Rodham is a novel written by bestselling author Curtis Sittenfeld, published in 2020.
Rodham was a New York Times bestseller and named one of the best books of the year by The New Yorker, The Washington Post, Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan.
I’ve read Romantic Comedy and Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld and enjoyed them both so I sought out Rodham. Despite not having a strong opinion either way on Hillary Clinton, I wanted to read this book because I’d enjoyed the author’s other works.
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Plot
Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld is a fictional reimagining of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s life if she had not married Bill Clinton.
In this alternate reality, after a passionate and intellectually stimulating relationship in law school, Hillary chooses a different path and rejects Bill’s proposal. The novel follows Hillary’s journey over four decades as she forges her own career and life.
Rodham Book Review
It initially felt extremely strange to be reading a fictional novel about someone who not only is a real person, but is also still very much alive. It made me feel slightly uncomfortable at times, especially during the romance scenes. Do I want to read about Hillary and Bill Clinton’s sex life? No. No I do not.
However I really liked how this alternate story was told. Curtis Sittenfeld weaves together real historical events with her own fictional twists seamlessly. The political drama and intrigue kept me turning the pages and I was genuinely invested in Hillary’s journey.
Rodham was the first alternate history book I’ve read and I did find it really interesting. It was like looking into a parallel universe of American politics.
One thing I enjoyed about this book is the way Sittenfeld crafts Hillary’s character. She feels incredibly real, which of course she is! The decisions she makes seem realistic and you get to see her navigate the complexities of power, ambition, and her own personal choices. It’s a character-driven narrative, and you can’t help but root for Hillary as she makes her mark on the political stage.
Despite being fiction, the unfair standards that women in political life are held to really resonated. It was infuriating to read about the misogyny and underhand tactics Hillary had to deal with.
If I’m honest I think I preferred the earlier parts of the book to the second half but again, that is more to do with the my own uneasiness of reading fiction about someone real.
Overall, I found Rodham to be a thought-provoking, well-written piece of alternative history fiction. It’s a fascinating exploration of what could have been, and it left me pondering the impact of personal choices on the course of history. However I do think there are moral complexities that need to be considered when it comes to writing fiction about a person who is very much real.
What to read next
If you enjoyed Rodham, I’d suggest reading more books by Curis Sittenfeld. I particularly enjoyed Romantic Comedy and Eligible.
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