Sarah Palin's memoir won't be published until November 17, but Time's Mark Halperin has talked to some Palin associates who have seen copies or been briefed on its contents ahead of time. Based on those interviews, he gives a preview: only five (long) chapters; score-settling and naming of names with regards to McCain staffers she believes to have crossed her; bashing of the national news media (a staple for Palin since she entered the national spotlight); an account of how her upbringing shaped her as a maverick; the importance of faith in her life; and a "warm and personal tone, written in Palin's own voice."
Pretty much what we'd expect: it sounds like a narrative about her
character, which is what her fans probably want--Palin is an intriguing
figure, and, even more so than for President Obama in the early days of
his presidential run, it's a cult of personality. And you had to know
there would be daggers for McCain staffers. That fight's been
brewing since before the election even ended, and, in all the profiles
and/or hit pieces on Palin that have come out since last November, a
central pillar is Palin's ferocious impulse to destroy those who attack
her.
Five chapters is an interesting choice. Just from a literary standpoint, long chapters can require lots of narrative transition, weaving in and out of anecdotes--something public figures tend to avoid with shorter chapters that let them separate anecdotes without having to tie them together into a longer narrative. The form requires a strong, sustained narrative voice to carry it--which can be challenging. But we all know Palin's voice is a strong one, so perhaps it plays to her strength.
For a woman who has struggled to regularly update her Facebook status, this constitutes a miracle. She must pal around with literary theorists.
Since she used a ghostwriter, won't the question of what Palin's authorial voice sounds like remain unanswered?
I could write a book in "Palin's voice" as well.
All it would take is a frontal lobotomy.
Chapter 1: I
Chapter 2: am
Chapter 3: a
Chapter 4: complete
Chapter 5: idiot
ROFLOL!
1. Chris, why didn't you just link to The Page? Why did you try to paraphrase the little info. that was leaked to Halperin?
2. I can't wait to buy this book. You Ivy League Elites may insist on having lots of chapters to prove y'all are smart, but those of us Real America who are just like Palin don't care how many chapters a book has. We care that it has feeling. And Sarah's got feeling in spades.
Almatt,
It ain't just the ivy league elites who detest the notion of uneducated white America putting a moron on a national pedestal. Sarah Palin is barely qualified to run a beauty salon, let alone a state. Her fundementalist rejection of science, her witch-burning pastor, are merely the symbols of national disgrace.
Anyone who follows Plain can't grasp the idea that belief doesn't replace science. Worse, you just don't get the shame and embarrassment you bring on Americans who venture out in the world.
The creationist museum was built for the Plain faithful. I'm sure Palin will have a speaking engagement there sometime soon. All the silly faithful can gather around exhibits of dinosaurs playing with cavekids and pray to the Christian god who can't stop laughing at her creations. Remember, this is the same god who created Newton, Hume, Darwin, Crick and Hawking.
God creates geniuses and low-lights to test you. Remember the biblical injunction against false idols? It's all about choosing your leaders wisely. If you praise Palin too much or commit the sin of voting for her, god may nudge a very large asteroid in our direction.
"Sarah's got feeling in spades". Indeed she does, Almatt, and that feeling is nausea.
I dunno, Charlotte, I think her feeling is "resentment."
Oh, come on! Does anyone seriously believe that Palin wrote one word of what is in this book?
I hope it's just a verbatim transcript of the word salad she must have put out when being taped by her ghostwriter. Each of the chapters must be one single run-on sentence.
Folks... have you considered that this woman could very well be elected President Of The United States? Consider the current reptilian aspect to her following. The same occurred in '96. Don't forget that America currently is deserving of another dead-head President. Get to WORK!!