Customer Reviews

Reflections: Life After the White House

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I bought this book for my elderly mother two weeks ago and she is enjoying visiting with Barbara Bush again. She read her first book, and loved every minute of it. This book picks up where the first book left off. My mother is the same age as Mrs. Bush and identifies with her in many ways (Barbara's wealth notwithstanding).

If you are not a fan of the Bush family, don't bother with this book. But if you admire Barbara Bush and love her sense of humor, you will enjoy reading of her adventures and trials since her husband left office and her son took office.

I love Barbara Bush, but this book is difficult to read. It is a diary that hasn't been fleshed out. It consists of numerous entries that state that she went somewhere, met someone, her husband went somewhere, met someone, etc. Only rarely do we get a glimpse of her personal life. I enjoyed her recounting the time her grandchildren pelted the Secret Service agents with water balloons. It made the family seem more human, but these little gems are tucked away in the book amid detail after boring detail.

I am an avid reader. I pick a book up and rarely, put it down before I have read it in its entirety. Currently, I am stuck on page 281. I am going to have to force myself to finish it.

This book details the life of Barbara Bush from the time her husband left the White House until her son took office, with a short addendum about 9/11. She describes the places she went, and the people she spent time with, as well as family events and world happenings. She is not unlike many other active women her age, with the exception that her travels are to places like Egypt and Russian and she is always greeted by local dignitaries, royalty, government officials, or some of her very large circle of influential friends. She is at her best when she describes her family members and get-togethers with her children and grandchildren. All too often, her activities are listed in a rapid-fire manner without enough description and fleshing-out to make them vivid to the reader. She has not lost her considerable wit which is turned on herself as often as it is on someone else. She is a delightful, down-to-earth lady who, as she says, "married well", but this book doesn't do justice to the life she has led in the past 10 years.

Slanted, just as she states it would be and I loved it. How refreshing to read a book of a wife who adores her husband. How nice for a mother to share with readers tidbits about her children with such respect and wit. And how interesting and often humorous it was to read the author's comments about herself. On several occasions throughout this book it was a "laugh out loud" moment for me. I completely enjoyed her reflections and highly recommend it to others, especially wives and moms.

Received this book for Christmas. It was one of the most boring books I have ever read!! Paragraphs were not completed. Little continuity and no really interesting tidbits coming from a former first lady. Hard to believe she has traveled as much as she says she has - would like to know who pays for all her travel. Also found it interesting that they spend most of their holidays with son Neil and now ex-wife Sharon(because they lived near by.) Sharon said Neil had been cheating on her for sometime, yet Barbara acts like they are all one big happy family. Also thought it was interesting she never mentioned Jeb's daughter Nicole's serious drug problems and the drinking problems of the Bush twins. Perhaps if she had written her book telling how her family has gotten thru the tough times, it would have been more inspirational.Instead she writes like they are the most perfect family ever, and we all know better.

For those of us who wonder what life after the White House is all about, this book is an informative but light-hearted answer to that question.

Mrs Bush begins her story as she and the President depart the White House. She possesses the rare talent to express her feelings about that difficult time without the venom and spite you might expect from a First Lady whose husband has just lost the presidency.

The book takes us through the transition to "normal" life and Mrs Bush's quick wit and self-depreciating humor are evident throughout the book. From vacationing with the Oak Ridge Boys to dropping in on the queen of England, Barbara Bush shows that she has a love of people regardless of their social circle. The book had many amusing quips and stories that made me laugh out loud. For instance, I was surprised to learn she is quite proud to be named "First Lady of the Century" by Outlaw Biker magazine.

The book shows her proudest accomplishment has nothing to do with politics or fame, however. Her fierce love and devotion for her family is apparent in every page of the book. I, for one, find it refreshing.

The only down side to the book is the endless mention of names. While I appreciate the fact that she tried to acknowledge so many acquaintances, the endless list of people throughout the book seemed to interrupt the flow of the story.

Overall, this was a nice read and I would highly recommend it to biography junkies such as myself and supporters of the Bush family. Regardless of your political affiliation, I find it hard not to admire this spunky lady.

Thank you Mrs. Bush! It is so refreshing to read a book that is scandal free and that isn't laced with bitterness towards anyone. Quite the contrary, Mrs. Bush sees the best in people...a theme that should be embraced by all of us! Anyone who finds good, old fashioned values and morals threatening, stay away from this book!

I confess I didn't enjoy this book as much as her first one, Barbara Bush: A Memoir. Reflections was mainly a detailed activity of Mrs. Bush's life after they left the White House, i.e, I was invited to speak at such-and-such engagement and met such-and-such people, or such-and-such person spent the summer with us at Walker's Point. It was not as lively and a bit exhausting because you sometimes had to plow through seemingly endless pages of dinners, engagements, speaking engagements, etc., without a single interesting paragraph to hold your attention.

Some bright spots in the book are numerous witty stories sprinkled here and there and the chapter covering the events surrounding 9/11. She said loyalty is a treasured quality in her family and it's something that's evident in the book: She tried to steer clear of controversies involving members of her family and never discussed issues that would put them in a bad light.

Something else that's interesting is that she rarely says anything negative about anyone, even the Clintons. Not even with the books that she's read, and there were some you could tell that she didn't particularly enjoy, did she criticize the author, the writing or the storyline. It's perhaps her choice as she says in her book that this is her life as she sees it and it is very biased.

Thanks, Barbara Bush, for an enjoyable and enlightening book about yourself, your family,your travels and accomplishments since leaving the White House.

This book reflects the author's zest for living. She recounts her journal entries from the past decade and takes us with her all over the world. She supports worthwhile causes, gives generously of her time, gets excited about her family, acknowledges the special bond between her and George W. Bush, counts her blessings and is unafraid to "tell it like it is". How refreshing.

If you enjoy reading non fiction and would like to take a peak into the life of a former first lady, get comfortable and read this one thru. It is a happy book mostly,a true account of the author's feelings as written in her journals year by year and lots of asides that will make you laugh.

Mrs. Bush enjoys reading and supplies us with some of her favorite books. I thought she could have included more non fiction and would have appreciated a listing of her favorites in the back of her book. There are some recipes, accounts of visitors at Kennebunkeport, vacations on Greek islands, travels to China and many other countries spiced up with tales of family and friends that will entertain and inform you

Barbara Bush appears to be a down to earth realist and she continues to work tirelessly for her causes which are literacy and education. She chose a pleasant, easy, elegant style in her role as first lady. You'll be amazed at her energy, her insights, her devotion and loyalty to her family, how she is coping with health problems, and how many speeches she gives.

Curious about Barbara? Read the book. She doesn't disappoint.

What Barbara Bush may lack in flowery language, she more than makes up for in content. This very personal, vulnerable, inside view of the Bush family is heartwarming, often hilariously funny, and full of travel adventure.

Her insights into the former president's anguish over seeing his president/son go through "media hell," as well as his governor/son's ride through politics are only a small fraction of this book.

This is a diary account of how faith. family, friends, and service to country as well as charitable causes can make a difference in this modern world and individual lives around the globe.

A book is yet another fine contribution that Barbara Bush makes during an era when decency and goodness are sometimes forgotten virtues. Highly enjoyable reading, but more so for the educated
regarding world events, who will recognize the names she mentions, and have an understanding of how crucial some of those relationships that were formed have affected the world we know in 2003.