FREEPER REVIEW: Hillary's new book, 'Living History'

Self | 06/09/02 | David H Dennis

[daviddennis]

According to a friend of mine who reads scripts for a living, you can tell whether a script will be decent or not by simply reading the first few pages. "I don't know of any film that's been able to salvage a bad first act," she said.

It is in this spirit that I picked up Hillary's book in Borders this afternoon. I think it's safe to say that you'd have to idolize Hillary to get through it without falling asleep.

Rrom the first sentence on, it reads like a whitewashed memoir, perhaps of the head of some bland corporation. Hillary has had a pretty interesting life, as these things go, but she is so determined not to burn any bridges that she's sucked all possible life out of the narrative.

The analysis I've read of the book here on FR makes me all too aware that this is essentially a work of fiction. If you actually think she believed Clinton's denials about Monica, well I have a nice bridge I can sell you on an easy payment plan.

So the only thing that could salvage it is if it was an entertaining read. But it feels like it was written by someone who'd ghost-written biographies of particularly dull corporate executives, using the drab style corporations love, and then sent to the Board of Directors for vetting by ten different people.

What's left has been squeezed hard and tight of any form of brilliance or eloquence.

This is not based on any extensive examination, but I gave it a nice 20-page best shot, flipping all over the place. Bland, bland, bland.

Then I put it back on the shelf. I don't think the bookstore's sold any copies, even at the usual promotion of 30% off. They had a display with about 20 copies in the front that I walked right past without noticing. So I don't think Borders is expecting blockbuster sales of the thing. Certainly nothing like the Harry Potter Midnight Madness that was being promoted all over the place.

One thing that does seem to have been missed in the enthusiasm for the confession of Bill's adultery is that yes, she is continuing to stand behind Bill. She says several times that the relationship will continue, that this is yet another exciting chapter in it, and so on and on. You can read this for yourself in the chapter covering their wedding. Something like this: "Many people have asked why I stay with Bill ... he's the most magnetic and compelling man I've ever met ... looking forward to more exciting chapters in our life together ...".

So for those of you who are expecting an immediate divorce, don't count on it. It is my belief that Hillary has personal characteristics Bill needs and vice versa; they are much more valuable as a team than separate. They can't get along with each other, but they do need each other, in their own tortured dysfunctional way.

I would recommend this book only to masochists and insomniacs.

Hope this helps.

[MEG33]

I hear the NYT panned the book.Is anyone able to link to this earthshaking event?Thanks for providing your insight.

[MEG33]

I just found it posted!

[sten]

You want to know something that I just now realized... the title of the book. I have deliberately been avoiding the cover as a course of habit. I guess I had also subconsciously blocked out the title. Then all of a sudden, as I scrolled through the current articles, I happened to read the title...

OMG... what an elitist b*tch. She has a bunch of flunkies write an autobiography about her, then dares call HER life some sort of "living history." I mean, come on. WTF has she actually done, prior to buying/receiving the senate seat in NY? I mean really. What job has she had? What positions has she been appointed to where she had to be scruntinized by anyone? Name just ONE. (And don't try to tell me the senate race was for real... I mean please...)

If anyone were to deserve a book talking about history making, it wouldn't be some power-hungry, raving, elitist, racist, half-wife. I'd have to commend Bill LONG before I'd even start to consider her.

I am just stunned by the ego.

[The Westerner]

I was being sarcastic. But I do mean she's a bore. A mendacious bore.

[MEG33]

Bill was the rocket..she's in the capsule Chris Matthews said.

[daviddennis]

For the benefit of anyone else reading this, here's the thread with the NYT Review. Looks like they wasted their time going through the whole thing; their conclusion differs little from mine and I did it after spending only 20 minutes with the book :-).

D

[goldstategop]

She reminds one of some beautiful women who act like a goddess and who can do no wrong in any one's eyes. You know, the supermodel type with a huge ego who thinks she's God's gift to men. Hillary's exactly like that and her beauty doesn't even compensate for her overbearing arrogance.

[MEG33]

You didn't have to suffer as much,though!

[sten]

umm... what beauty? The bulging eye thing is definitely out (except for Mel Brooks movies)

[Swordmaker]

The only review I want to hear about this book is how soft are the pages and are they suitable for use in the bathroom?

I figure there will be tons of them on the remainder shelves in a few weeks and I could get some really inexpensive toilet paper if the quality of the paper is soft enough...

On the other hand, if the paper matches the abrasive nature of the author, perhaps the pages could be used for refinish sanding of old government issue oak desks.

[Movemout]

I am an insomniac but I would never read the book. Hillary's version of history is not even vaguely interesting to me.

[RonDog]

LOL!!

Thank you for reading her book, so that WE do not have to!

We can, however, all FReep her.

