Too Close to the Sun

Summary (from the publisher): Curtis Roosevelt was three when he and his sister, Eleanor, arrived at the White House soon after their grandfather’s inauguration. The country’s “First Grandchildren,” a pint-sized double act, they were known to the media as “Sistie and Buzzie.”

In this rich memoir, Roosevelt brings us into “the goldfish bowl,” as his family called it—that glare of public scrutiny to which all presidential households must submit. He recounts his misadventures as a hapless kid in an unforgivably formal setting and describes his role as a tiny planet circling the dual suns of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Blending self-abasement, humor, awe and affection, Too Close to the Sun is an intimate portrait of two of the most influential and inspirational figures in modern American history—and a thoughtful exploration of the emotional impact of growing up in their irresistible aura.

Review: Curtis "Buzzie" Roosevelt was the oldest grandson of FDR and was only three when his grandfather was elected as president. Following his parents' divorce, he was raised in the White House and FDR remained Buzzie's father figure until his death. I found this memoir deeply moving and felt such sympathy for a little boy who was constantly admonished for the slightest fault and simply longed to be near his grandfather and be a normal boy. I loved getting an insider perspective on Franklin and Eleanor from someone who knew and loved them. This was yet another example that a so-called privileged childhood is not always what it seems.

Stars: 4