![]() All Bones Be White Judith Yates Shearer 2011 |
All Bones Be White is the story of Cassy, a slave who was owned by a Revolutionary War hero. Cassy was tried for murdering her owner's youngest daughter, Phenaty. Gustavus A. Henry, a 29-year old lawyer distantly related to American patriot PatrickHenry, defended Cassy at her trial. Told in the second person, offering readers intrigue, murder, and redemption, the lives of three women-a slave, a murder victim, and the author as she discovers that her family had owned slaves-are woven together to reveal Cassy's story of what happened in 1833 America and why it still matters today.
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![]() Founding Mothers Cokie Roberts 2004 |
Cokie Roberts thoroughly enjoyed writing this tribute to the wives of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, and other prominent women of the era . The book begins in the early 1700's. It ends when the presidency of George Washington ends and John Adams is elected, in 1797. I appreciated the notes and the cast of characters including names of thesigners of the Declaration of Independence, the signers of the Constitution, the players in the new government, women writers of the period, and famous soldiers and statesmen during the revolutionary war, which are included in the back of the book. Excerpts from many letters are included and are so beautifully written.Let your imagination wander as you read vivid accounts of the sacrifices made by families who wanted independence from England - the yellow fever and smallpox epidemics, the building of a military, the contributions made by exceptional women such as Abigail Adams and Martha Washington, as well as Phillis Wheatley, Mercy Otis Warren, Sarah Livingston Jay, and many others portrayed here. Cokie writes as if she is having fun telling us so many interesting facts about the "founding families", and I had fun learning more about them and relearning early American history. The true story of Benedict Arnold and his wife was enlightening as well as the character of Alexander Hamilton. You will enjoy learning about influential women in this book . Cokie has inserted some of her own remarks to lighten up the picture, and she carefully recounts the contributions of each state as they represented the new government at that time; theconflicts with the British,the alliance with the French. as well as inevitable partisan politics. Reviewed by VL Wilson |
![]() Cast No Shadow Mary Lovell 1992 |
This is an interesting, well researched biography (1992) of American-born spy Amy Elizabeth ("Betty") Thorpe Pack, who obtained valuable information that had a significant impact on WW2. This began around 1938 in Warsaw, where her British husband Arthur Pack was a diplomat. She became successively the mistress of two Polish diplomats and thus obtained some of the earliest evidence about Polish progress in breaking the Enigma code, and about Polish foreign minister Beck's connivance with Hitler. At this time she also burgled an office in Czechoslovakia, obtaining Hitler's plans to invade much of Europe. Later, in Washington, she had love affairs with an Italian Admiral, then a Vichy-French diplomat, enabling her to obtain an Italian secret cipher, and then a French one. The capture of these ciphers had important consequences for a naval battle of the British against the Italians, and then for the American invasion of Morocco and Algeria. Why was she so successful? Certainly she combined a very sharp mind with an attractive physique. But one of the key things was that she formed real emotional attachments to her "targets". She didn't just offer sex. She didn't have to fake her love, because she really felt it (but she considered this a weakness in a spy). After the war she continued to live with the French diplomat that she "turned" (Charles Brousse), and she finally married him after Arthur Pack's death. Reviewed by Peter Clarke |
![]() The Red Leather Diary: Reclaiming a Life through the Pages of a Lost Journal Lily Koppel 2008 |
K. Huff In 2003, a young journalist for the New York Times named Lily Koppel discovers the diary of Florence Wolfson, age 14, in a discarded steamer trunk on the Upper West Side. Investigation leads her to find out that Florence is still living. Upon visiting the 90-year-old, Florence tells Lily her story, of growing up in New York in the 192os and `30s. Florence grew up in an affluent Jewish family, and kept the diary for five years, from age 14 to 19. She was an active writer and artist. Florence attended a private girls' school and then Hunter College (then all women and now co-ed and part of the CUNY system), where she was active in the college literary magazine. Along the way she experimented with same-sex relationships and agonized over the behavior of boys, eventually marrying a childhood friend.
