State of the Union

State of the Union follows Hannah Buchan, a wife and mother in 1960s Maine who seems to have achieved the American Dream with her doctor husband and picture-perfect family life. Her world centers around domestic duties and social obligations in their small conservative town. When Hannah meets a left-wing journalist from New York, their connection forces her to question her choices and the restrictive social conventions of her era. The story tracks her journey through personal awakening and mounting tensions between duty and desire. The narrative spans several decades of American history, moving between Maine and New York City against the backdrop of the Cold War, civil rights movement, and changing roles of women in society. Kennedy examines marriage, class divides, and political ideologies through the lens of one woman's experience. The novel explores themes of personal freedom versus social conformity and the costs of challenging established norms. Through Hannah's story, the book considers how larger cultural and political forces shape individual lives and choices.

Readers describe this as a page-turning drama about marriage and secrets, though many note it moves slowly in the first third. The political backdrop and Maine setting receive positive mentions for authenticity. Likes: - Complex character development, especially of Hannah's internal struggles - Detailed portrayal of small-town Maine life and culture - Examination of marriage and trust - Satisfying ending resolution Dislikes: - Slow pacing through first 100-150 pages - Some found political elements heavy-handed - Multiple readers say the protagonist can be frustrating and self-absorbed - Several note it's more relationship-focused than the political thriller they expected Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (1,400+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (120+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (50+ ratings) "The strength is in the small details and human moments" - Goodreads reviewer "Takes too long to get going but worth pushing through" - Amazon reviewer

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🔖 State of the Union explores the complexities of marriage in 1960s Maine, a time when divorce carried intense social stigma 📚 Douglas Kennedy wrote this novel after discovering that his own mother had considered leaving his father in the 1960s 🌟 The book was adapted into a successful BBC Radio 4 play starring Lorelei King 🎭 The protagonist's journey reflects the emerging feminist consciousness of the 1960s, particularly Betty Friedan's "The Feminine Mystique" 🗽 Though Kennedy is American-born, he achieved literary success first in France and the UK before becoming popular in his home country