A unique woman in her own time--and in today's world as well.
589617
I wish that Gene Stratton Porter was well known, and that her books were more popular than they are today.  This book sheds some light on her unusual and interesting personality and life.
3707983
For those who've read other Anita Diamant books, this one is completely different from her others, but that won't be a surprise as they're all different and fabulous in their own right.

This book is written in the style of a one-sided interview. A grandmother, Addie Baum Metsky, is telling the story of her life to her granddaughter Ava. Addie is the Boston girl, and her life is told with rich detail and friendly tenderness, and the reader gets a sense of the granddaughter even though she has no direct dialogue. Addie Baum lived a full and interesting life, and she shares her experiences with friends, boyfriends, family and Boston life during Prohibition, the Depression, and on into the Industrial Revolution. Addie was an independent woman in her day, quite forward and modern for her time, and she handled her various disappointments and griefs with staunch aplomb.

I wish I had been smart enough to interview my grandmothers before they passed away.
4926819
I love, love, love this woman's style and approach to life. She is a remarkable role model for living life to it's fullest. It was also fun to watch her put together different pieces and create a "statement" that actually worked. Not something I would necessarily wear myself but the different elements came together like pieces of a puzzle to create a whole picture. In other words, the lady is an artist with an artist's eye and it is a joy to watch her do her thing and listen to her share her wisdom.
2741545
A very good book about a woman who/lived an extraordinary life.
656566
This is an interesting read. Some parts do drag, but it is an interesting story about an interesting woman and how she spent her fortune.
4175656
This lady knows her stuff.  She, herself has experienced some difficulties in her life.  She reflects exceptional compassion because of it.  I wish I could meet her in person.
1875168
Touching story of a woman who reinvents her life, and finds  what is important.
3837354
A wonderful journey through one woman's life. Laura Reasoner Jones has put together the life of her great-grandmother, Florence Reasoner, through the eyes of those who knew her best. The story is told primarily through correspondence to Flora.

She lived through a pivotal period of American history, from the Civil War to the Great Depression.  When her life begins women have very few rights and are dependent on men for their support but she lives to see women gain the right to vote and control their own money and property.

Flora had wanted to be a doctor like her father but she was denied the opportunity to go to college. After her marriage she sets up and operates, in complete secrecy, a clinic for the poor of her city. She teaches English to the immigrants, provides medical services, and instructs mothers in the art of parenting. She is also a worker for the women's right to vote group in her area. Near the end of her life she struggles with the thought that she really didn't do anything with her life. But those around her saw her as a key person in their lives, providing them with encouragement in their own endeavors and an inspiration to continue their education and work to improve their own communities.

I found this story to be both educational and inspiring. Sometimes we take for granted the rights that we now possess and this story really opened my eyes to just how tough the fight to get those rights was. I hope you will also enjoy this book and never forget those who came before us and the work they did.
696972
A fascinating look at the life of a woman with multiple personalities and her eventual integration into one personality.
1164420
I love this book ! She was a woman before her time.
3529395
In pre-Renaissance Europe a young woman's empirical knowledge of herbal medicine and her willingness to help others lead to big trouble.  Running afoul of a nasty nobleman, she must escape her town and forge a new life miles away.  Just when things are looking up personally and professionally,she finds that she cannot not-help neighbors who may die from a sickness. She is perceived as a threat to the medical, political, and religious Establishments; her relationships suffer and eventually she is hunted down and charged with crimes. Who will help her, defend her, or stand by her in two spectacular trials?  Modern-day feminism is a constant undercurrent, but more than that is going on here. It's easy for a reader to become invested in this story and its heroine.
1643117
A nice story of a young woman seeking her own path away from her familys expectations and their wealth.
3561791
A woman definitely ahead of her time and at odds with the society around her.  She and Shelly led a rather ordinary life once they left England but were shunned by "polite" society.  Many literary giants of the time were their friends.  An interesting read about the particulars of the life of the writer of "Frankenstein",
4523468
Fascinating...what this woman went through seems other worldly. It boggles the mind.
3194435
Regina has not only captured her mother's essence, but the core what it means to be a woman: straddling often contradictory roles as brave adventurer, daughter, sister, wife and mother, professional, breadwinner, grandmother and finally, dependent. The honor of being nurtured by and caring for such a unique spirit was well placed in this young author.
2467216
If only every family would believe in their daughters as this woman's family did, the world would be a different place.  Her devotion to her family is well-placed.  I love stories about people that manage to break free of elements of their culture that would destroy their lives, without throwing out the parts that they find valuable.  I hope that Maria will continue to have an amazing life.
3904417
Thoughtful, multi-layered, contemporary stories of a talented, complicated woman and her family, friends, and associates.