beccacraven's review against another edition
2.0
*** I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads. ***
This book was erroneously billed as a political thriller. Besides the presence of some guns and the name-dropping of every government security organization at least once per chapter, there was nothing in the book itself to "thrill" the reader.
This is a verbose guilt trip by the (stereotypically) Catholic narrator of the story, a book about writing a book about the late-1960s. Was the thrilling part supposed to be whether she'd succumb to pressure to drop the endeavor altogether? Maybe... but if that's the case, I wish I'd been able to read the book that the narrator was supposed to be writing instead of this one.
Not super impressed with this one, obviously.
This book was erroneously billed as a political thriller. Besides the presence of some guns and the name-dropping of every government security organization at least once per chapter, there was nothing in the book itself to "thrill" the reader.
This is a verbose guilt trip by the (stereotypically) Catholic narrator of the story, a book about writing a book about the late-1960s. Was the thrilling part supposed to be whether she'd succumb to pressure to drop the endeavor altogether? Maybe... but if that's the case, I wish I'd been able to read the book that the narrator was supposed to be writing instead of this one.
Not super impressed with this one, obviously.
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
3.0
Quite liked this one, once I got through the first hundred pages. Would have liked it better with a little less of everything: less teenage James Bond-role playing, less type I diabetes-extravaganza, less of the amazing accomplishments of the main character (couldn't it have been enough that she was a law school dean, a high-powered lawyer, worked for the Justice Department - was it necessary to put her on Oprah and have her hang out with Vaclav Havel?)
That said, I liked the character, and found her account of the 60s political and cultural upheaval very entertaining. Wouldn't mind a sequel where she spends her retirement as Karen Hollander, P.I., and chases Bond villains (Julian Assange, watch out).
That said, I liked the character, and found her account of the 60s political and cultural upheaval very entertaining. Wouldn't mind a sequel where she spends her retirement as Karen Hollander, P.I., and chases Bond villains (Julian Assange, watch out).
offbalance80's review against another edition
1.0
I can't even with this book. Here I am, someone who really would love to write a few things myself, but worry that I shouldn't, as I don't have full enough knowledge of these topics. That CLEARLY never stopped Kurt Andersen in writing this book.
A few notes to you, sir:
1. The film version of Grease was released in 1978.
2. Not sure how the theme to Dr. No could be played years before the film's release, but okay.
3. How is it that you spend PAGES UPON PAGES talking about your main character's Type I diabetes and how serious such a condition was in the late 1960s (and even today), but COMPLETELY GLOSS OVER THE FACT THAT SAID CHARACTER WAS PREGNANT TWICE AND HAVE IT BE NO BIG DEAL? Maybe I just have known more people who happen to have diabetes. Maybe Kurt here has never seen Steel Magnolias in any form. Even the tiniest bit of research would have demonstrated that going through a pregnancy with serious diabetes is a big deal, and I doubt sincerely that the MC could have just gone about her busy law-clerk schedule with ease when she had to carry around sugar tablets and run for soda in case her sugar crashed. Not to mention all of the smaller details about the 60s, and modern teenagers that were just completely off base (MC's granddaughter playing a My Little Pony game on a game boy in a nightgown at 17? Sure, Jan.). Not to mention the plot that the MC hatches with her weirdo friends to "elicit change" in the 1960s is the stuff of Austin Powers, not James Bond. Perhaps I grew up watching too many documentaries, but once I found out what the Great Big Secret was, it was the best laugh I had since I finished Mamrie Hart's book. Seriously you guys? Seriously?
Unfortunately, such missteps were all too common in this overlong, dull as dishwater muddle with bargain-basement Tom Clancy aspirations. Every "twist" was laughable, the characters two-dimensional, and the backstory interminable. Avoid.
