"White Houses" by Amy Bloom

White Houses by Amy Bloom
Call Number: FICTION Bloom
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.

"White Houses" by Amy Bloom is a historical novel that explores the relationship between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and journalist Lorena Hickok. The novel delves into the complexities of their connection and the challenges they faced. Here are some discussion questions for "White Houses":

Exploring Relationships:
- How does Amy Bloom depict the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok? In what ways does their connection evolve throughout the novel?
Historical Context:
- Consider the historical context of the novel, including the time period and the socio-political landscape. How does the author incorporate real historical events into the narrative?
Lorena Hickok's Perspective:
- The novel is told from the perspective of Lorena Hickok. How does this narrative choice influence the reader's understanding of the characters and events?
Eleanor Roosevelt's Characterization:
- Analyze the portrayal of Eleanor Roosevelt in the novel. How does the author depict her as a public figure and as an individual with personal struggles?
Themes of Love and Sacrifice:
- Explore the themes of love and sacrifice in the novel. In what ways do Eleanor and Hick navigate societal expectations and personal sacrifices for their relationship?
Impact of Public Life:
- Discuss the impact of Eleanor's role as the First Lady on her personal life and relationships. How does the public scrutiny affect her decisions and interactions?
LGBTQ+ Themes:
- Consider the exploration of LGBTQ+ themes in "White Houses." How does the novel address the challenges faced by queer individuals during the time period?
Friendship and Romance:
- The novel explores the fine line between friendship and romance. How does the author navigate the complexities of the relationship between Eleanor and Hickok?
Political and Social Commentary:
- Analyze the political and social commentary presented in the novel. How does it reflect the attitudes of the time regarding gender roles, sexuality, and power dynamics?
Narrative Structure:
- The novel employs a non-linear narrative structure. Discuss the impact of this structure on the storytelling and the reader's experience.
Literary Style:
- Comment on Amy Bloom's writing style. How does her prose contribute to the emotional depth and engagement with the characters?
Impact on History:
- Consider the novel's portrayal of Eleanor Roosevelt's impact on history. In what ways does the narrative contribute to a broader understanding of her legacy?

These questions can serve as a starting point for a discussion on various aspects of "White Houses" by Amy Bloom, encouraging readers to explore the themes, characters, and historical context presented in the novel.

The friendship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok is historically significant and has been explored in various biographies and fictional works. While their relationship started as a friendship, it developed into a close and intimate connection that has sparked interest and discussions.

Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962):

Early Life:
- Eleanor Roosevelt, born Anna Eleanor Roosevelt, was the niece of President Theodore Roosevelt. She grew up in a privileged but troubled family, facing the loss of her parents at a young age.
Marriage to Franklin D. Roosevelt:
- In 1905, Eleanor married her distant cousin, Franklin D. Roosevelt. They had six children together.
Activism and Social Work:
- Eleanor became a prominent figure in American history, known for her advocacy of social justice, civil rights, and humanitarian causes. She served as the First Lady during her husband's presidency (1933–1945).
Independence and Legacy:
- After Franklin's death, Eleanor continued her active involvement in public life. She played a crucial role in the drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and left a lasting legacy as a champion of human rights.

Lorena Hickok (1893–1968):

Journalism Career:
- Lorena Hickok, known as Hick, was a journalist and one of the first female reporters for the Associated Press. She covered the 1932 presidential campaign, where she developed a professional relationship with Eleanor Roosevelt.
Close Friendship with Eleanor:
- The friendship between Eleanor and Hick deepened during Franklin's presidency. Hick lived in the White House for a time and accompanied Eleanor on trips. The two women exchanged numerous letters that revealed their emotional closeness.
Intimate Relationship:
- While their friendship began as a professional connection, it evolved into a more intimate relationship. Some historical accounts and letters suggest a romantic aspect to their relationship, although the extent and nature of this connection have been debated.

Their Friendship in Historical Context:

Challenges and Social Norms:
- During the 1930s and 1940s, the nature of Eleanor and Hick's relationship faced challenges due to societal norms and the public's perception of appropriate behavior.
Personal Struggles:
- Both women faced personal challenges, including Eleanor's tumultuous marriage and Hick's struggles with her own identity. Their friendship provided support during difficult times.
Correspondence:
- The extensive correspondence between Eleanor and Hick, including letters and diary entries, serves as a historical record of their friendship and emotional connection.

Legacy:

Impact on Eleanor Roosevelt:
- Hick played a significant role in Eleanor's life, providing companionship, emotional support, and a deep connection that complemented Eleanor's public role.
Historical Interpretation:
- Scholars and biographers have explored and interpreted the nature of Eleanor and Hick's relationship. Some emphasize the emotional and intellectual connection, while others delve into the possible romantic aspects.
Literary Works:
- Their relationship has been fictionalized in works like "White Houses" by Amy Bloom, offering one interpretation of the dynamics between these two historical figures.

The friendship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok remains a subject of historical exploration and interpretation. While their relationship faced challenges and has been scrutinized, it underscores the complexities of personal connections in the context of historical and societal norms.

