BOOK #36
Monday, 09/02/07 to Sunday, 09/09/07
ISBN-10: 1401360297
ISBN-13: 978-1401360290
Yes - it's chick lit written by Al Gore's daughter, Kristin. Sounds like a very bad combination, at first. But if you look a little closer, you will find political commentary of some substance, a believable - and hilarious - heroine, and decent writing. I enjoyed it... seems like others did, as well:
Newsweek
"A hilarious first novel…a laugh-out-loud literary debut."
Washington Post Book World
"A chick-lit romp with a Capitol Hill twist."
The New York Times
"Bridget Jones in high-wonk Washington mode."
Liz Smith, New York Post
"A charming novel about life as a congressional aide and on the campaign trail…a delightful read."
San Francisco Chronicle
"Laugh-out-loud funny…fresh and clever."
Elle
"A beltway Bridget Jones."
O, The Oprah magazine
"Her light and juicy tale is an absurd and convincing rendering of everyday life in the political jungle."
Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons
"Full of sly plot twists and big laughs, and every word rings true."
San Francisco Chronicle
"Laugh-out-loud funny…fresh and clever."
BOOK DESCRIPTION
In her debut novel Sammy's Hill, Kristin Gore treats readers to an insider's view of life and love on Capitol Hill. In fact, the view couldn't get much more inside the Beltway, especially coming from former Vice President Al Gore's daughter. Still, Sammy's Hill is witty and engaging enough to prove that it's not always who you know, but sometimes how well you tell their stories.Samantha Joyce, Gore's heroine, is a 26-year-old self-deprecating health-care policy advisor to Robert Gary, a well-respected senator from her home state of Ohio.
Between endless work days, a grueling campaign schedule, and frequent trips to the pet store where she seeks advice on caring for her listless Japanese fighting fish, Sammy finds time to obsess over her new boyfriend, sexy speechwriter Aaron Driver. As things heat up with Aaron, Sammy's work schedule takes on a new intensity when Gary becomes the Democratic candidate for vice president. Along the way, scandal clouds both her personal and professional life, and our heroine discovers the often salacious underbelly of life on the hill.
Gore is best-known for her work as a writer on television shows such as Saturday Night Live and Futurama, and her comedic talents certainly shine through in this first effort. While at times the banter is overly constructed, and Sammy's neuroses can become grating at best ("...a sore throat was never just a sore throat--it was much more lively the beginning stages of Ebola, rickets, or wasting disease."), Gore does a good job of creating a protagonist who becomes ever more likeable as the book progresses. Thrown into the mix is a delicious sprinkling of hilarious Blackberry exchanges that round out this clever contemporary political adventure. --Gisele Toueg
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kristin Gore, a daughter Al and Tipper Gore, has written for several television shows, including Saturday Night Live and Futurama. Her first novel, the bestseller Sammy's Hill, will be a feature film from Columbia Pictures. Gore lives in Los Angeles.
REVIEW FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY:
This first novel by Al Gore's daughter is a fun, fast read, anchored by likable heroine Samantha Joyce, who spends her days toiling as domestic policy adviser to the noble Ohio senator Robert Gary, while neurotically carving out a social and romantic life. Just 26 and amazed that she's the senator's go-to girl on health policy, Samantha thinks she's gotten another lucky break when she meets Aaron Driver, speechwriter to Democratic presidential front-runner John Bramen. Aaron is "hot, and not just D.C. hot," and Samantha falls hard for him. Early on in their relationship, a Blackberry mishap—she mistakenly sends a message featuring whipped cream and video cameras to a list of important Washington players—gives Samantha her first taste of D.C. scandal, but it's soon eclipsed by politics and deception on a grand scale. As Gary goes up against backstabbing Bramen, eventually accepting the vice-presidential spot on Bramen's rival's ticket, Samantha learns of Aaron's epic infidelities. Samantha's whimsical asides and long-winded explication of political matters give the novel an awkward bulkiness, but her self-deprecating sense of humor and idealism will keep readers entertained.
Kristin Gore's second "Sammy" book is available in hardback now:
Sammy's House
ISBN-10: 1401302645
ISBN-13: 978-1401302641
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