A few notes to you, sir:
1. The film version of Grease was released in 1978.
2. Not sure how the theme to Dr. No could be played years before the film's release, but okay.
3. How is it that you spend PAGES UPON PAGES talking about your main character's Type I diabetes and how serious such a condition was in the late 1960s (and even today), but COMPLETELY GLOSS OVER THE FACT THAT SAID CHARACTER WAS PREGNANT TWICE AND HAVE IT BE NO BIG DEAL? Maybe I just have known more people who happen to have diabetes. Maybe Kurt here has never seen Steel Magnolias in any form. Even the tiniest bit of research would have demonstrated that going through a pregnancy with serious diabetes is a big deal, and I doubt sincerely that the MC could have just gone about her busy law-clerk schedule with ease when she had to carry around sugar tablets and run for soda in case her sugar crashed. Not to mention all of the smaller details about the 60s, and modern teenagers that were just completely off base (MC's granddaughter playing a My Little Pony game on a game boy in a nightgown at 17? Sure, Jan.). Not to mention the plot that the MC hatches with her weirdo friends to "elicit change" in the 1960s is the stuff of Austin Powers, not James Bond. Perhaps I grew up watching too many documentaries, but once I found out what the Great Big Secret was, it was the best laugh I had since I finished Mamrie Hart's book. Seriously you guys? Seriously?
Unfortunately, such missteps were all too common in this overlong, dull as dishwater muddle with bargain-basement Tom Clancy aspirations. Every "twist" was laughable, the characters two-dimensional, and the backstory interminable. Avoid.
ctiner7's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book within two days! I absolutely loved it. At first, before I started reading it, I was a little on the side of "oh, this ones going to be boring". It turned out to be quite the opposite. The plot is awesome, the characters are great, and most of all the writing is the best. Not only did I enjoy the book, but I was there, I LIVED this book.
I won this book on Goodreads First Reads.
I won this book on Goodreads First Reads.
alliebookworm's review against another edition
3.0
Warning: this book is VERY reflective. That shouldn't come as that much of a surprise if you've read the back of the book - a woman in her 60s in the present day withdraws her nomination for the Supreme Court because of something she did in the 1960s, which she tells the story of. Especially for the first chunk of the book until she gets to college, the chapters of her present can get very repetitive and boring, especially since the reader doesn't know what "terrible thing" she did besides the fact that there are many oblique references to it throughout these chapters.
Once the story gets going, though, it really picks up. I did enjoy it once there was a stronger plot. I also thought the language was very beautifully crafted. This would make for a great book club book, as there is much to discuss in terms of imagery, symbolism, and the significance of all the small side stories in the past and present. Overall, if you're a child of the 60s (unlike me), have some interest in the time period, and can stick with a book that presents a slow beginning, I'd say check it out.
Once the story gets going, though, it really picks up. I did enjoy it once there was a stronger plot. I also thought the language was very beautifully crafted. This would make for a great book club book, as there is much to discuss in terms of imagery, symbolism, and the significance of all the small side stories in the past and present. Overall, if you're a child of the 60s (unlike me), have some interest in the time period, and can stick with a book that presents a slow beginning, I'd say check it out.
meganmreads's review against another edition
4.0
I won this ARC via Early Reviews Program at LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book a lot. The cover in incredibly eye catching and is the main reason I attempted to win a copy of the book. The summary was also intriguing, as well as the title. All these things piqued my interest and I’m definitely glad I got the chance to read this!
This book jumped back and forth from the 60’s to the present, all from Karen Hollander’s point of view, but it didn’t feel all over the place. The story line was very organized and I enjoyed the trip back through time, but I also enjoyed present day Hollander’s interpretation of her youth.
This is almost one of those books I find hard to discuss because it was so well done. There are so many issues discussed and explored in this book, from living with diabetes to racial and political injustices from WW2 to the present. This book was a rational person’s look back at her wild and extreme viewpoints in a time when wild and extreme viewpoints were a cultural movement. It isn’t looking into the hippie era from an anti-hippie or ex-hippie still emotionally invested in the movement, both of which I wondered and worried about when reading the synopsis.
This book was an amazing journey through Hollander’s life, which was incredibly interesting. I couldn’t put it down, out of sheer curiosity. I also had NO idea what happened back in the late 60’s that she kept so secret. While the entire book hints and gives you clues and little pieces, it was entirely unpredictable.
