Only got a third of the way thru this book before I put it down. Maybe because I have read so much about Eleanor Roosevelt?? Probably will not recommend it.

“In many dreams I've held you near,
Now, at last, you're really here.
“Where have you been?
I've looked for you forever and a day
Where have you been?
I'm just not myself when you're away”
-- Where Have You Been lyrics by Kathy Mattea

When Franklin D. Roosevelt was campaigning to become the 32nd President, Lorena Hickok was one of many reporters covering his campaign. Through this, she meets, and is befriended by Eleanor Roosevelt, despite their vast differences, economically and scholastically. Where Lorena Hickok, or “Hick” as she was called, was raised in an impoverished part of South Dakota, among the poorest of the poor, sexually abused, physically abused, and always, always hungry. Eleanor was raised without need. Hick worked in a man’s world, and could be brash and sometimes vulgar. Eleanor was the poster woman for compassion and endurance.

Their friendship may not have been rooted in conventional backgrounds, but their friendship blossomed, nevertheless. After FDR’s election, her status as “first friend” was a well know, if not openly acknowledged, state of affairs. And as this relationship deepens into more than just infatuation, more than just friendship, their bond becomes something seemingly unbreakable.

Amy Bloom gives us a glimpse into the private lives of these two public women, and the love they shared behind closed doors. What Bloom does bring to this is a wonderful insight into the times, and how these two women met and were irresistibly drawn to the other, seeing in each other the pieces that were missing in their lives. How their love changes over time. It is a love song, with a lifetime of verses.

Throughout, this story is relayed with a bit of veneration for their beautiful life-long love, a wonderfully imagined and told story of love. The writing seems subtly perceptive, if not consistently elevated, but there are moments, most notably the final chapter, which were so beautifully written that it took my breath away.



Pub Date 13 Feb 2018


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Random House Publishing Group - Random House

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35879608-white-houses" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="White Houses" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1504622710m/35879608.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35879608-white-houses">White Houses</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/115220.Amy_Bloom">Amy Bloom</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2205392174">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This book is a work of fiction based on the relationship of Eleanor Roosevelt and her long time friend and companion, Lorena Hickock. Lorena’s voice narrates this story. <br />They both seemed to be lost souls that found together, what they both never had in life, and it was written in a beautiful and intimate way. <br /><br />Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/12851291-karen">View all my reviews</a>

This is the story of the love affair between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok. Even though Lorena had a very tough early life, she didn't give up. She worked hard and became a reporter. Eleanor and Lorena met when she was reporting on Franklin D. Roosevelt. Even though this is historical fiction, it seemed so real. It was easy to tell how much they loved each other. It was a good book!

After highly anticipating this novel I was very disappointed by it. The author makes it clear from her notes that this is a complete work of fiction, and I feel that she has devalued these women in the way she portrays them. There was no real character development, no attempt to understand who these two larger than life women really were.

This is a work of historical fiction about first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and her romantic relationship with American journalist Lorena Hickok (nicknamed "Hick"). Born in Wisconsin, Hickok triumphed over a disastrous childhood to eventually become a reporter for the Associated Press (AP). She was assigned to cover Franklin D. Roosevelt's first presidential campaign when she established a close friendship with the future First Lady.

I had an unusual experience reading this book in that I tore through the first third of the book during a short evening, it was so riveting. This occurred while reading about Hick's horrible childhood. Ironically enough, once I transitioned to the next two thirds of the book covering Hick's existence while living amidst the Franklins, I found it much less interesting. While I had an emotional investment in the trevails of Hick's wretched youth and admired her triumph over adversity, I didn't feel that connection to the adult version of her character. I'm not sure if it comes down to her not being likeable or a lack of depth to the writing. Perhaps the sheer poignancy of her upbringing was enough to lure me in, but the rest of the book (sadly) left me wanting.

This was an extremely well written book and worthy of a read to anyone who is interested in the life of Eleanor Roosevelt and her life.

I enjoyed this fictionalization of the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok. The narrative is from the POV of Hick and, in addition to detailing their relationship, hidden in plain sight, it gives Hickok’s backstory, which is absolutely fascinating in itself. Fast paced and striking the perfect tone, this is a fun and interesting read.

