An Invitation to the White House by Hillary Rodham Clinton (2000, Hardcover, Illustrated)

Written from a woman-centered and empowering position, this textual "invitation" through the US White House by co-President Hillary Rodham Clinton should be famous for its uniqueness and detail.

What Hillary chose to reveal about the White House during her 8 years of living there provides us with a very different perspective. She includes details of the meals served, the china they were served upon, and decenters the public fixation on the furniture, the rooms, the material White House that anyone could take pictures of and write about. There are plenty of those kinds of White House texts already published, so why produce yet another picture book without personal views included?

Hillary places the White House she lived in, in context. That is as unique as her experiences and opinions about living there. This view of the White House is the best one I've read.

I love history and historical places. The White House has always fascinated me and this book is full of pictures showing people and events. Mrs. Clinton gives her viewpoint of actually living in the White House as First Lady and writes about the behind the scenes activity to major State dinners, entertainment and restoration projects. The photos are magnificent. She includes recipes (with photos) that will make your mouth water. Also included are First Family pictures and reminiscences.

This is not your typical White House history book. It's much more. It's personal, informative and gives you an idea of how much the First Lady has to do with regard to planning. I found it very interesting to read and just may try one of those extremely fancy recipes one of these days.