Customer Reviews

Sammy's House: A Novel

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I loved Sammy's Hill, and didn't imagine that Sammy's House could compare. I do love a pleasant surprise, though, and Sammy's House certainly is one. Full of belly laughs like its predecessor, it's also rich with juicy insights from a real Washington - and White House - insider.

Ms. Gore seems to have pulled quite directly from her own experiences (though I have a feeling that the real day-to-day of the White House, especially these days, might not be quite as funny as Sammy's [White] House). Samantha Joyce manages not only to be save-the-day smart, but made me feel empowered. I mean, if she can accomplish so much in the face of such an astonishing list of neuroses, imagine what I could do if I put my mind to it :)

One warning: don't pick this one up when you don't have much time. "Sammy's House" is a page-turner you won't want to put down. Viva la Sammy!

I found yself relating to Sammy...this author does a great job of creating a character that is just as anxious as the average Joe. This is a great partner book to her book Sammy's Hill. You should definitely buy BOTH books

I loved "Sammy's House" just as much as Kristin Gore's first book, "Sammy's Hill." The quirky main character is delightfully lovable, and the book is often laugh-out-loud funny. A great read!

If you loved Sammy's Hill don't hesitate for a second in buying this book. Our heroine returns to navigate us through a new set of political-situations and scandals, this time from the White House. Sammy doesn't spend as much time detailing her neuroses in this book because there is so much going on in her world that she doesn't have time to slow down and ruminate on possible fatal diseases she could contract.

I highly recommend Sammy's House, and will be sure to talk this one up with my friends.

This book was just as great as the first. Gore fluently continues the story line from Sammy's Hill through Sammy's House and the characters evolve to show more depth and hilarity. Like Sammy's Hill, I found I couldn't put the book down and devoted my weekend to nonstop reading. Gore has a true talent for laugh-out-loud story telling. This is a sure hit for anyone!

Have you ever have one of those days where everything's just setting your teeth on edge? Do what I do ~~ take a long, hot bubble bath and grab this novel and just escape from the world for a few hours. This is a darling book ~~ not as funny as the first one, "Sammy's Hill" ~~ but just as sweet and endearing. It is a bit more serious than the first one though it did start out strong as a funny novel.

Sammy follows her boss into the White House. RC is the vice president and Sammy is still his top health policy guru. Besieged by the opposing party's antics, Sammy continues the fight for decent health care policy for everyone. The president is discovered to be back on the wagon after being sober for decades. Someone in the administration is leaking out pertient information through a blog site. Charlie, Sammy's true love and Washington Post reporter, transfers to NYC on a big assignment. It makes for a busy fall for Sammy and a great novel to boot.

Need something to cheer you up for a while? This novel is the ticket. No better time like the present than to read something like this ... especially with the holiday blues coming on.

11-25-07

A friend recommended this to me for my 50 Books challenge. Knowing what a political conservative I am (I absolutely adore Dubya and have enormous faith in him), she warned me that there were definitely political aspects to the book, but that I would probably like it anyway. She was definitely right! I really loved the character and was intrigued by the book. It has a very "West Wing" tone to it, with all the interesting interactions and behind-the-scenes glimpses of what it's like to work in the White House.

What I especially found intriguing, though, is what seemed to be some blatant similarities to the Clinton/Gore White House. The story is written from the perspective of an aide to the VP in a liberal White House at a time when the House & Senate are conservative. The VP is a former senator; a family man, known to be an intellectual of good moral standing. The president is a charming former governor whose wife has a reputation for ruthlessness. The President gets involved in questionable - though not necessarily illegal - behavior which becomes an even bigger problem when he goes on TV and lies to the American people about it. See any parallels? The entire story seemed to be trying to give us an idea of what it would be like for a moral, intelligent leader to be stuck in a situation not of his making, which he found reprehensible, but couldn't speak out against. Therefore, though the author would probably deny it, it really struck me that what I was reading was a defense of her father. (I should probably look up some reviews of the book to see what she's said on the issue, as I'm sure everyone has noticed this parallel.)

Regardless, I really liked the book. The protagonist was an interesting. complex character. The romance did not fall into the predictable scenario I immediately anticipated. The conflicts were difficult scenarios with no easy answers. Her fumbling ways mask a great deal of intelligence. (Imagine Janet Evanovich's "Stephanie Plum" character with an ivy league degree.) I probably wouldn't recommend the book to anyone more conservative than me, as they wouldn't be able to look beyond the political discussions to focus on the story, but for anyone who likes the tv show "The West Wing" this is a fantastic read. The author obviously tried hard to make the book as bi-partisan as possible, even going so far as to always refer to the protagonist's political opponents as "The opposition" rather than labeling them "Republicans."

There's a prequel, "Sammy's Hill," which I will probably read next.

I loved Sammy's Hill and ran out to buy its sequal the second it hit shelves. Much like the first I loved the character and was drawn into the story ~ K.G. is a superb writer, but I found myself ultimately disappointed. I felt like much of the storyline was similar to the original and was frustrated that the story fit a very similar type of plotline with a somewhat different setting. It made me laugh, it made me mad, but ultimately it made me sad ~ and left an open ending... I can only hope the third (which I assume there will be) is better than Sammy's House. Not what I had been hoping for ~ just not as fresh as its predecessor.

Samantha Joyce is the health care advisor to the White House. She works in the West Wing with the hustle and bustle of government business all around her, and she loves it. The Vice President told her she is "..a smart, capable advisor." "...an asset to our team." "But...you have some blind spots."

Those "blind spots" are what make Sammy a joy to know and the "smart" makes her someone to watch out for; or so the leak in the White House finds out.

As Sammy attempts not to be distracted by her personal relationship with a Washington Post reporter and her efforts to keep her Japanese fighting fish alive, she tries to figure out who is publishing exact quotes for the West Wing staff on the internet.

Kristin Gore's personal knowledge of the inter workings of our governments executive branch shines in her books. Sammy Joyce is a funny, and smart protagonist. Well done, Kristin.

Reviewed by Wanda C. Keesey

I have to say I liked Sammy's Hill better but this was a wonderful book too. Love your sense of humor. I hope Hollywood can do your books justice.

Thanks for another good book.