Customer Reviews

George Bush, Dark Prince of Love: A Presidential Romance

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If, say, Roseanne and Jeff Foxworthy were to inhabit the Sunday morning political talk shows instead of Sam and Cokie, you might find humor and current-events commentary similar to "George Bush: Dark Prince of Love." This fairly short book is part political satire, part modern history lesson and part bizarre and humorous character portrait. Protagonist Rosemary -- ex-con, sometime substance abuser, con artist -- is the classic antihero: you like her and root for her despite her antisocial and often unattractive personality traits. The novel is structured chronologically around George Bush's presidency, as Rosemary becomes more and more infatuated (obsessed?) with Mr. Bush's public persona and executes a plan to gain his attention and win his love. Without spoiling it, let's just say that the denouement is hilarious and perfectly appropriate. I am still wondering just who in the book is crazy and who is not: Rosemary? Mr. Bush? Both? Neither? While I heartily enjoyed this book, it definitely will not appeal to everyone. Disguised within Rosemary's admiring commentary is biting and keen observation about the Bush presidency, so if you sincerely admire and respect Mr. Bush, this is not a good choice for you. If you are not a big fan of absurdism (a la Tom Robbins or John Irving, for example), or if the snarky tone of Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" leaves you cold, you would also do well to look elsewhere. But if you're looking for keen political satire in the guise of a rather bizarre romance, give this unusual and smartly written book a try.

I was drawn to this book because of the Celine Dion-like (great big head, tiny body) depiction of G.B. on the cover. Though I have nothing but feelings of contempt for G.B., I was compelled to read this book anyway. The idea that anyone would decided to write a story about an obese ex-con developing an obsession for a man like President Bush was both appalling and intriguing to me. The story itself was equally interesting and entertaining. I found myself laughing out loud at many of Rosemary's harsh sublties. My only criticizm for the book is this - too many people were staring and pointing at me as I read this book on the subway.

Well, I knew from the title alone that I would love this book. However, I had no clue that it would be as brilliant a lampoon as it is.

The plot focuses on how a woman who embodies all the victim's of George H.W. Bush comes fanatically loyal and obsessed with him.
While exceedingly understated, this defines savage satire. The irony is delicious and not at all overwrought; fortunately it is short as any longer and the humor would quickly transcend the point of diminishing returns.

This is definitely dark, sardonic humor. If you have a cynical bent, you will love this.

This is a clever little book about Rosemary's obsession with George Bush the Elder. For those of us who aren't taken with the Bushes, either the elder George or the present president or the governor of Florida, the book gives us something to smile about. While I kept wanting the book to be better-- although some of the descriptions of GB and BB, as they are called in the book, are quite delicious-- the quotations of George Bush that start each chapter alone make the book worth reading. I had forgotten just how inarticulate the elder Bush was. It must be generational.

I'm not usually a big fan of political humor, but this book made me laugh pretty hard. It skewers G.B. through the conceit of loving him, which makes it particularly effective and scathing. In fact, if you look in the dictionary under "scathing," you'll find a tiny pic of Lydia Millet and her new book. No, really, it's there! My only criticism is that it's currently only available in paperback. I'd love to smack Bush Jr. with the hardcover edition. Ouch.

I enjoyed the book and nearly fell out of bed laughing many times. Lydia Millet has a dry sense of humor. Her main character is along the lines of what most would have labeled as "trailer trash." If you like irony and twisted, irrational main characters, you'll likely enjoy this short novel.

Like protons and electrons or something. Lydia Millet's 'My Happy Life' tore me to shreds with its realism of harsh times, harsh lives, and those forced unwillingly into horrid circumstances. Where 'My Happy Life' is depressing with raw helplessness, 'Dark Prince Of Love' is hilarious in pointing towards the everyday psychotic behavior of those whom you pass cautiously on the sidewalk, knowing something is wrong but unable to pinpoint it.

'GB, Dark Prince Of Love' had me shrieking with laughter, written from the psychotic POV of Rosemary, an ex-con who spent time in a maximum security prison for running a stop sign and killing her passenger and best friend Shelly.

Released from prison and set up in a mobile home park in 1989, she is free just in time to absorb herself in the election process of George Bush Senior. She has a job on an assembly line folding box tops when she meets Russell in a drugstore line. Russell is an antisocial Korean War vet with a laryngectomy, a cocaine habit, and a penchant for pulling mean pranks.

The book told in comical, first person perspective by Rosemary, who takes GB's speeches so literally that she uses them to guide her everyday life. Learning from GB's "outright denial-tactic" of his relationship with Noriega, Rosemary gets Russell drunk and convinces him to sign over the deed to his house to her.

When Russell almost OD's on cocaine, Rosemary gets scolded in the ER, Russell is forced into a dry out facility where he breaks his hip during a chair-standing soliloquy that no one understood because of his voice box. Rosemary sets up her shrine to GB in Russell's basement, and moves into his house, taking up with an illegal Mexican immigrant named Jose while Russell is hospitalized. Before Russell comes home Rosemary calls the DOJ and has Jose deported.

Rosemary's memories of her youth with Shelly, her relationship with Russell and his war buddy Apache who unexpectedly moves in for awhile, Jose, her co-workers, and eventually the Secret Service who respond to her strange letters written to the white house, all revolve around Rosemary's obsession with GB, and the shrine she built to him.

This is a very funny satirical novel about abnormal obsessions, bad habits, odd people, and sadly, the voting public. Lydia Millet is a very talented writer that brings both wit and deep emotion into her novels, whether serious or funny. I strongly recommend picking up one of her novels. Enjoy!

This book shows a great appreciation for language, imagination and the finer things in life. People who have no life may not like it because it reminds them of themselves, but others who operate on a more cerebral plane and appreciate the craft of writing will enjoy the ride.

Rarely does one find a novel that so deftly tapdances on the fulcrum between dada absurdism and tomorrow's headlines (Monica, meet Rosemary). The best political satire since "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72."

And I thought I was bad. Leave it to my neighbor to once again come through on an excellent read. After reading GEORGE BUSH, DARK PRINCE OF LOVE, I realized my [slight] obsessive personality trait pails in comparison to Rosemary's, George Bush's obsessive, white-trash, obese, yet determined, dream-lover. Watch Rosie obsession progress from GB's inauguration, through the Persion Gulf War, and finally to GB's last days in office. Her slightly demented logic and determination won me over instantly. This novel is all laughs. Millet's narrative flows from one chapter to the next, never missing a beat. The way Millet uses the events occuring during GB's term in ofice to construct Rosie's life is sheer brilliance and fun. Lover's of George will most likely hate this book. But those who had secretly hated him in office will appreciate this book, no doubt. Can't wait for the next installment. Watch out Bill, Rosie's eyeing you.