For readers of The Paris Wife and The Swans of Fifth Avenue comes a “sensuous, captivating account of a forbidden affair between two women” (People)—Eleanor Roosevelt and “first friend” Lorena Hickok.NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Financial Times • San Francisco Chronicle • New York Public Library • Refinery29 • Real Simple Lorena Hickok meets Eleanor Roosevelt in 1932 while reporting … Simple
Lorena Hickok meets Eleanor Roosevelt in 1932 while reporting on Franklin Roosevelt’s first presidential campaign. Having grown up worse than poor in South Dakota and reinvented herself as the most prominent woman reporter in America, “Hick,” as she’s known to her friends and admirers, is not quite instantly charmed by the idealistic, patrician Eleanor. But then, as her connection with the future first lady deepens into intimacy, what begins as a powerful passion matures into a lasting love, and a life that Hick never expected to have. She moves into the White House, where her status as “first friend” is an open secret, as are FDR’s own lovers. After she takes a job in the Roosevelt administration, promoting and protecting both Roosevelts, she comes to know Franklin not only as a great president but as a complicated rival and an irresistible friend, capable of changing lives even after his death. Through it all, even as Hick’s bond with Eleanor is tested by forces both extraordinary and common, and as she grows as a woman and a writer, she never loses sight of the love of her life.
From Washington, D.C. to Hyde Park, from a little white house on Long Island to an apartment on Manhattan’s Washington Square, Amy Bloom’s new novel moves elegantly through fascinating places and times, written in compelling prose and with emotional depth, wit, and acuity.
Praise for White Houses
“Amy Bloom brings an untold slice of history so dazzlingly and devastatingly to life, it took my breath away.”—Paula McLain, author of The Paris Wife
“Vivid and tender . . . Bloom—interweaving fact and fancy—lavishes attention on [Hickok], bringing Hick, the novel’s narrator and true subject, to radiant life.”—O: The Oprah Magazine
“Radiant . . . an indelible love story, one propelled not by unlined youth and beauty but by the kind of soul-mate connection even distance, age, and impossible circumstances couldn’t dim . . . Bloom’s goal is less to relitigate history than to portray the blandly sexless figurehead of First Lady as something the job rarely allows those women to be—a loving, breathing human being. And she does it brilliantly.”—Entertainment Weekly
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Amy Bloom takes on the true story of the love affair between a journalist and the First Lady with incredible historical research and attention to detail. The non-linear plot line ramps up the tension with a jigsaw puzzle of scenes that ultimately provide a deep understanding of what drove these two women together and apart.
White Houses by author Amy Bloom is historical fiction based on letters between Lorena Hickok and Eleanor Roosevelt. Although Lorena grew up in a poor family and suffered abuse as a child, she made a name for herself and was a successful writer. She was the top writer during the Lindberg Baby Kidnapping. It is very interesting to read her thoughts on this subject.
Lorena meets Eleanor in 1932 while she was a reporter with the Associated Press covering the presidential campaign. In 1933 Lorena is hired by Harry Hopkins to investigate the conditions the average American confronted in regard to the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA). During the next few years, Lorena and Eleanor become close friends. Lorena is given a room adjoining Eleanor’s room in the White House. The two friends vacation together and according to various sources, they were in love. They were the discrete open secret at the White House.
This book is written very well and with respect for the very special friendship and love between Lorena Hickok and Eleanor Roosevelt.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
An era we remember well if we are of a certain age (old). Elenore Roosevelt was a first lady who set the bar highly for those women who also would come after her.
Nothing I could say about this book would be more important than to do yourself a favor and read Amy Bloom’s novel. I think you will be intrigued.
This was well-done, a story of Eleanor and Hick. It hypothesizes (through the letters that they wrote to one another and the historical research the author did) that they were lovers. Nobody knows if it is true, of course, but it seems likely. Franklin comes off as a real cad, which he likely was, but a great President, which he certainly was. She describes Eisenhower, Truman, the Kennedys, the rest of the Roosevelt clan, etc. in ways that I suspect are entirely accurate and straight from Hick’s perceptive writings.
while this is listed as Historical fiction, it is hard to say ho w much is actually historical, and how much is ‘rumor made fact.’ It is an enjoyable read nonetheless, and for those who like political fiction, I highly recommend it. It gives an in depth look at what the ROosevelt characters might well have been like on a private level. And I found it to be very entertaining. Personally I would classify this more as Historical conjecture than fiction however.
