An Update and a Rare Literary Treat

Sadly, I haven't kept up with my 365. I found some days I was struggling to find something to photograph that would create more than just a picture. Working form home, some days my world is pretty small, which I'm happy with, but that doesn't open up many options for artistic photography.

As for the rare treat part of my title, I have been enjoying an Advanced Reader's Copy of American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld. I won the book on wowOwow.com and I must admit, I am enjoying the chance to read a book before it hits the store shelves. I am hoping to finish American Wife before it is released on 9/2/08, which shouldn't be hard since it is a great read.

American Wife is a novel about the First Lady and the life she has lead. The main character, Alice Blackwell, reflects upon her life and the events that have lead her to where she is now. The book is written in first person which helps to draw the reader in. Sittenfeld has written a wonderful, poignant novel, that draws you in with a very realistic narrative that is at times startlingly graphic. This is one of the best novels I have read recently, I have a hard time putting down.

I should mention that Sittenfeld has revealed that her inspiration for the character of Alice was Laura Bush. She has taken some criticism since this fact was revealed, but as she states in this USA Today article, this is not a biography, it is a work of fiction.

American Wife will be released in hardcover on Tuesday, September 2, 2008.

Related Links
Random House Page for American Wife
American Wife on Amazon.com
wowOwow.com Book Club page