It seems like your typical coming-of-age story, except for the fact that Florence's is very much of the place and era she grew up in. Little facts about New York City are revealed: for example, for thirty years, there were little statues of Mercury mounted on top of all the stoplights in the city. That was one of the biggest draws of this book. Florence had a pretty average New York City childhood, all things considered; and adding in those little bits of arcane trivia really spiced things up for me. Reviewed by K huff |
![]() The Astronauts Wives Club Lily Koppel 2013 |
The astronauts of the early space program were cookie-cutter men, selected from a pool with almost identical backgrounds, education, training and emotional range. Their women most certainly were not.
From aviatrix Trudy Cooper to proto-feminist Rene Carpenter, Lily Koppel's book The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story brings these fascinating characters to life. Rivers of ink were spilled at the time describing the most mundane aspects of these womens' lives, but these rivers served only to pour them into neat little molds, like their husbands. Koppel has finally smashed these molds, and she has done it with a velvet pen. Tough, resilient, and in some cases obviously brighter than their astronaut husbands, I am left to wonder if they wouldn't have made for a much more interesting space program had they been on the other side of the picket fence.... Dishy without gossip, revealing without scandal, brilliantly written, "The Astronaut Wives Club" fired up the imagination and has me wanting more. Although it's a great summer read, there is so much juicy subtext that I will have to read it again...before summer even starts. Reviewed by Daniel Watts |
Edith Kermit Roosevelt: Portrait of a First Lady
Sylvia Morris 1980 |
Theodore Roosevelt was a "phenom," and it turns out that Edith Kermit Roosevelt was his equal in intellect, athleticism, love of nature, and parenthood. Drawing upon a cache of diaries and letters written by Edith that recently came to light, the author documents Edith's childhood, marriage, motherhood, work as a first lady, relationships with extended family members, friendships with some of the great minds of the time, and, finally, widowhood. The book is a fast read. The only thing lacking is more of the author's insights into Edith. Morris stays neutral throughout.
Reviewed by Linda |
My Life on the Road
Gloria Steinem 2015 |
I taught women's studies for years so I am very familiar with Steinem's work and life. Even so, this book surprised me with its warmth and insight. It is not a biography but more of a road journal. It is not crafted by chronology but by memory and thought stream. I found it very engaging and moving. The opening dedication was heart rending for those of us who lived in those years.
Steinem is the half generation between me and my mother. In the late 60's as my mother was ironing we were watching TV. The women's movement was considered radical fringe, even to my mother's peers who had built planes and careers during WWII only to be sent home afterwards. My mother watched Steinem on TV and said "she is so brave". I asked why and she said "she is so beautiful she could have had an easy life. She has chosen a hard road. It will make your life better". The absurd in the 1960s is now law of the land. It is with that in mind I read this book and appreciated the context of her travels and impact. Reviewed by Quickbeam |
As a female combat veteran I was cautiously optimistic about this book. As a female vet. it is so difficult to describe your experiences accurately without sounding either whiney or over aggressive. She walks the line extremely well and gives insight on how things actually are when you are deployed. Having to re-affirm your talent and fortitude again and again and again to every new male that you encounter becomes extremely taxing and it becomes very difficult to maintain a positive attitude and power through. Thank you for telling our stories and for standing up for the female soldiers, airman, sailors and marines that will come after us.