This time in history is something that interests me a lot, but one that I find difficult to learn more about due to bias. I felt like Hollander’s character made it easy to see into what life might have been like, but realistically and less nostalgic. Politically, this period of time either loved or hated, and I felt like Hollander was sort of in the middle about it, which is what made it so great for me.
This was well written, thrilling, exciting, detailed, interesting, and unpredictable. I liked it, and will definitely read more of Andersen’s books in the future.
http://meganm922.blogspot.com/2012/06/reviewtrue-believers-by-kurt-andersen.html
I liked this book a lot. The cover in incredibly eye catching and is the main reason I attempted to win a copy of the book. The summary was also intriguing, as well as the title. All these things piqued my interest and I’m definitely glad I got the chance to read this!
This book jumped back and forth from the 60’s to the present, all from Karen Hollander’s point of view, but it didn’t feel all over the place. The story line was very organized and I enjoyed the trip back through time, but I also enjoyed present day Hollander’s interpretation of her youth.
This is almost one of those books I find hard to discuss because it was so well done. There are so many issues discussed and explored in this book, from living with diabetes to racial and political injustices from WW2 to the present. This book was a rational person’s look back at her wild and extreme viewpoints in a time when wild and extreme viewpoints were a cultural movement. It isn’t looking into the hippie era from an anti-hippie or ex-hippie still emotionally invested in the movement, both of which I wondered and worried about when reading the synopsis.
This book was an amazing journey through Hollander’s life, which was incredibly interesting. I couldn’t put it down, out of sheer curiosity. I also had NO idea what happened back in the late 60’s that she kept so secret. While the entire book hints and gives you clues and little pieces, it was entirely unpredictable.
This time in history is something that interests me a lot, but one that I find difficult to learn more about due to bias. I felt like Hollander’s character made it easy to see into what life might have been like, but realistically and less nostalgic. Politically, this period of time either loved or hated, and I felt like Hollander was sort of in the middle about it, which is what made it so great for me.
This was well written, thrilling, exciting, detailed, interesting, and unpredictable. I liked it, and will definitely read more of Andersen’s books in the future.
http://meganm922.blogspot.com/2012/06/reviewtrue-believers-by-kurt-andersen.html
lola425's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it a lot. It is rare to find a book with a vibrant, older female protagonist that is sexually vibrant. For that alone, the book should get three stars. Andersen was certainly thorough, so thorough that I kept drifting off at certain points, but he more than made up for it at then end.
shoemaker's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting period piece. I liked the honest first person narration and felt the late 1960's setting was thorough. On top of that, the plot was well crafted and kept me guessing. I liked it well enough that I'll consider reading some of Kurt Anderson's other historical fictions. Isn't all history fictional anyway?
thejoyofbooking's review against another edition
5.0
True Believers thoroughly captured my imagination and transported me back into the 60s, to a time when the political activism meant much more than wearing buttons and running voter registration drives.
Between the intriguing story of Karen’s coming-of-age years and her kick-ass modern life as an almost shoe-in for the Supreme Court nomination, True Believers showcases a complex portrait of a woman with thrills and regrets and a firm determination to reckon with her past on her own terms.
There’s an incredible amount here to discuss, and this would be a fantastic book for book clubs. In fact, I’ve been nagging other people to read it quickly so we can talk about it – it’s the kind of book that begs discussion and probing. Highly recommended.
Between the intriguing story of Karen’s coming-of-age years and her kick-ass modern life as an almost shoe-in for the Supreme Court nomination, True Believers showcases a complex portrait of a woman with thrills and regrets and a firm determination to reckon with her past on her own terms.
There’s an incredible amount here to discuss, and this would be a fantastic book for book clubs. In fact, I’ve been nagging other people to read it quickly so we can talk about it – it’s the kind of book that begs discussion and probing. Highly recommended.
frizzella's review against another edition
3.0
Fantastic book with a great feel for government, today's and yesterday's youth, the 1960s, and a woman with a strong character outline. I loved it, was quite interested in the whole thing, though some of the government related things went right over my head, I managed to pull my attention back especially when the storyline went back to Karen in her youth. If you're interested in 1960s government brought straight to you the way a future "celebrated" attorney/government geek would have seen it, then this book is definitely for you!