Excellent historical fiction novel based on the life of Lenora Hickok and her relationship with Eleanor Roosevelt.

It has taken me a long time to get through this. Mixing fact with fiction is always tricky. No one except Lorena and Eleanor really know what was said or how they acted behind closed doors. I just didn’t find Lorena or her story that interesting.

A fly on the wall, that is how I felt reading this novel. Told from the viewpoint of Hick, we are privvy to intimate glimpses of her relationship with Eleanor, as well as glimpses into the secrets of those living in the White House. Roosevelt and his harem, as Hick calls them, the way his polio was hidden, and the relationship he and Eleanor had with their children.

The book opens a short time after Roosevelt's death, and circles back to this period often. This is very much Hicks story though, so we also learn details of her early life, which doesn't make for pretty reading. She had a hard beginning, and in one part, though it is short lived there is some horrific happenings with a few animals, and sexual abuse. Difficult to read, and is easily skimmed over, but an important part of Hicks story, letting the reader understand what a determined individual she was, willing to fight for those she loved. Her determination to not give up let her to a life far above her beginnings.

A poignant glimpse into her and Eleanor's relationships, the ups and downs, the need for secrecy, always aware of how others perceived their relationship. Amazing how many things were not written about back then, not reported, seems much easier to hide things then in current times. We also see history happening through Hicks eyes, the personality of Eleanor, and how she felt about what was happening in the world.

The prose is wonderful, clear and concise, one of those books where not a word is wasted. I do think readers who love history, or the lives of Eleanor and Franklin, will like this book best. It is very well done.

ARC from Netgalley.

Whenever I read fictionalized accounts of famous people I always wonder about what really happened. I especially wonder about their conversations and I have to keep reminding myself that I'm reading a work of fiction. Amy Bloom in this wonderfully written book, imagines the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lenora Hickok, an AP reporter who becomes Eleanor's "first friend" and actually for a time moves into the White House. While I did wonder here what actually happened and what was imagined, what their relationship was really like, the story definitely has a real feel to it and almost reads like Lorena's memoir as it is told from her point of view. The two could not have come from more opposite backgrounds and while we get glimpses from their conversations of the privileged, upper crust family that Eleanor was raised in, we get more details about Lenora's sad childhood of poverty and abuse.

The narrative moves back and forth from the 1945, just after FDR died as Eleanor summons Lenora to her side. They have not been together for a long time, but their beginnings and past relationship is told by Lenora and we get a better understanding of what these two women meant to each other. The joyful descriptions of their trips together as well as other times spent together in the White House depict a loving relationship. I couldn't help but be thankful that Eleanor had Lenora as her solace, while FDR carried on his extramarital affairs in the White House and their children always seeming to favor their father. Another aspect of the book that I really liked was how through their story, the time and events around them are depicted such as the Depression and some interesting things about The Lindbergh kidnapping.

I was hoping that Bloom would have included sources. Since what I read is an advanced copy, I hope that in the final version they will be listed . I did enjoy it for sure. It's 3.5+ stars for me and that reflects my own dilemma with this type of book, but I have to move it up to 4 stars because the writing is not to be missed.

Thanks once again to Diane and Esil for another terrific read together, which we have made into a monthly event.


I received an advanced copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Random House through NetGalley.

White Houses is a fictionalized account of Eleanor Roosevelt's relationship with Lorena Hickok. The novel is narrated from Hickok's perspective. It's more of a character study than a story. Hickok recounts part of her childhood, and moves back and forth in time, always coming back to the few days following FDR's death. What made this worth reading to me were the writing and the sharply drawn personalities of these characters. Bloom makes it easy to understand what drew these women together and pulled them apart. And the last chapter was beautiful and heartbreaking.

White Houses is a beautifully written impressionistic depiction of two women caught in a particular time in history. I knew nothing about this relationship and very little about Eleanor Roosevelt. It's always hard to know how true a work of historical fiction is to the characters or events it depicts. In this case, it's hard to tell but Bloom's depiction of these women has a convincing air of reality. I'm left wanting to read more about them -- especially Eleanor -- which is not a bad thing.

