Jenna's upcoming book

[DesertRat]

Those hoping to find a boozy confessional of Jenna Bush's misspent youth in the pages of her lucrative first book for HarperCollins, Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope, are in for a sobering experience.

In addition to the reported $300,000 advance Ms. Bush received for it, the book's also a key play in her makeover—an image retrofit ripped straight from the Angelina Jolie school of PR. Just as the A Mighty Heart star eradicated all of her Billy-Bob-blood-wearing, smack-shooting, Brad-and-Jen-wrecking past by trying to adopt half of the Third World, Ms. Bush spent a few months with poor kids in Latin America through UNICEF and seems to hope that, by the time the book hits shelves on October 7, everyone will forget about all those times she got hammered at Chuy's. At least she's not dirty dancing with Fabian Basabe.

Ana's Story is in no way Jenna's "What I Did Last Summer" essay (at least not according to the galley Radar got its hands on). In fact, it has almost no Jenna in it at all. Save for a brief introduction citing her reasons for writing it in the first place (she was inspired by Ana's "maturity and positive outlook on life") and a letter to readers at the end, the non-fiction yarn is entirely about Ana, an impoverished HIV-positive orphan shipped from one abusive home to another. At 16 the young woman falls in love with a fellow AIDS orphan and becomes pregnant after one night of unprotected sex. The book is aimed at ages 14 and up and, like a "very special" episode of an '80s sitcom, is rife with all kinds of useful info ("Ten Myths about AIDS") and ways to get involved.

With such an earnest subject, Ms. Bush has done well to deflect criticism from those who might point out that her prose—comparing Ana's life to a song, for example ("To me her words and her life are like a song—a song of hope and resiliance. I met with Ana for more than six months and listened to the melody and lyrics of her life."), or the complete and utter lack of any details of place or setting—is, well, not particularly good. And while Ana's message—abuse is bad, AIDS is a reality—seems obvious to the point of stupidity, the book's pro-condom/pro-education message is a kamikaze-like leap from Daddy's nest.

http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2007/06/jenna-bush-anas-story-harpercollins.php

[ladym55]

1. And who ghosted Jenna's book?

"Resiliance" is a big word. "Listened to the melody and lyrics of her life"????

Umm, this screams bad speechwriter, but what would I know? I can't picture anything remotely related to Dim Son able to write anything not involving crayons and things to color. :shrug:

[DesertRat]

10. A 6th grader perhaps.

[MisterP]

2. isn't that the one she hoped would be at least as big as Anne Frank?

[DesertRat]

5. did she really say that? n/t

[realisticphish]

6. if she said that

i will pay people not to buy the book

[Journeyman]

3. Good for her -- I hope she continues to find usefulness in her life. . .

though simplistic, this book seems a positive contribution. . . and a step towards self-realization for Ms Bush.

[Benhurst]

7. And, hey, while $300,000 is just petty cash for the Bush Crime Family,

there are some here on DU who might think that a mighty large advance for such a poor first effort.

[greenbriar]

8. hell, that would pay off ALL of our bills

EVER

[DesertRat]

9. That's 10 times the annual salary for most people her age.

[mitchum]

11. Mary Cheney bought a house AND a baby with her advance for...

a book that no one bought

[mike_c]

4. frankly, I'd be a lot more interested in Jenna's thoughts about Ana's life...

...when Jenna is fifty or so, and has some genuine perspective. Perhaps after having spent years visiting daddy in prison in The Netherlands.