Let me start by saying the writing was good, I really enjoyed the writing, but at the same time I want to mention it that it took me a whole week to read this book. I mean, I tend to read reads in between 2-4 days max but a whole week? It dragged a little too much, was it me? Maybe…
I loved the concept of the story line, it was what made it pick up the book and request it from NetGalley (thank you for the early copy) in the first place. Hick was a character that I don’t normally like and don’t normally would pick up and enjoy reading from their POV, but I did enjoy when she was talking about her life at the White house, when she would defend the Roosevelts and give her personal opinion about them. Hick grew up poor but made a name for herself when she became the most prominent woman reporter in America. She meets Eleanor in 1932 while reporting at the White House while reporting Roosevelts first campaign. Their friendship matures and they become a lot more than friends. Hick moves in to the White House has gets the reputation or more like the title of “first friend”. In this novel we get to see Hick’s life play out from her time while at the White House, her rival times and friendship with Roosevelt, to her times away from the Roosevelts but never losing sight of them at the same time. And we get to see what a little white house on Long Island holds to both Eleanor and Hick and at the end you end up wondering if you want it all to be oh so true or not so true.
Bottom line? The writing was amazing, the story line was there, but it did drag a little…still a great read and I still recommend it. 3.5 stars
Beautiful story told n the voice of Lorena Hickok known as “Hick” to her friends. It’s a coming of age story of growing up, of love and loss and observations during the 1930’s and 1940’s, pre and post Roosevelt. Lorena was a standout News reporter covering Franklin Roosevelt’s first run for President. She meets Eleanor and her life changes. Lorena started with less than nothing but educated herself and learned to fit in where needed.
This book is beautifully written. Amy Bloom has taken a work of fiction and made it real. The ups and downs of loving someone that is the center of the world for so many people because of position. The feelings of loving someone more than you love yourself.
I really enjoyed this book. You believe you are reading a biography when in fact it is a work of fiction that feels real. I highly recommend this poignant and beautiful story.
Writing and speculating about real people who are no longer alive and cannot defend themselves seems wrong to me. My book club selected this book and the only positive thing I can add is that it led me to do research only to discover that one of the main characters is totally fiction Parker Fiske and other incidents regarding Hick like her time in with the circus there was no evidence this was true.
This is a very moving factionalized account of the special friendship shared by Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok, the writer and journalist. It is also a behind the scenes look at the goings on in the White House during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. It’s a short book and an easy read that proves that behind every great man and every great woman, there is often a lot of hypocrisy and heartbreak.
I was excited to read the part fact/part fiction story of the romance between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hicks. Unfortunately, I was sadly disappointed. I was looking for a story about these two strong women. It was less of a story and more of reading Lorena Hicks journal. The only time I felt any emotions for the characters was when Hicks was telling the story of her childhood. I received a copy of this from Netgalley and this is my honest review.
This is a true kind of historical fiction, the kind that really makes you think it’s real. There isn’t much of a plot or conflict, it jumps between points in time, and it’s written in the first person. I wish it had more historical details, but I enjoyed exploring the relationship between Eleanor and the main character. It was well written enough to be interesting, though not compelling enough for me to read it furiously. **Received free through NetGalley, opinions are unbiased and my own**
White Houses is a fictional account of the love between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and journalist Lorena Hickock. I learned a lot about Lorena and thought she was a very interesting character. The childhood abuse she endured was heartbreaking. She struggled to become one of the first well known female journalist, in an exclusively male dominanted profession. Lorena first met Eleanor when she was the journalist assigned to cover Eleanor. I had a hard time believing the openness of their relationship due to the social unacceptance of loving another of the same sex. Lots of history popped up on the pages…the Lindbergh baby…Amelia Earhart…The World’s Fair…FDR’s infidelity. This is a short read and I did enjoy it!