Amy Bloom is an American author and psychotherapist known for her work in both fiction and nonfiction. Here is a brief biography of Amy Bloom:

Early Life and Education:

Birth:
- Amy Bloom was born on June 24, 1953, in New York City, USA.
Educational Background:
- She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University in 1975.
Graduate Studies:
- Bloom pursued graduate studies in social work at Smith College School for Social Work, earning a Master's degree in social work.

Career:

Psychotherapy:
- Amy Bloom worked as a clinical psychotherapist for many years, specializing in grief and trauma.

Literary Career:

Fiction and Nonfiction:
- Amy Bloom is known for her contributions to both fiction and nonfiction.
Novels and Short Stories:
- She has authored several novels and collections of short stories. Notable works include "Come to Me" (1993), "Love Invents Us" (1997), and "Away" (2007).
Historical Fiction:
- Bloom is recognized for her historical fiction, often exploring complex characters and relationships against the backdrop of significant historical events.
"White Houses" (2018):
- One of her notable works is "White Houses," a historical novel that delves into the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok.
Nonfiction:
- Amy Bloom has also written nonfiction, including essays and articles on various topics.
Teaching:
- In addition to her writing, Bloom has taught creative writing at Yale University's Department of English.

Awards and Recognition:

National Magazine Award:
- Bloom's short story "Silver Water" received a National Magazine Award.
Nomination for the National Book Award:
- Her novel "Come to Me" was a finalist for the National Book Award.
Honors:
- Amy Bloom has received various honors and accolades for her contributions to literature.

Personal Life:

Family:
- Details about Amy Bloom's personal life, including her family, are generally kept private.

Legacy:

Literary Impact:
- Amy Bloom is celebrated for her skillful storytelling, exploration of complex emotions, and her ability to create vivid and memorable characters.
Contribution to LGBTQ+ Literature:
- "White Houses" explores LGBTQ+ themes, particularly in its portrayal of the relationship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok.