A note of caution to anyone who is sensitive about child abuse and animal cruelty. There are a few difficult scenes early on dealing with Hickok's childhood.

Another lovely monthly buddy read with Diane and Angela! And thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

It has long been speculated that Eleanor Roosevelt was a lesbian and that her longest and most committed relationship was with a journalist assigned to report on her, Lorena Hickock. In this book, LIsa Bloom, an award nominated writer, writes a speculative fiction about the relationship between the two women told from the viewpoint of Hickock. The troubled marriage of FDR and his "Missus" has long been known, and his parade of mistresses,, even after he made promises to Eleanor that he would not parade them in front of her, is factual. Looking at the story from the other side, that is, that Eleanor sought love and physical comfort from another woman turns the historical story on its ear. The description of the women's physical relationship is mentioned -- more than mentioned -- but is not in any way offensive. These are tender lovers who glory in each other's presence and are better women for their relationship with the other. The question, perhaps, is whether this expanded view of Eleanor, the "First Lady of the World," is something that will connect with the public. The author introduces other gay and lesbian characters in the book and makes clear that their "perverted" relationships were not the stuff of living room conversation. In fact, when a gay relative threatens to go public with Eleanor and "Hicks" relationship in an attempt to cover his own gay affair with a black man, it is clear that this is a threat that is too big for the time and place. Perhaps the book would have flowed better told more from Eleanor's viewpoint, but Lorena is the historical asterisk that Bloom wishes to portray and at times she is too stodgy, too obsessed, and simply not vivid enough to hold the reader's attention. Still, as a interesting postscript to history, especially in this time when LGBTQ rights are threatened in a more Conservative culture, the fact of arguably the greatest First Lady in American History having a gay lover, is an intriguing premise. The book may not be everyone's cup of tea, but the author's reputation for excellent writing may carry the day and the book.

I have loved Amy Bloom’s books, but this was not a book I loved. For some reason, I found it too dark and painful to enjoy. It’s hard to write historical fiction, especially about such a famous family, and in telling the story I found the book retelling a tale that perhaps didn’t need retelling.

As a New Yorker I have had a great deal of contact with the venues described in the book. As a historian, I was familiar with the story that was restold. I just found it too sad to be involved or comfortable with the love story of Eleanor and Lorena.

So, despite my enjoyment of other Bloom novels, this one didn’t keep me interested or make me happy.

This seemed like an exercise in historical fiction storytelling, the first two thirds were interesting but the last third was sort of a slog. Low a Hickok was an interesting person and Eleanor Roosevelt is always fascinating but their story together I just did not find that compelling.

While Ikm a big fan of Mrs. Roosevelt and am interested in this relationship, Bloomks book doesn’t elucidate much. I found it’s writing to be mediocre and am disappointed that what could have been an excellent novel falls far short of that mark.

A fictional version of a love affair between Eleanor Roosevelt and a White House reporter.
While recounting their many exploits, the author also shows the strong and sincere emotional attatchment between the two, an attachment that goes much deeper than their sexual relationship.
The personality and winning ways of the President, become part of the narrative.
It seems that Eleanor and Franklin had a mutual understanding and acceptance of their roles as President and First Lady.
"The country needed him and he need her," says the reporter.
An interesting book!

This book is a factious account of the relationship between Lorena Hickok and Eleanor Roosevelt. The author, Amy Bloom, writes this storyline from the perspective of Lorena and how she was treated by Eleanor, FDR, and others in the White House. Hickok states her undying love between the two, but with all the introspective of any loving relationship with its ups and downs.

I was somewhat disappointed in this book. The author shows Lorena as a whinny, disgruntled, unfaithful woman. This may well be who she was but the author does not show what research was used to substantiate her writing. The novel is portrayed as historical fiction, but I would have liked to have the author explain what research upheld the basis for any of her portrayal. To me this is a novel only about a time period.

Interesting, well written, would definitely recommend this book. There were real characters and events that I was not aware of causing me to have to stop reading and do some research, quite interesting! All in all a good read.