I love Laura Bush. I think she has so much class and was an awesome first lady. The first half of her memoir, Spoken from the Heart, was all about her childhood and growing up years. I must admit... it took me back to my own childhood and made me remember my children's upbringing. Many things that happen in Laura's young life really do explain why her personality is somewhat shy and reserved, in many ways avoiding the spotlight. The first half of the book is truly... spoken from the heart.

The second half... not so much. It just got so boring. It was as if she was just reading her notes about her years in the White House, telling about every foreign leader who came, what they served for dinner, what the decorations were, and what she wore... who cares? She devoted a few pages to 9/11, a few pages to Katrina, and one page to Jenna's wedding. She told us only what we had read in the newspaper. I wanted the scoop... her opinion about what went on. Instead she just drones on from her notes.

It was almost as if the first half of the book was written early on when she had time to be thoughtful and reflect... and the second half was hurriedly put together for the deadline. We read this in our book club and only 2 of 17 people actually finished the book... and it had been a unanimous pick. If you are interested in the Laura Bush story... I would recommend An American Wife. It tells the same tale in novel form.