gail for writing it.

Rating:
Summary: Same lousy writing and psuedo-psychobabble,
Review: I must really confess that I can,t stand either women, either the author or the Clinton.
When in college I was forced to read the Rhetoric by Aristotle.Thank goodness, he went on and on and on about how a speaker must first establish her/his reputation and give reasons why she/he should be listened to.
Isn,t this the same Gail Sheehey who plagarized (read stole) important parts of her first novel Passages from a UCLA Psychiatry professor who was doing research on the subject.She settled out of court wisely, gave the good Dr. some dough, and must have laughed all the way to the bank.That was a long time ago and like Hilary she thought "wow, I can steal a lot of good stuff, not use some of it, pay the guy off and make a fortune." She has churned out book after book,none very good.She should have gone into politics in another country.Obviously, i was biased against the book but tried hard, really, to see if it had many redeeming qualities.
There is a great deal of factual information about Hilary, her childhood, her relationship with BIll but the interpretations of why she is motivated to do such and such are pretty shabby. I am a psychiatrist and find her attempts at divining both CLinton,s adult personalities from their childhood truamas pathetic guesswork by an amateur. I dont, think the Clinton,s can really stand each other, has anyone seen ANY genuine affection between them for all the time they,ve been on the world stage?They stay together for political and financial reasons and both seem to have very small conscienses while now both getting filthy rich.
Too be totally fair, some parts of the book are very interesting about many factual occurences Mrs.Clinton background but it didn,t change my mind about the author or the politician.

Rating:
Summary: Same lousy writing and psuedo-psychobabble,
Review: In HILLARY'S CHOICE, Mrs Clinton's public persona is presented by the author as that of a brilliant Machiavellian person and a somewhat controlled woman that, at times, (in the subject's private world) can either be vulnerable, cold or insecure. This is a very intimate portrait of one highly fascinating figure, a book that is unafraid to spill the beans and reveal what needs to be known.

The former U.S. First Lady's strengths (and failures) are clearly visible in Gail Sheehy's book. The author's treatment of her subject is rarely objective and unsentimental, and her probing of Hillary's pre-White House years highly fascinating.

Sheehy's treatment of Hillary's 2000 Senatorial race is energetic, well-researched and revealing. Furthermore, the comparison between Guilliani (the initial opponent) and Mrs Clinton is highly intriguing.

Overall, this one is a richly textured, exciting biography, and one that is always provocative. Moreover, Sheehy's work is about the fascinating world and life of a female politician in the Western World, one that still is dominated by traditions and dichotomy.

Rating:
Summary: An exceptional biography
Review: In this book, Mrs Clinton's public persona is presented by the author as Machiavellian and a very controlled person who, at times, (in the subject's private world) can either be vulnerable, cold or insecure.

The former U.S. First Lady's strengths (and failures) are clearly visible in Sheehy's book. The author's treatment of her subject is rarely objective and unsentimental, and her probing of Hillary's pre-White House years fascinating

Sheehy's treatment of Hillary's 2000 Senatorial race is energetic, well-researched and very revealing. Furthermore, the comparison between Guilliani (the initial opponent) and Mrs Clinton is highly intriguing.

Overall, this one is a richly textured, exciting biography, and one that is always provocative. Moreover, Sheehy's work is about the fascinating world and life of a female politician in the Western World, one that still is dominated by traditions and dichotomy.

Rating:
Summary: good book/bad friend
Review: Much as I treasure the right of free speech and a free press in our country, I have real reservations about anyone assigning themselves the job of being the biographer/interpreter of a political figure.

After reading Gail Sheehy's latest book, I've got to say I lost respect for her. Although well-written, as usual, throughout I felt "creepy-crawly" to imagine what a connection would be like with a well-known writer who takes it upon her self to tell us who Hillary Clinton "really is," after establishing a personal friendship with her subject. As a friend, I would never speak to her again again. I would feel most certainly used. I would feel that my life was simply useful to her as a means to exploit me for profit and celebrity. This strong feeling overrode, for me, my appreciation of the book's good writing.

It looks like the book will receive wide reading and recognition. I would say to the reader, keep in mind, this book was written for entertainment and money, disguised as "educational and compassionate." After the flurries settle down, I wish the best possible outcome for Hillary.

Rating:
Summary: A non-fictional account of the Clintons
Review: Read this book and you will understand why Bill and Hillary act as they do. ..... This book is much better than Hillary's fictional account of her life, "Living History". ..... "Hillary's choice is not to know what she knows." ..... A very enlightening account. ...... A "must read".

Rating:
Summary: Just gossip
Review: There are some interesting interviews and selected passages in Gail Sheehy's Hillary' Choice, but on the whole, the book is a slightly more literate National Enquirer tabloid-style trashing of the First Lady and President Clinton. There are a few nods toward the Clintons' great achievements during their 8 years in the White House, but the book is written for the lowest-common denominator among those fascinated by hyperbolic, negatve gossip. The most unconscionable element to the book is its pseudo-psycholanalysis of the Clintons' respective childhood "traumas" and their relationship with one another. It's a ridiculously one-sided and negative interpretation of one of the nation's smartest, most charismatic, and most effective couples.

Rating:
Summary: Why should Sheehy change her stripes?
Review: This book reads like Sheehy's previous attempts at serious writing, breezy, full of pseudo-psychoanalysis, and ultimately not very interesting. What I kept wanting to know is whether Mrs. Clinton is a "Pathfinder" in the same vein as Roger Baldwin. Does she fit into Arnold Toynbee's now completely forgotten and flawed version of history, or perhaps in the same league with Hitler who like so many "towering figures of the 20th century" came back from defeat? Ms. Sheehy's work is full of such unexamined nonsense and this latest book fits perfectly into a genre that is mostly useful as documentation of Ms. Sheehy's intellectual travels through the world of flawed and shallow scholarship. What I want to know is whether Sheehy shared the feminist elite admiration of Hillary in 1992 and only now when the Clinton's have successfully held the white house for 8 years against the real enemy can she move away from unquestioned support to a more "balanced" view of Hillary and Bill. As feminists go, Sheehy's work is shallow and trivial and so predictable. What Sheehy could have addressed is whether Hillary believes that sexual harassment is one of the worst problems in America and whether its worthy of a real feminist to not want to know the truth about matters that were only 10 years ago the most important issues facing the country (according I believe to Sheehy herself). In Sheehy's work, hypocracy, truth telling, feloneous behaviour is never judged, its just part of the growth process. As I mentioned above, in her earlier work, Hitler and Stalin share the same sentence with "towering figures" such as Churchill and Roosevelt. This book continues in the same tradition. Weird psychological analysis substitutes for judgement and truth.