From the Publisher
[A] gossipy, but surprisingly deep, look at the women who help and sometimes overshadow their powerful husbands.” — USA Today
Praise for The Residence:”The tell-all The Residence, featuring intimate anecdotes collected from past and current White House staff members, is absolutely delicious.” — The Washington Post
“A juicy new book. . . . A touching story.” — The Daily Beast
“A highly readable . . . deep look at the women who help and sometimes overshadow their powerful husbands.” — USA Today
“A revealing look at America’s first ladies, shining a spotlight on both their friendships and feuds.” — The Today Show
“Superbly reported. . . . A fascinating backstage account of the world’s most famous residence.” — Judy Woodruff, anchor, PBS NewsHour and former White House Correspondent for NBC News
“One of those rare books that is both elegant portraiture and highly readable, important White House history. The anecdotes are fresh and the analysis cogent. The stories about Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton, and Obama are irresistible. Highly recommended!” — Douglas Brinkley, editor of The Reagan Diaries
The Washington Post
Praise for The Residence:”The tell-all The Residence, featuring intimate anecdotes collected from past and current White House staff members, is absolutely delicious.
Douglas Brinkley
One of those rare books that is both elegant portraiture and highly readable, important White House history. The anecdotes are fresh and the analysis cogent. The stories about Kennedy, Reagan, Clinton, and Obama are irresistible. Highly recommended!
The Daily Beast
A juicy new book. . . . A touching story.
The Today Show
A revealing look at America’s first ladies, shining a spotlight on both their friendships and feuds.
USA Today
[A] gossipy, but surprisingly deep, look at the women who help and sometimes overshadow their powerful husbands.
Judy Woodruff
Superbly reported. . . . A fascinating backstage account of the world’s most famous residence.
USA Today
A highly readable . . . deep look at the women who help and sometimes overshadow their powerful husbands.
Library Journal
★ 07/01/2016
Brower (The Residence) has written a sophisticated and intimate portrait of modern first ladies, from Jacqueline Kennedy through Michelle Obama in expertly balanced prose that is neither too impersonal nor too personal. Though Brower doesn't whitewash the different personalities of the women, she manages to find positives in even some of the more reputedly prickly characters. With a deft touch, the author moves from Kennedy's lifelong grief over her husband, John F. Kennedy's, assassination to the impact of Richard Nixon's scandal and resignation on his wife, Pat, to Betty Ford's addictions. Though attention is given to all of the women, there is perhaps a greater focus on Kennedy, Lady Bird Johnson, Nixon, and Ford. This leads to the only negative point that can be made about the book, which is that there is a decidedly small amount of information on more recent first ladies, particularly Laura Bush. Brower writes with grace and ease and finely outlines the lives of these influential figures, providing deep insights into the experiences of each. VERDICT A must-have for every library, this account will entertain and enthrall readers of a wide variety of ages and interests.—Stacy Shaw, Orange, CA
