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zinelib 's review for:

Raising Trump by Ivana Trump
4.0

Is there a German word for the wonderful-terribleness of books like this one? (Which reminds me, my friend Alenka turned me onto a great book podcast The Worst Bestsellers where a librarian and aspiring children's book author discuss terrible books.)

Ivana Trump tells us what an amazing mother she was to her kids and you can be, too, if you don't accept nonsense. There are 50 pages of photographs, too. Some choice quotes
I'm often asked about the secret to mothering success.
Am I alone in calling bullshit on that one? The entire Trump clan arrived exactly on time. I learned early on that they were punctual to an extreme....When Donald arrived in a boardroom, or took his seat on an airplane and the door closed, that was that....Donald once left Don Jr. standing on the tarmac for being five minutes late to the airport.She doesn't say how old Jr. was at the time. I wonder! Speaking of Don Jr.
Donald said, "What should we name him?"
"Donald Junior," I said.
"You can't do that!"
"Why not?"
"What if he's a loser?"
Ah, the first blush of paternal love!

There are multiple references to the Kennedys, which is interesting in light of the QAnon theory about JFK Jr. coming back and serving as Trump's running mate. They hired JFK Jr's nanny (and apparently she hated Ivana).
"Non of us have attitudes or egos."
writes Eric Trump in one of the many fillers from the kids, backing up Mom's claims. Here's one from Ivanka
During my punk phase in the nineties, I was really into Nirvana. My wardrobe consisted of ripped corduroy jeans and flannel shirts. One day after school, I dyed my hair blue.
Even I know that's grunge, not punk. I'm imagining her designer ripped jeans lol.
It'd been a rough couple of years for the children. They'd been through more in their young lives than many adults with ever face in theirs.
referring to her public divorce and the kids' grandfather dying. And this is a woman who grew up behind the Iron Curtain.
The parlor floor includes the entryway, a powder room, and Dorothy's and the in-house lawyer's office.
Her home includes a room for her lawyer! Maybe that came in handy during her recent "fall" to her death?
Finally, on raising normal, unspoiled rich kids,
medium-ticket items, like a new handbag or pair of skis
Are handbags and skis comparably priced?!? Did you ever have a handbag as a child or teen that cost three figures?!?