Book Review: Spoken From the Heart, by Laura Bush

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    I've always been fascinated with the lives of those in authority as heads of state, presidents, kings and queens, etc. 

     As a child, I read numerous historical fiction books about our United States presidents and the lives that they and their families led. 

    I've never read books or watched movies about any European or Asian heads of state, though. I'm really enjoying that now, as an adult, as I take my children through history chronologically.  There is so much that they know and understand already, that I knew very little about even as a college graduate!  It's a shame that European history is left out of many public school educations. 

     My mom has been reading a book written by Mrs. Laura Bush, wife of George W. Bush.  My mom, Julie, has chatted with me numerous times in the last couple of months about how much she has enjoyed reading Spoken From the Heart.  While she will often share with me her opinion of a book that she is reading, it is not often that she will read the book a second time in a row, and still have more to discuss with me! 

     I'm looking forward to reading Spoken From the Heart, soon...as soon as I finish reading another book for the book club that I attend. 

     I thought it would be fun to share with you the insights and thoughts my mom has had about Spoken From the Heart.  Here they are:

      "I have read this book twice in a short amount of time. The first time through, I was so fascinated with seeing into the private life of a very public figure, that I did a bit of “skimming” because I was so anxious to see what was happening next!

     The second time through, it has been a much more thoughtful study, and one that has endeared this public figure and her husband to me in a very special way.

     Mrs. Bush (I’m sure she would have us all call her Laura) is a wonderful writer and even though this is a chronological narrative of her entire life, it is not at all “boring” or tedious. With all that we “know” from media sources, this writing gives a tremendous insight into what she is really like as a person:  a very smart, intense, emotional, independent, intelligent, extremely well-read, likable person, one I would be proud to call my friend.  And that is pretty much what she becomes as one reads all that she has written.

     This is not to say that I agree with all her philosophies and way of life, but it has definitely been a way to open my eyes and see another side of things.

     Laura was born in 1946, just after WW II was finished, in a tiny community in West Texas to people who were hard-working, proud Americans. As an only child, she was blessed to have parents and grandparents who dearly loved and cherished her and gave her many opportunities to become the very lovely woman she has become.

     Her life with George Bush did not begin until they were both in their thirties, and it is easy to see how they became such “soul mates” in their marriage, and in the raising of their twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna.

     This book is important, I believe, because Laura is obviously so honest in her perspective of the things going on around her and her awareness of the lives of other people; she is very surprised by the fact that she ended up becoming the wife of a Governor and then of a President of the United States, and of being so much a part of the history of our country during a greatly impactful period for the American population.

     She has chronicled the many events that changed their lives dramatically and brought to life the things that REALLY go on behind the scenes. All this to say, there is much, much more than meets the eye than what one sees on television or in printed news about people who are in high places.

     It is a pleasure to recommend this book; I believe it is important for people from every walk of life, every political belief, to read and understand that there is so little we actually know about the folks who are making the headlines in our newspapers, and decisions that often affect our lives. Mrs. Bush gives the “rest of the story” to some of the things stated as fact by the media.

     Whatever your opinions, if you read this book with a truly open mind, you will have a much broader insight into the extremely hard decisions our leaders must make, and the emotional impact of those decisions in their lives. This was an excellent read and I will always treasure it. Thank you, Laura Bush; you have surely enriched my life!"

Laura Bush

My mom, Julie

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...and THANK YOU, Mom!  You have definitely enriched my life!  Love you...