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An entire book of grief of stream of consciousness. I’m bored by even my own stream of consciousness; why would I want to read someone else’s?

What lovely literary construction! The main character goes from referring to “the woman” to “my wife” to her name, very subtly as he describes her. It’s a delight for those paying close attention!

2/2 “But it was delicate. If one corner came untucked, I might discover that I was restless. If another popped loose, it might reveal I was uncertain about the professional path I’d so deliberately put myself on, about all the things I told myself I wanted.”

“Until now, I’d constructed my existence carefully, tucking and folding every loose and disorderly bit of it as if building some tight and airless piece of origami. I had labored over its creation. I was proud of how it looked.” (1/2)

“I understand now that even a happy marriage can be a vexation, that it’s a contract best renewed and renewed again, even quietly and privately — even alone.”

(Is this whole damn book quotable?!)

“Failure is a feeling long before it becomes an actual result. It’s vulnerability that breeds with self-doubt and then is escalated, often deliberately, by fear.”

On speaking like a “white girl:”

“America would bring to Barack Obama the same questions my cousin was unconsciously putting to me that day on the stoop: Are you what you appear to be? Do I trust you or not?”

(It’s harder to save quotes when reading a paper book ... have to do it the old fashioned way.)

“Time, as far as my father was concerned, was a gift you gave to other people.”

Why do so many books use the tired trope of the successful single girl whose love interest is a wealthy, misunderstood man, one who acts like a normal human being, but is considered extraordinary because all wealthy men are supposed to be playboys and jerks? It’s trite. Trusting my literate friends who loved this that this will get better, but I’m thoroughly irritated right now.

This book is such delightful surprise. I expected lightweight, but what I’m getting is deep truth in a sugar coating. Laugh out loud funny and heart-rending veracity in equal measure. This quote crosses national boundaries and decades to get to the heart of class and politics:

Making it worse, her cheeky best friend is telling her NOT TO RUN AWAY WITH THE GUY WHO BROKE HER HEART ONCE. Seriously. Your friends don't like him, he has a bad track record, wants you to be his little wifey and give up your dream, and you can't wait to do it? Good God, I almost ran the car off the road in rage at this turn of events. If this book doesn't end without her leaving his ass, I will be furious!

Follow it up with leaving the rich guy at the altar based on a conversation in front of the church with the poor boy just back from the war. "She was made for family, not a career." zOMG!

I really loved the beginning of this book but it just got dreadful. Firstly, the dreaded love triangle trope with the rich, kind, suave guy vs. the poor, true-hearted guy who has made some mistakes. Ugh. Then, statements like "a woman sees what a man is, and what he can become under her love." OMG.

What has struck me most thus far is how many children these First Ladies have buried -- and not just infants! I don't honestly know how women of those times survived the heartbreak.

Just started this book as part of a global e-book club (http://biglibraryread.com). It combines memoir with Shakespeare, and therefore, tailor-made for me! Free book download through March 31.

Listening gape-mouthed to Christiane Amanpour's life experiences as a war reporter in Bosnia is giving me decades-old fits of anxiety on her behalf. It's so surreal, it's almost like it couldn't be true -- it's more like a movie than real life. Thank goodness there are brave reporters willing to do this important, dangerous work.

Listening gape-mouthed to Christiane Amanpour's life experiences as a war reporter in Bosnia is giving me decades-old fits of anxiety on her behalf. It's so surreal, it's almost like it couldn't be true -- it's more like a movie than real life. Thank goodness there are brave reporters willing to do this important, dangerous work.