MJ does an admirable job of telling her story thoroughly and appears to be very self aware of how others may interpret the situations differently. I related to many many experiences that she describes in the book and applaud her service, courage and fortitude. Slowly but surely, the military WILL be fully integrated for all jobs due to people like her and thousands of others who have served their country with honor and integrity. When the $#it hits the fan, no one cares what chromosome you have as long as you can get the job done. Oorah Major Hegar. Oorah! Reviewed by Lauren |
Ashley's War
Gayle Lemmon 2015 |
If you've ever wondered about women in the military, or about how special forces like Rangers work, this is the book for you. Or even if you have never had the slightest curiosity about these things, you'll find this book interesting, especially if you're a woman. I'm not going to spoil the ending, but the story focuses on Ashley white, who was a top athlete, and wanted to participate in really making a defference in some important role in the military. Her chance came when the US started a program for embedding women with the Rangers in Afghanistan, so that they could deal with women and children. It's a great insult to the Afghanis to have men not of the family, to be seeing or talking wo women. Hence the crucial need for a woman who could manage the rigors of the searches the Rangers did at night, but who could reassure the women and children that she was a female soldier, and would not let the men come into their sanctuary. You learn about the training, the rigors, the bonding of the women who did their training together, and took on this challenge. These are women of the highest caliber, and by the end of the book, you feel you know them intimately, going with them on mission, seeing what they do, enduring what they endure, and being awed at their physical strength and skill. I highly recommend this book. reviewed by Jeannie Stuckey |
My Year With Eleanor
Noelle Hancock 2011 |
Sometimes people forget a memoir is very personal---like reading someone's diary. I don't think this book was meant to be a literary work of art, but rather, an inspirational journey of self-discovery that the author was brace enough to share. It's funny, energetic, and uplifting! It's for someone who wants a quick, easy read to help you lose yourself in your own reality for as long as you like. I've read all sorts of books and this was is simple and sweet exactly what I needed at the time!
reviewed by Simple and Sweet |
The Education of an Idealist
Samantha Power 2019 |
Reading a book over 500 pages long is a daunting task. The mitigation is that Samantha Power is a good writer who holds the reader's interest. Young enough to be my daughter, she has lived enough for three normal length lives. Hence the necessity of a long autobiography.
It should be no surprise that she writes well because she started out as a journalist. Her desire is to affect the world for the better. She became an expert on genocide. This makes the book depressing in spots, but she might be helping bend the curve away from genocide in the long run. It depends upon which way we go in 2020, I guess. Besides her journalistic career and her expert knowledge on genocide, and her diplomatic career, she has managed to have two children. It is all there - her childhood in Ireland, her travels, her loves, her failings, her government work, her child rearing. Her book reminds me of how there are so many people in the world who are smarter and more energetic than I. It was hard to put the book down because it was so interesting, but even so, it took be the better part of three days to read. Reviwed by S Schnur |
I have read many biographies and memoirs about powerful women, but this one really grabbed my attention. Susan Rice is known for appearing on Sunday shows about Benghazi, but this book thoughtfully and powerfully allows the reader to go on the journey with her to that point in history. She is honest and straightforward when explaining why she made the choices she had to. I found this to be a brilliant read and am hoping we hear more from Susan Rice in the future.
Reviwed by Christie |
Tough Love
Susan Rice
2020
Susan Rice
2020

Steve Roberts has written a moving tribute to his wife in his new book, " Cokie, A Life Well Lived." It has his love on every page as he explains her impact in journalism and as a role model for other women in journalism. A pioneer at NPR, and a highly respected journalist and anchor on ABC and NBC, Cokie led the way to open doors for women in broadcasting Steve Roberts writes, His intimate detail of her struggles juggling family and, career and connecting with competitive men broadcasters. was moving. Most of all Steve Roberts writes with insight and humor of his deep love for Cokie, his wife for 52 years. I am recommending it highly.
Reviewed by Pat Davidson Reef
Reviewed by Pat Davidson Reef
Cokie: A life Well Lived
Steven Roberts
2021
Steven Roberts
2021
On All Fronts
Clarissa Ward 2021 |
Clarissa is a gifted writer. Her story is compelling and her thoughts are bright. Beyond her experiences as a journalist and on the front lines mainly in the Middle East, Clarissa writes about her experiences as a woman and with misogyny. Although Ward is a TV reporter who often writes of the importance of visuals and of the craft of the story, her words gave me more room to understand the atrocities and horrors she saw in a way that is more considered than I often experience in a 90 second tv clip. An eye-opening wonderful read that puts so much in perspective.
Reviewed by Dee |