A Time to Run

By Barbara Boxer

Book Overview

Written with a true insider's perspective, A Time to Run is the remarkable literary debut of United States Senator Barbara Boxer, one of the most admired and respected figures on the political scene. Senator Boxer, writing with Mary-Rose Hayes, tells an exciting tale of friendship and betrayal, idealism and pragmatism, in-fighting and public spin. The novel follows Ellen Fines from her days as a college student through romantic entanglements and a difficult marriage to a rising political star. When her husband is killed in a car accident during his campaign for the Senate, Ellen assumes his candidacy and achieves an upset victory over a political machine. On the eve of a crucial vote, past and public worlds collide when Ellen's former lover, now a journalist with strong right-wing connections, gives her sensitive documents that could either make or break her career. From hideaways deep under the U.S. Capitol to wealthy southern California ranches to the political unrest on the streets of Berkeley, A Time to Run is a great read, and a fascinating, up-close story of power and trust.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0811850439
• ISBN13: 9780811850438
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Chronicle Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.2"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

fun book from a straight shooter

This is a fun book. It is not fact, but a play on the reality of the senate. I enjoyed it, and I did not bring my personal like or dislike of the Senator into the story.....as seemingly others have who were able to immediately give a review. Worth a read for fun.

Vote YES on Boxer and this review!

Yes, the story is fiction and written by a brilliant Senator, Barbara Boxer of California. Folks, the novel is not only juicy but also gives light in what a United States senator's private duties are. This novel is not just fun to read but she actually injects the hideaways in the Capitol for the senators and the cool inside stuff about the dilemmas that senators go through. There is corruption, there are some politics in this novel but remember this was fun! This is a rare gem that was years in the making and probably close to this senator's heart! I met her at the book signing and she was gracious enough to sign the book to me, take pictures with me and also leave a special friend of mine a personal message from my cell phone. This woman has a lot of courage, is ambitious, is clearly a genius and deserves excellent recognition for fer effort! I say bravo, Ms. Boxer! Not only are you a fine writer but a fine woman in general. [...]

A great read unless you're a Cheney fan

...and who's going to admit to being a Cheney fan these days?? It seems like a couple of the reviews here are about Boxer, not her book. Yes, I bought it because I am a fan--and then I read and got totally into it. Her personality really shines in this book. It's knowledgeable about the scene, witty, sharply insightful, fast-paced. Like the Senator herself. A great plane read, full of the colorful behind-the-scenes politicking and some interesting characters, I just had an enjoyable time reading it. And if you are a Cheney fan, well, that's your issue to grapple with. Just enjoy the book, okay?

Boxer Fan Forever

I'm typically not into books of this genre, but when I saw the article about the Senator in the New York Times magazine last weekend, I was very intrigued. So, I wnet out and bought the book and could not put it down! It was so reflective of what is happening with the Supreme Court nominations and an absolute delight to read. I've always admired Senator Boxer, but now that I know that she can write AND have a strong voice in politics, I am a fan forever.

A very fun read!

I was a bit skeptical when I picked this up but I was drawn into the book almost immediately. It's fun story with engaging characters and the action unfolds quickly enough to keep you interested. But what makes this book really worth reading is that you feel like you are getting an insider's view of DC politics, power brokers, campaigning, and the Supreme Court nomination process. And of course you ARE getting an insider view since this written by Barbara Boxer, but because it's fiction and not a political memoir you get it without all the rhetoric and politicking!