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Theresa_P
Engaging historical novel
American Princess was a delight to read, from beginning to end. I loved the stories of the Roosevelt family dynamics, of the difficulties Alice had in making good friends, and of the sad relationship she had with her husband. This book was good enough to read twice, which I intend to do. It would be a wonderful choice for book club--a good story with good historical background and believable characterizations.
Jeannette H. (Guymon, OK)
Great Story about the Other National Monument!
I very much enjoyed this book! The description of personalities was so vivid and lifelike that I ended up feeling as if I were reading about people I myself had known. Historical fiction lovers will find themselves enjoying a book over a woman who has not been thoroughly written about.
Milda S. (Warwick, NY)
Alice-blue
In Stephanie Marie Thornton’s historical novel The American Princess, Theodore Roosevelt’s first daughter, Alice Roosevelt Longworth comes alive as she reminisces about her life. We can actually feel Alice maturing in her thoughts as we read - although not always in her actions. This page turner is well written and researched.
Alice Roosevelt was a woman who made front page news. When she makes her debut at the White House her sparkling “Alice-blue” gown captures not only Washington’s but the world’s attention. The color “Alice-blue” became the rage of the fashion world.
Trying to capture her Father’s attention, Alice smoked and drank in public, rode in cars with boys and played poker. Once she even jumped in a pool with her clothes on. At a time when women could not vote and were urged to stay in the background, Alice kept on attracting the news media.
It is during a political trip that Alice and congressman Nicholas Longworth became engaged and later married. The marriage was unhappy but divorce was out of the question - even for Alice. It is during this period that Alice became even more involved with politics. She advised her father and set up a political circle inviting like minded Republicans to discuss the issues of the day. Her group tried to influence the government and included women.
Alice experienced health problems and personal heart brakes as she grew older but she kept her sense of humor. The pillow on her couch read: If you haven’t anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me”. At the same time, she also became a noted socialite, politician and writer. Alice died in 1980 at the age of 96 leaving her beloved granddaughter, Joanna. Alice Roosevelt Longworth was the last surviving child of Theodore Roosevelt.
Lloyde_Newman
America's Princess - at her best!
Alice Roosevelt Longworth spent her life searching for her father's love, her husband's and finally found her soul mate with another woman's husband. Look in on Alice as she is guided by her aunt to "love wisely". Her reply is "it is better to love wisely no doubt: but to love foolishly is better than not to be able to love at all.
I found this is be a book rich in detail and history. Like Alice or not, she will not be forgotten. Alice was a master at working the D.C. press, senators, presidents, and family. Like her father Theodore Roosevelt she blazed a great trail that was both exasperating but "dee-lightful" to follow.
Stephanie Marie Thornton invites you to join Alice in her various quests and adventures. The book starts quickly and holds the pace unto the last page. Great book for a winter weekend, drawing pleasure for me from each page.
Alyce_T
American Princess
The only thing I knew about Alice Roosevelt was the song "Sweet Little Alice Blue Gown" supposedly written for her. Stephanie Thornton made Alice come alive. I was able to experience her antics, joys, political power, hurts, and pain. I laughed. I cried. The book was well written and researched. Interesting anecdotes were included about celebrities, world leaders and political leaders familiar to us all. Of course Alice couldn't live forever and the book ended when she did. I was sorry to close the book.
Shirley L. (Norco, LA)
A Fun, Educational Read
I would not expect this book to win any major awards for literary style or originality. I was not inclined to reread sentences or passages for the sheer beauty of the words. This book was just a very interesting, entertaining story about an American Presidential daughter. It was a delightful, well researched romp through the twentieth century populated by familiar political characters. Alice Roosevelt was a witness, and sometimes a participant to major historical events, yet the details of her life were largely unknown to this reader. My interest in reading her life story never waned. A thoroughly fascinating read that I recommend to all, particularly to fans of good historical fiction.
Rory A. (Ventura, CA)
Go Ask Alice. She'll answer!
I always like it when authors and novelists take our national monuments, such as the Roosevelts and Abraham Lincoln, and make them accessible, so to speak, to us mere mortals. Generally, they acknowledge the enormity of the events that these figures are known for, but delves more into their interior emotional landscapes, at those times and at others that might not be as well known to us but are no less interesting and instructive.
In "American Princess," Stephanie Marie Thornton presents THE Alice Roosevelt, who was also known as Princess Alice to the American public then, as well as other laudatory names. She spends her years, both in the White House and out of it, going between seeking her father's approval in any way she can, and forging a blazing trail for her own life. What's remarkable here, as with other novelists who have been able to do it, is how Thornton so thoroughly adopts Alice's inimitable voice, that we can't help but be swept up in the tide of history that is most singularly Alice's, including her marriage to Nicholas Longworth, Congressman and eventually Speaker of the House. It's remarkable work from a remarkable time in our country, and despite some of it seeming to go on quite long, this is a fascinating glance at part of our nation's history and the monuments involved.
Rosanne S. (Franklin Square, NY)
American Princess
What a privilege it has been to be able to read American Princess before it's in bookstores. One of the things I like the most about books is learning about people I otherwise wouldn't know about. Honestly, I knew nothing about Alice Roosevelt. This book has delivered her story including all its blemishes. With today's politicians I often wonder what it's like in their real lives. Thornton tells it all. I imagine the reality is that life is life even for those in the White House.
Thornton does say in the end that she had to merge some events and omit some in order to write a manageable read. She does hit all major events , however, I would have enjoyed a bit more about Alices life during World War II. There seemed to be a gap from Alices trip to Europe and the outbreak and duration of the war. This would be my only criticism.
I enjoyed this book so much, I didn't want it to end. Thornton did say her next book would be about Jackie Kennedy. I absolutely can't wait.
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