Book Review: White Houses by Amy Bloom

I don't read lots of Historical Fiction but once in a bloom comes something that intrigues me and then I pick it up and I read it and then I...well, let's review it.


White Houses by Amy Bloom

From GoodReads:

Lorena Hickok meets Eleanor Roosevelt in 1932 while reporting on Franklin Roosevelt's first presidential campaign. Having grown up worse than poor in South Dakota and reinvented herself as the most prominent woman reporter in America, "Hick," as she's known to her friends and admirers, is not quite instantly charmed by the idealistic, patrician Eleanor. But then, as her connection with the future first lady deepens into intimacy, what begins as a powerful passion matures into a lasting love, and a life that Hick never expected to have. She moves into the White House, where her status as "first friend" is an open secret, as are FDR's own lovers. After she takes a job in the Roosevelt administration, promoting and protecting both Roosevelts, she comes to know Franklin not only as a great president but as a complicated rival and an irresistible friend, capable of changing lives even after his death. Through it all, even as Hick's bond with Eleanor is tested by forces both extraordinary and common, and as she grows as a woman and a writer, she never loses sight of the love of her life.
From Washington, D.C. to Hyde Park, from a little white house on Long Island to an apartment on Manhattan's Washington Square, Amy Bloom's new novel moves elegantly through fascinating places and times, written in compelling prose and with emotional depth, wit, and acuity.

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Let me start by saying the writing was good, I really enjoyed the writing, but at the same time I want to mention it that it took me a whole week to read this book.  I mean, I tend to read reads in between 2-4 days max but a whole week?  It dragged a little too much, was it me?  Maybe...

I loved the concept of the story line, it was what made it pick up the book and request it from NetGalley (thank you for the early copy) in the first place.  Hick was a character that I don't normally like and don't normally would pick up and enjoy reading from their POV, but I did enjoy when she was talking about her life at the White house, when she would defend the Roosevelts and give her personal opinion about them.  Hick grew up poor but made a name for herself when she became the most prominent woman reporter in America.  She meets Eleanor in 1932 while reporting at the White House while reporting Roosevelts first campaign.  Their friendship matures and they become a lot more than friends.  Hick moves in to the White House has gets the reputation or more like the title of "first friend".    In this novel we get to see Hick's life play out from her time while at the White House, her rival times and friendship with Roosevelt, to her times away from the Roosevelts but never losing sight of them at the same time.  And we get to see what a little white house on Long Island holds to both Eleanor and Hick and at the end you end up wondering if you want it all to be oh so true or not so true.

Bottom line?  The writing was amazing, the story line was there, but it did drag a little...still a great read and I still recommend it.  3.5 stars

XOXO,

Nelia