Eleanor and Hick by Susan Quinn
Call Number: BIOGRAPHY ROOSEVELT Quinn
In 1932, as her husband assumed the presidency, Eleanor Roosevelt entered the claustrophobic, duty-bound existence of the First Lady with dread. A lifeline came to her in the form of a feisty campaign reporter for the Associated Press: Lorena Hickok. Over the next 30 years, until Eleanor's death, the two women carried on an extraordinary relationship. They were, at different points, lovers, confidantes, professional advisors and caring friends. This is their story, told with warmth and charm.
Empty Without You by Rodger Streitmatter
Call Number: BIO ROOSEVELT
In 1978, more than 3,500 letters written over a thirty-year friendship between Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok were discovered by archivists. Although the most explicit letters had been burned (Lorena told Eleanor's daughter, "Your mother wasn't always so very discreet in her letters to me"), the find was still electrifying enough to create controversy about the nature of the women's relationship. Historian Rodger Streitmatter has transcribed and annotated more than 300 of those letters-published here for the first time-and put them within the context of the lives of these two extraordinary women, allowing us to understand the role of this remarkable friendship in Roosevelt's transformation into a crusading First Lady.
Courting Mr. Lincoln by Louis Bayard
Call Number: FICTION Bayard
When Mary Todd meets Abraham Lincoln in Springfield in the winter of 1840, he is on no one's short list to be president. A country lawyer living above a dry goods shop, he is lacking both money and manners, and his gift for oratory surprises those who meet him. Mary, a quick, self-possessed debutante with an interest in debates and elections, at first finds him an enigma. "I can only hope," she tells his roommate, the handsome, charming Joshua Speed, "that his waters being so very still, they also run deep." It's not long, though, before she sees the Lincoln that Speed knows: an amiable, profound man who, despite his awkwardness, has a gentle wit to match his genius, and who respects her keen political mind. But as her relationship with Lincoln deepens, she must confront his inseparable friendship with Speed, who has taught his roommate how to dance, dress, and navigate the polite society of Springfield. Told in the alternating voices of Mary Todd and Joshua Speed, and inspired by historical events, Courting Mr. Lincoln creates a sympathetic and complex portrait of Mary unlike any that has come before; a moving portrayal of the deep and very real connection between the two men; and most of all, an evocation of the unformed man who would grow into one of the nation's most beloved presidents.
Mrs. Lincoln's Sisters by Jennifer Chiaverini
Call Number: FICTION Chiaverini
In May 1875, Elizabeth Todd Edwards reels from news that her younger sister Mary, former First Lady and widow of President Abraham Lincoln, has attempted suicide. Mary's shocking act followed legal proceedings arranged by her eldest and only surviving son that declared her legally insane. Although they have long been estranged, Elizabeth knows Mary's tenuous mental health has deteriorated through decades of trauma and loss. Yet is her suicide attempt truly the impulse of a deranged mind, or the desperate act of a sane woman terrified to be committed to an asylum And--if her sisters can put past grievances aside--is their love powerful enough to save her Maternal Elizabeth, peacemaker Frances, envious Ann, and much adored Emilie had always turned to one another in times of joy and heartache, first as children, and later as young wives and mothers. But when Civil War erupted, the conflict that divided a nation shattered their family. The Todd sisters's fates were bound to their husbands' choices as some joined the Lincoln administration, others the Confederate Army. Now, though discord and tragedy have strained their bonds, Elizabeth knows they must come together as sisters to help Mary in her most desperate hour.
Learned by Heart by Emma Donoghue
Call Number: FICTION Donoghue
Drawing on years of investigation and Anne Lister's five-million-word secret journal, Learned by Heart is the long-buried love story of Eliza Raine, an orphan heiress banished from India to England at age six, and Anne Lister, a brilliant, troublesome tomboy, who meet at the Manor School for young ladies in York in 1805 when they are both fourteen. Emotionally intense, psychologically compelling, and deeply researched, Learned by Heart is an extraordinary work of fiction by one of the world's greatest storytellers. Full of passion and heartbreak, the tangled lives of Anne Lister and Eliza Raine form a love story for the ages.
The Age of Desire by Jennie Fields
Call Number: FICTION Fields
They say behind every great man is a woman. Behind Edith Wharton, there was Anna Bahlmann--her governess turned literary secretary, and her mothering, nurturing friend. When at the age of forty-five, Edith falls passionately in love with a dashing younger journalist, Morton Fullerton, and is at last opened to the world of the sensual, it threatens everything certain in her life but especially her abiding friendship with Anna. As Edith's marriage crumbles and Anna's disapproval threatens to shatter their lifelong bond, the women must face the fragility at the heart of all friendships. Told through the points of view of both women, The Age of Desire takes us on a vivid journey through Wharton's early Gilded Age world: Paris with its glamorous literary salons and dark secret cafés, the Whartons' elegant house in Lenox, Massachusetts, and Henry James's manse in Rye, England. Edith's real letters and intimate diary entries are woven throughout the book. The Age of Desire brings to life one of literature's most beloved writers, whose own story was as complex and nuanced as that of any of the heroines she created.
Love and Ruin by Paula McLain
Call Number: FICTION McLain
In 1937, twenty-eight-year-old Martha Gellhorn travels alone to Madrid to report on the atrocities of the Spanish Civil War and becomes drawn to the stories of ordinary people caught in the devastating conflict. It's her chance to prove herself a worthy journalist in a field dominated by men. There she also finds herself unexpectedly--and unwillingly--falling in love with Ernest Hemingway, a man on his way to becoming a legend. On the eve of World War II, and set against the turbulent backdrops of Madrid and Cuba, Martha and Ernest's relationship and careers ignite. But when Ernest publishes the biggest literary success of his career, For Whom the Bell Tolls, they are no longer equals, and Martha must forge a path as her own woman and writer.
Undiscovered Country by Kelly O'Connor McNees
Call Number: FICTION McNees
In October 1932, at the end of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's first presidential campaign, Eleanor Roosevelt took an overnight train from Potsdam to Albany with Lorena "Hick" Hickok, one of the top Associated Press reporters in the country. That train ride marked the beginning of an extraordinary relationship that would last the rest of Hick and Eleanor's lives. In Undiscovered Country , Kelly O'Connor McNees adroitly mixes fact and fiction to present an intimate portrait of the love that bloomed between these two women, hidden in plain sight. Using historical records (including the more than three thousand letters the pair exchanged over a span of thirty years), McNees portrays their relationship from their introduction as reporter and subject through their intense first meetings, their burgeoning affair, and the conflicts that arose as journalist Hick's ethics were hopelessly compromised by her affection for the woman she was supposed to be covering. A remarkable portrait of Depression-era America (including Hick and Eleanor's work on the founding of Arthurdale, the federal housing project in West Virginia for homeless ex-miners), Undiscovered Country is an extraordinary portrayal of one of the greatest unknown love stories in American politics.
Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld
Call Number: FICTION Sittenfeld
In 1971, Hillary Rodham is a young woman full of promise: Life magazine has covered her Wellesley commencement speech, she's attending Yale Law School, and she's on the forefront of student activism and the women's rights movement. And then she meets Bill Clinton. A handsome, charismatic southerner and fellow law student, Bill is already planning his political career. In each other, the two find a profound intellectual, emotional, and physical connection that neither has previously experienced. In the real world, Hillary followed Bill back to Arkansas, and he proposed several times; although she said no more than once, as we all know, she eventually accepted and became Hillary Clinton. But in Curtis Sittenfeld's powerfully imagined tour-de-force of fiction, Hillary takes a different road. Feeling doubt about the prospective marriage, she endures their devastating breakup and leaves Arkansas. Over the next four decades, she blazes her own trail--one that unfolds in public as well as in private, that involves crossing paths again (and again) with Bill Clinton, that raises questions about the tradeoffs all of us must make in building a life. Brilliantly weaving a riveting fictional tale into actual historical events, Curtis Sittenfeld delivers an uncannily astute and witty story for our times. In exploring the loneliness, moral ambivalence, and iron determination that characterize the quest for political power, as well as both the exhilaration and painful compromises demanded of female ambition in a world still run mostly by men, Rodham is a singular and unforgettable novel.

Historical Fiction Book Club - Past Titles: "White Houses" by Amy Bloom

"White Houses" by Amy Bloom

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