Laura Bush

First Lady Laura Bush has kept her personal life away from the media, so this sympathetic biography is drawn from interviews with family and friends rather than with Mrs. Bush herself. The information is supplied by sources like the first lady's friend Pamela Nelson and former White House Chief of Staff Andy Card. Susan Denaker approaches the work respectfully. While carefully differentiating the dialogue of various speakers and altering her voice to provide Texas accents when appropriate, Denaker's reading of the narrative mostly retains the same placid pace. She has a pleasant voice, clear pronunciation, and a sedate evenness in her delivery. Kessler's biography doesn't provide the traditional narrative arc, moving instead from anecdote to anecdote, so Denaker's consistent performance is a welcome anchor. R.F. (c) AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine


Author Ronald Kessler, a former investigative reporter, holds nothing back in delivering the story of Laura Bush's life. Details are told about the tragic car accident in which she had a part, her life as a teacher and librarian, her love for George W. Bush, and her life as first lady. Narrator Laura Turner brings the book to life in a quiet, yet expressive manner. Friends and even former boyfriends of Mrs. Bush have been interviewed and are quoted. The audiobook listener is captivated by Turner's conversational approach. A truly good book becomes even more interesting through listening. Laura Turner's impressive narration vividly captures the life of Laura Bush. N.L. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine