Review and GiveawayThe Mighty Queens of Freeville
by Amy Dickinson
Memoir, Paperback, 224 pg.
Hyperion Books (February 3, 2009)
This is a guest review, written by Colleen of Foreign Circus Library.
I received my copy of The Mighty Queens of Freeville in the mail and finished it the same day! Though I only intended to read a few pages to get a feel for the writing, I simply couldn't put it down. This book is a memoir, the story of "a mother, a daughter, and the people who raised them"; the Mighty Queens of Freeville are the women of Dickinson's extended family who live and thrive in tiny Freeville NY.
Author Amy Dickinson writes "Ask Amy", the syndicated advice column that replaced that of the late Ann Landers. This book though is not about Dickinson's career; it is about the women who ultimately gave her the skills she needed to make a success of her job.
This memoir follows Dickinson from her divorce in England (when daughter Emily is a toddler) to Emily's freshman year of college. Dickinson's writing is no-nonsense and engaging. The women in her life are simultaneously ordinary and extraordinary- her mother rises above her father's abandonment and the loss of the family farm to eventually find her niche as a college professor. Dickinson is by turns funny and touching, and the book is a wonderful tribute to her family and its resilience.
I highly recommend this wonderful book. Definitely five stars, and would make a great gift for the important women in your life. I gave this book to my mom and sister, both of whom loved it.
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Thank you Colleen.
Foreign Circus Library is Colleen's lovely book blog. Do visit, she reviews a much wider selection of fiction genres than Fresh Ink Books, as well as non-fiction.
And thanks to Hyperion Books a new ARC copy of The Mighty Queens of Freeville is available to one of my readers.
1) To enter tell me which book from this list Read in 2008 you'd be interested in reading or hearing my comments on.
2) If you blog about this giveaway and put a link back to it, I'll give you a second entry. If you don't have a blog, email 3 friends telling them about this giveaway and copying me at sfuhringer (at) sympatico (dot) ca.
Entry is open worldwide until midnight Sunday January 18, 2009.
Be sure to leave an email address if you don't have a blog where I can contact you.
Winner will be announced on Monday January 19, 2009.
I've posted this on Win A Book. No need to enter the contest.
ReplyDeleteAsylum is the one I'd like to hear the most about. Thanks for the contest!
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I am dying to read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletestacey(dot)bookthirty(at)gmail(dot)com
The Virgin Suicides is an intriguing title. I'd like to hear about that. Was there a movie by that name?
ReplyDeleteI would love to learn more about Hotel World! Thank you for the contest!
ReplyDeletekalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'd love to hear a review on the Swallows of Kabul. I have the book, but I haven't read it yet.
ReplyDeletestacie_vaughan@hotmail.com
I'd like to hear about the Swallows of Kabul. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read a review done on The Lizard Cage by Karen Connelly-a fellow Canadian.
ReplyDeleteElaine R
emrosser@shaw.ca
I've heard so many great things about this book- I have the ARC in my TBR pile so no need to enter me though! :-)
ReplyDeleteEverything Must Go by Elizabeth Flock. I read But Inside I'm Screaming and loved it! Thanks for the contest!
ReplyDeletebridget3420(at)yahoo(dot)com
89.The Blue Door**** by Andre Brink
ReplyDeleteNever heard of it or him but the title intrigues me.
I would like to read & hear about Children's Hospital. I've never heard of this book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest!
sharon54220@gmail.com
I would like to hear about Ten Thousand Lovers***** by Edeet Ravel
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest!!
areallibrarian[at]gmail[dot]com
I'd love to read
ReplyDeleteThe House At Riverton**** by Kate Morton :)
"A Case of Exploding Mango's" sounds intriguing.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read The Painted Veil.
ReplyDeleteI also posted about this contest on my blog:
http://morbid-romantic.net/2008/12/29/book-giveaways-1229-0104
Valorie
morbidromantic@gmail.com
I'm most interested in "An Arsonist's Guide to Writer's Homes in New England." Thanks for hosting this contest!
ReplyDeleteThe Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao**** by Junot Diaz (US)
ReplyDeleteThis is the one I've been meaning to read forever!!!
princesscarriek21(at)hotmail(dot)com
your list made me embarassed to be so excited about the 50 some books i read this year!! obviously i need to resolve to step that up in 09 :)
Hotel World caught my eye. You have a great list of books to choose from!
ReplyDeletejgbeads AT gmail DOT com
I am interested in hearing more about Home by Marilynne Robinson. My e-mail address is tiffanyhunsinger@netscape.net, and thanks again for holding this contest.
ReplyDeletePlease enter me in the contest. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to have the chance to read Guernica by Dave Boling.
avalonne83 [at] yahoo [dot] it
hmmm...lets see
ReplyDeleteThe Silver Swan and Ten Thousand Lovers, I just love the names.
I would also love to read what you thought about 'A Thousand Splendid Suns'. I just loved this book.
Please enter me
I can't choose. Maybe Home!
ReplyDeleteNot sure.....I'd take any!
That's a long list : D I think I would choose, The Broken Book by Susan Johnson. Please enter me as well. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI really want to read People of the Book and The Painted Veil. I'm a little more than halfway through The House at Riverton right now, and am enjoying it very much.
ReplyDeleteI also read Guernica last year - it was brilliant.
nnjmom at yahoo dot com
I blogged about your giveaway at my blog:
ReplyDeletehttp://enroutetolife.blogspot.com/2009/01/spying-out-some-great-giveaways.html
Thank you so much!
kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com
I would like to hear more about Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian.
ReplyDeletebacchus76[at]myself[dot]com
I'd like to hear more about "Ten Thousand Lovers".
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
nancyrobster@gmail.com
Arsonic Soup for Lovers*** by Georgia Post sounds pretty interesting!
ReplyDeletedigicat{AT}sbcglobal{DOT}net
I would love to read, and also hear your comments on While I Was Gone by Sue Miller.
ReplyDeleteayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
The Virgin Suicides by Jefferey Eugenides sounds interesting I think this was a movie. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletefmd518@inbox.com
I would like to read, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer
ReplyDeleteknittingmomof3 (AT) gmail (DOT) com
Sounds good. Throw me in the pot. mmfbooks AT gmail DOT com.
ReplyDeleteI love these kinds of books!
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allmycrazycats AT aol.com
Red Dog, Red Dog by Patrick Lane. Thanks for having the wonderful giveaway.
ReplyDeletedianad8008 AT gmail DOT com
I have heard about these books from my friend. She said that these are really good books, and recommended me to read them. It’s too bad that I don’t read books. I tried in the past, but I can’t follow the plot every time I read. I prefer movies, because it’s easier for me to identify the characters and the story. What I do read is informative books, such us books about the sea, or about animals. I envy people that read books, because they are seemed to enjoy it so much. Well, I guess the book wont made for me. Too bad.
ReplyDeleteHere's my review of this one for you! http://wordlily.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/the-mighty-queens-of-freeville-by-amy-dickinson/
ReplyDeleteThis blog is so good that I’ve bookmarked and saved them with me. It’s a keeper!
ReplyDelete