George Bush, Dark Prince of Love

A lonely woman working as a taxidermist develops an intense romantic obsession with President George H.W. Bush during his time in office. She records her daily thoughts about Bush in detailed letters while watching his speeches and public appearances on television. She begins taking steps to get closer to the president, moving from writing letters to more direct attempts at contact. Her fixation with Bush coexists alongside interactions with local eccentrics in her small Southwestern town. The narrative follows her increasingly elaborate schemes to make a connection with Bush, while her personal life and career continue to intersect with her presidential preoccupation. The story spans Bush's presidency and beyond. The novel uses its unconventional premise to explore themes of unrequited love, celebrity worship, and the distance between ordinary citizens and political power. Through dark humor and satire, it examines how public figures become vessels for private fantasies.

Readers describe this novel as a bizarre, satirical take on one woman's obsession with George H.W. Bush. Most reviews note the book's offbeat humor and absurdist style. Liked: - Unconventional comedic approach to political satire - Sharp commentary on celebrity worship culture - Main character's delusional yet compelling voice - Quick, engaging pace Disliked: - Humor too strange or specific for some readers - Plot meanders without clear direction - Bush references feel dated - Some found it too short at 176 pages Review Scores: Goodreads: 3.4/5 (81 ratings) Amazon: 3.2/5 (8 reviews) Sample Reader Comments: "Weird and wonderful...made me laugh out loud" - Goodreads reviewer "Too bizarre to be truly enjoyable" - Amazon reviewer "A fever dream of 90s politics" - LibraryThing user "Like a John Waters movie in book form" - Goodreads reviewer

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🌟 The book is a satirical novel about a trailer park resident who becomes obsessed with President George H.W. Bush after seeing him on television during the Gulf War. 🌟 Author Lydia Millet wrote this book while working as a copy editor at Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy organization. 🌟 The protagonist of the novel sends President Bush thousands of letters, including a piece of her wall paneling and a jar of her own fingernail clippings. 🌟 Despite its comedic premise, the book explores deeper themes of class disparity and political celebrity worship in American culture. 🌟 Lydia Millet went on to become a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2010 for her novel "Love in Infant Monkeys," but this earlier work helped establish her reputation for blending humor with social commentary.