See also:

Hillary Clinton Book Tour Calendar--
Freep Her Heinous Coast to Coast This Summer
The Internet | Monday, June 9, 2003 | Kristinn

Posted on 06/09/2003 6:47 PM PDT by kristinn

Summer's here and the time is right for freeping in the streets!

Former First Lady, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton ('Rat-NY) will be touring the country this summer promoting her memoirs, Living History.

FReepers from coast to coast will have the opportunity to exercise their First Amendment rights to peaceably assemble and freep her like a rented mule.

This calendar guide has been created from news accounts and store announcements. It is accurate as of this date, but subject to change. Once posted, it will be up to local freepers to confirm the information close to the day of the event.

11 a.m. Monday, June 9. Barnes and Noble at Rockefeller Center, New York City, NY.
7 p.m. Wednesday, June 11. Wal-Mart, Fairfax, VA.
Noon, June 12. Trover Books, 221 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, Washington, D.C.
Saturday, June 14. Chappaqua Public Library, Chappaqua, NY
Monday, June 23. Barnes and Noble at White Marsh, brBaltimore, MD.
Tuesday, June 24. Book Revue, Huntington, Long Island, NY.
4 p.m. Saturday, June 28. Bookpassage, Corte Madera, CA.
11 a.m. Sunday, June 29. Vroman's Books, Pasadena, CA.
3 p.m. Saturday, July 11. Bookends, Ridgewood, NJ.
10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 26. That Bookstore in Blytheville, Blytheville, AR.
5:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 12. Rainy Day Books, Fairway, KS.
Wednesday, August 13. Joseph-Beth Books, Shaker Square, Cleveland, OH.

Have fun, but play safely and obey the law.

Please feel free to add additional events to this thread.

-- snip --

See also, from http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Hills/8944/:

Hillary Clinton, Senator and former First Lady, signing copies of Living History

• 6/9/03 11:00 AM at Barnes & Noble – Fifth Ave. New York, NY.
• 6/13/03 7:00 PM at Borders Books - S. Broadway. White Plains, NY.
• 6/16/03 1:00 PM at Hue-Man Bookstore - Frederick Douglass Blvd. New York, NY.
• 6/20/03 7:00 PM at Book Revue - New York Ave. Huntington, NY.
• 6/23/03 12:30 PM at Borders Books - Walnut Street. Philadelphia, PA.
• 6/23/03 7:00 PM at Barnes & Noble – Honeygo Blvd. Baltimore, MD.
• 6/28/03 4:00 PM at Book Passage - Tamal Vista Blvd. Corte Madera, CA.
• 6/29/03 11:00 AM at Vroman’s Bookstore - E. Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA.
• 7/11/03 3:00 PM at Bookends - E. Ridgewood Ave. Ridgewood, NJ.
• 8/12/03 5:30 PM at Left Bank Books - North Euclid. St. Louis, MO.

[RonDog]

See also, from:

Caption This: Hillary at Book Signing ...
Posted on 06/09/2003 5:47 PM PDT by rs79bm

-- snip --

To: rs79bm

The Magic of Botox

Before:

After:

67 posted on 06/09/2003 6:41 PM PDT by Bubba_Leroy

-- snip --

To: InvisibleChurch

If she doctored the cover, what do you think she did to the content?

75 posted on 06/09/2003 6:56 PM PDT by umgud (gov't has more money than it needs, but never as much as it wants)

CLICK HERE for the rest of that thread

[RonDog]

See also:

How to properly merchandise Hillary Clinton's new book...(255k)
Registered ^ | 06.09.03 | Registered

Posted on 06/09/2003 4:07 PM PDT by Registered

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[AmericanMade1776]

Funnyyyyyyyyyyyy, didn't Hillary co author the HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT A PENIS?

[LauraJean]

I have to agree with you. I had to get the book ready for my library yesterday. It reads as if it had been written and edited by a committee. It was lifeless and bland. There was nothing to make me want to continue reading.

[grumple]

All one has to do is look at the cover and realize it is a lie. Hillary looks nothing like her dolled up beautification.

Lies upon lies

[Valin]

Come on, how do you REALLY feel? :-)

[abner]

Thanks for the ping. I have been watching all of the Hillaballoo with great interest and forboding. I won't be buying the book or even FReeping her book signings. The people going to her book signings are a lost cause.

I will be buying Treason, by Ann Coulter though....

I also need to save my energy for when she finally runs.

In the mean time, anyone that would like a bumper sticker that says: WHY WON'T HILLARY HELP A RAPE VICTIM? can send me a SASE to Abner Po Box 55, Uwchland, Pa 19480 These can be placed on bumpers or wherever needed.

[Carry_Okie]

I think she knew what she was getting into from the start ... but she knew riding him to power was the one way she could achieve her ambition.

I compensate myself for listening to this viscious bitch by imagining what she had to do in college to land her buddy Bill.