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.

[MeekOneGOP]

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.

From the comments made by Bill O'Reilly on FOX News, he says that she did NOT write the book. He claims that she edited what was given to her to review and made changes. He says that is NOT writing. The book is a sham, if he's right in what he said. I don't know if he is or not, but wouldn't be surprised based on what I've seen of bill and hill over the years!

[MeekOneGOP]

[MeekOneGOP]

LOL! I would be afraid even touching it would give me Cooties!

LOL !

Uh, haz anybahdy
seed hillary ??

More bump images HERE !

[mathluv]

I was in Sam's yesterday. They had a big display - similar to Grisham or Clancy - even CDs.

Thanks for your input. I did not even want to touch it.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I was wondering if you wasted money on this toilet paper

It can't be toilet paper, unless they're manufacturing it pre-loaded now.

[yoe]

I always knew my beloved husband was a liar and an adulterer, but he had that amazing animal magnetism, and I really dug that as a more intellectual type. And he had such incredible people skills, he could make anyone think he cared!

Something akin to pulp fiction, the choice of words straight out of some movie tabloid...you-know-whating unbelievable!

[gridlock]

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

Spam in a Can.

[RonDog]

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

...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...

See also:

ANN COULTER's new book:
to be released JUNE 24 2003!

(You can pre-order it NOW at amazon.com)

[daviddennis]

I doubt this, because it does contain her personal feelings. Or, to be more accurate, what she wants the world to feel her personal feelings are.

I can imagine this being written around a conference table with her ghost(s), Bill Clinton and a whole bunch of other advisors. She might throw out her genuine feelings, or at least what she wants Bill & crew to think her genuine feelings are.

Hillary: I really hated living in that hick burg.

Bill: We can't say that! What about my legacy as governor? What about the Arkansas vote?

So she'd tone it down to nothing. It's a very calculating work, and in that sense it expresses her personality perfectly.

She could hardly have written a worse book from the viewpoint of her Presidential aspirations. It makes her look calculating and manipulative, and I don't think we want a calculating and manipulative President. It seems like a particularly bad contrast to George W Bush.

I think it's a big setback for her, and we should not hesitate to give her, um, credit for it.

D

[lonestar]

I agree with you.

The Clintons need the American people to feed their egos and to support them.

The country does NOT need the Clintons.

[txzman]

I loved this quote from today's Washington Post story on Hillary:

But we just caught the New York senator on TV at a bookstore signing, saying that her husband helped her with the draft – presumably including the parts where she describes what a cad he was and how she wasn't sure she wanted to stay married to him and how the only family member who would hang with him was Buddy the dog.

Is this getting weird or what?

LOL! Even the Post understands!!

[MeekOneGOP]

I don't think she'll run in 2004. Think about it: Hillary in debate with Dubya ? She barely takes on the softball interviews now. The 'Dummy' Bush can take easily handle the 'Smartest Woman in the World'.

I won't discount her running in 2008 just yet, though.

[TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!]

The Wash Compost recognizes a team effort in the art of evil manipulation bull $hit...The Criminal duo Clinton's did this to further their communistic progressive causes and one day be President of the U.S and President of the U.N.

[DLfromthedesert]

Fortunately, she's not coming anywhere near where I live.

I'm looking forward to Barbara Bush's new book which should be coming out this fall. I's written by her, and, as I've heard a lot more interesting.

She actually exposes a LOT of people and the lawyers for the book editors are going nuts, so you know it should be worth reading, as opposed to "Her Phoniness".

Thanks, dd, for doing the work I would never do; and thanks, RonDog, for the flag.

[bmwcyle]

She is coming here tomorrow and the chant of "LIES" will fill the air.

[redhead]

"Hillary Clinton is pure ambition. She's about as lousy a wife and mother as Bill is a lousy husband and father. 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 think the blame for the nature of their relationship is split evenly between them both. D"

You hit the nail right on the head with this one! Go to my blogspot and check out the entry for June 09, 2003. I'm with you!

[CyberAnt]

I already know more about her than I care to know - why would I bother to spend my money to read "her" whitewashed version??

[BradyLS]

It's like walking through Hillary's Haunted House! Be neat if her visage on the book cover morphed into a skull and back...

[let freedom sing]

Hilly's book belongs in the FICTION section.

[let freedom sing]

Hilly's book belongs in the FICTION section.