Laura: America's First Lady, First Mother [Hardcover]

Antonia Felix (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2002

Meet the woman who has won America's heart! Laura Bush, the First Lady of the 21st Century, has already been described as:

". . . one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world." -People

". . . the ballast that keeps her husband steady." -U.S. News & World Report

". . . intellectual and independent . . ." -The Washington Post

". . . a sharp contrast to Hilary Rodham Clinton." -CNN News

". . . the fist in the velvet glove." -BBC News

"Comforter-in-Chief" -Us magazine

"She's truly the First Mother." -New York Post

". . . a fabulous First Lady!" -George W. Bush

Before the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, little was known about First Lady Laura Bush. Since then, she has become America's beacon of hope and strength.

Few observers would have predicted that Laura Bush would win the hearts and earn the respect of the nation. Yet as the smoke cleared and we attempted to make sense of the tragedy, Laura helped heal us, reassure us, and inspire us with her warmth and courage. She urged us to hug our children-and we did-and thereafter became known as America's First Mother, as well as our First Lady.

This fascinating book reveals why Laura Bush was the right First Lady at the right time to bring courage, comfort, and strength to her fellow Americans. In this compelling profile, biographer Antonia Felix traces Laura Bush's fascinating journey from her West Texas girlhood to the wife of the most powerful man in the free world. Ms. Felix conducted extensive primary research in Laura's hometown-including interviews with her mother, Jenna Welch-and creates a revealing, intimate portrait of this softspoken, down-to-earth woman who made People magazine's list of "50 most beautiful people in the world" and is a powerful, supportive force for President George W. Bush.

In Laura, readers learn:

How Laura survived a youthful tragedy that marred her childhood

The delights and difficulties of being First Lady

The joys and challenges of raising twin daughters

Why she is so committed to advancing literacy in America

Her personal mission as America's First Mother

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A Texas journalist once remarked that Laura Bush wasn't exactly a hot media topic there were no skeletons in her closet. But a lack of scandal isn't the only reason there's no drama in Felix's (Christine Todd Whitman) warm and fuzzy biography of the First Lady. Readers won't find much new information, either. Felix isn't interested in analysis, criticism or original and unbiased reportage her star source (among the few she has interviewed) is Jenna Welch, Laura's mother as much as she is in painting a pretty, soft-focus picture of the woman whose "media appearances [post-Sept. 11] sent a warm, personal, and utterly sincere message to parents, teachers, and children throughout the country, helping them cope with pain that words cannot describe." In other words, Laura Bush, teacher, librarian, wife and mother of two; is now America's mom. Before that, she was a Girl Scout; she sang in the church choir; she was devoted to books and reading; and she experienced one tragedy a friend was killed when Laura drove through a stop sign. Though George W. lived in the same Texas town and later in the same apartment complex in Houston, they didn't meet until she was 30, in 1977, at a dinner party held by a mutual friend. While George was a rowdy partier, Laura was a quiet elementary school teacher who went to bed early on school nights. This glowing account of these events and Laura's subsequent journey to the White House is for readers who enjoy a story short on depth and long on feel-good tidbits.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up-No one would dispute the fact that the First Lady has been a calm, compassionate, source of strength for our nation since the events of September 11th. And that is where this book begins, with the routine events that began Mrs. Bush's day and the national tragedy that quickly ensued. Felix then moves on to a chronological account of her subject's life, from her childhood in Midland, TX, to her current position as "First Mother" to a stricken populace. Supplementary material includes her Cowboy Cookies recipe, other famous names from Midland, and an eight-page photo insert. The book, however, suffers from some serious flaws. The most flagrant, it seems, is a bias on the part of the author. Felix bestows on her a character that would have made Mother Teresa jealous. Not surprisingly, Bush's mother, Jenna Welch, was a significant source for the book, which the author dedicated to her. Another weakness is the apparent lack of editing. Entire speeches are included where excerpts would suffice. A whole chapter is devoted to George W. and another to all the minutiae of the Texas Book Festival and the subsequent National Book Festival. In addition, the writing often lapses into reliance on trite expressions, and citations for quotations are often missing. As it stands, this title reads like a very long testimonial.
Marilyn Heath, Belton-Honea Path High School, Honea Path, SC
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Adams Media Corporation (March 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580626599
• ISBN-13: 978-1580626590
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,088,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last! A book we've been waiting for, March 7, 2002

By 

J. Larkin (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Laura: America's First Lady, First Mother (Hardcover)

This book will delight every Laura Bush fan who has followed her journey from the woman who first appeared as a shy, self-conscious shadow behind George W. Bush to her new image as a role model for all American women everywhere. Now we can learn more about Laura without having to resort to reading the tabloids. Antonia Felix has written a fascinating, informative book filled with insider tidbits from Laura's friends and family, showing us a more fully drawn woman than the one we are used to seeing on TV for quick glimpses. The author takes us on a journey from Laura's birth and childhood to the woman she is today. Her commitment to her marriage and her family is so important to American families today, with all the stresses and bad influences around them. Her mother's recollections of Laura are very revealing and probably the best thing about this book, written with obvious care to detail by Ms.Felix.

IF you're looking for a harsh expose, you'll be disappointed. The author is as respectful of her subject as the First Lady is those around her,starting with her own family. It's about time someone wrote a nice book about a very nice woman who happens to be our First Lady, and is certainly our First Mother.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An Interesting Read, October 16, 2011

By 

Q - See all my reviews

This review is from: Laura: America's First Lady, First Mother (Hardcover)

I found this to be a very nice read. I found many of her experiences to be comforting especially, in reference to the September 11th attacks. I was only about 10 when it happened so seeing it and her compassion really made me gain a better understanding for what happened and take it in. On the other side I do feel that it was written for an older generation.

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great way to get to know Laura!, March 22, 2002

By 

Angie (Little Rock, Arkansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Laura: America's First Lady, First Mother (Hardcover)

I loved this book!! Since Sept 11th, Laura has been such a comforting person to me, so I grabbed this book right away when I saw it. It's really a wonderful way to get to know Laura. You get all kinds of details--about her childhood, her relationship with George W., and her work--that I've never read anywhere else. The author even interviewed Laura's mom, so you get all kinds of commentary from Laura's own mother!! I also loved the section of pictures of Laura from when she was a baby up to now. I'm a teacher, so I thought the parts about Laura's incredible commitment to education were fabulous. She's just an all-around amazing person. I've been recommending the book to everyone I know!