Rating: 
Summary: Not Worth Waiting For
Review: After having to wait several years for this book, I must admit that I'm sorry I purchased it. Morris confuses the reader with his fictional characters and all-too-often used foreign phrases. Interestingly, Morris had access to Reagan from 1985 but the years following were the least covered in the book. In other words, very little of the Reagan presidency is actually discussed.
Rating: 
Summary: Annoying
Review: This book contains very little information and is written in a very annoying style. The author's life intrudes, even to the extent of his introducing a fictional character representing himself! While this approach could perhaps be helpful, it actually detracts from enjoyment of what little information is actually included.Mr. Reagan's life could be profiled in about 200 pages. This author takes almost 600.
Rating:
Summary: Maybe the worst book I have ever read all the way through
Review: I was anxious to read this book on Reagan in the hopes that it would add to the knowledge base on this inigmatic individual. I have never been a Reagan fan, so when the Reagan family and former close advisors came out in sharp criticism of the book, I thought I would probably be interested in what Morris had to say. Unfortunately I found this book written to be written in a gimicky style that was very distracting, even to the point of irritation. Worse however, was the lack of substance. Morris was apparently given extensive access to the president, to important meetings, and to important information. But this book evidences little of the knowledge Morris must surely have gained. I kept reading in hopes that the book would get better as it went along. It didn't. Apprently Morris just got tired of writing (or lost interest himself) near the end. The next to last chapter is simply a cut and paste of Morris' notes from his interviews and diary. He didn't even try to convert the notes to text. Does the book have any remdeeming value? Yes. It is large enough to use as a doorstop. If you have a doorstop, pass this book by.
Rating:
Summary: Dutch by Proxy
Review: This author wrote an excellent biography about Ted Roosevelt. Too bad he choose this time to engage in "scribel self gratification" He fails to cover the real RR or to amplfy his true value to the US and the world. That said ,the book is worth while reading in that it does tell a lot about the personal side of Reagan albeit in a style however more suitable to a tabloid.I had the feeling after I read this Memoir that the author had not done a very good research job on his subject and was up against a contract deadline of some sort and had to throw it together quickly to get it out to the public while he concentrated his energy on his next volume about TR. Surprisingly I think the author likes RR but in some weird way he has a need to cut him down to size.Too bad also about his cheap shots at Nancy and Jane Wyman--not at all worthy of a Pulitzer Prize winner
Rating:
Summary: A missed chance for a biography of a true Americcan
Review: The author's ego got in the way of his mission. It should be titled "Edmund Morris and Other Stories about Ronald Reagan". He continually talked down to Reagan as an intelletual superior. All I can say is that I thank my lucky stars that Ronald Reagan and not Edmund Morris was my president for eight years. He just blew his chance to write a good book
Rating:
Summary: H O R R I B L E
Review: If you want to read about Edmund Morris and his fantasy world check this book out! And if you want obscure french phrases in every 3rd paragraph check this book out! Maybe it gets better after the first 40 pages but only my trashcan knows for sure.
Rating:
Summary: a reader's delight
Review: If you can get past the new form of biographical writing Morris uses for "Dutch," you will find it a wonderful read. The first half is historical fiction and the second more like what the title says, "a memoir." This book won't be to some people's taste, but if you approach it with an open mind, you will be entertained! Consider that this was the man who wrote the classic Roosevelt biography.
Rating: 
Summary: Dutch:A Memoir of Ronald Reagan
Review: An excellent writer, with a unique and compelling literary device, looses the focus of his endeavor. Mr. Morris becomes obsessed with his make believe place in history and spins a useless tale of his fake heritage, youth, education and social status. As such the line between the real and the imagined become hopelessly confussed to the detriment of the subject. In addition Mr. Morris's inclination to jump in time permantely muddies the literary water of his work. That someone granted such a unique opportunity, with one of our great post war leaders, and squanders it on self absorbed indulgence is a true tradegy.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting...But Confusing
Review: Mr. Morris' book was extremely well-written and readable. I was able to rush through it and understand all of it. Unfortunately, Mr. Morris' literary device in portraying Dutch's life was confusing at best. Often, it is exceedingly difficult to say whether what is being read actually happened or simply comes from Morris' mind. He should have been able to write the book without using the literary device. Finally, the book had the worst ending that could possibly be imagined. Mr. Morris should not have finished the book using his fake characters. I would recommend this book. However, read it carefully!
Rating: 
Summary: Keep reading. It's wonderful after a rather slow start.
Review: Too many journalists (e.g. George Will) and writers on amazon.com have severely attacked this book. But I think these folks are simply not prepared for a biography which is written as a work of literature. What's wrong with that? After all much of what historians write is too boring or too technical to wade through (e.g. Simon Schama). As for Morris interjecting his fictional self into the Reagan plot, Norman Mailer in "Harlot's Ghost" deftly argued in favor of such fictional accounts of history. Basically Mailer said if you ask 100 pundits about the Kennedy presidency, the Cuban missle crisis, and the CIA you would get 100 interpretations. Only the novelist can rise above the mountains of details and construct a single object that has a coherent meaning. So in some regards the novelist's portrayal of the past if more accurate that the historians. (For a more convincing argument than mine read "Harlot's Ghost" yourself.) "Dutch"is a good read that is quite interesting and fair in the treatment of the subject. Where Reagan deserves praise--e.g. Reagan's declaration before congress that Communists or anyone else could join Hollywood's labor unions--Morris delivers it. Where Reagan deserves scorn--he failed to recognize son Michael at his high school graduation--Morris delivers that too.
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