True Women by Janice Woods Windle Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $3.96 You Save: $4.03 (50%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of True Women
Book Review: Absolutely fantastic and very real.
Summary: 5 Stars
True Women is the story of Euphemia Texas Ashby King, as told by her great-great-granddaughter, Janice Windle Woods. This book is acurate as well as entertaining. I fell in love with it the minute I picked it up. I couldn't put it down, and would recommend it to anyone.Book Review: An Excellent Read
Summary: 5 Stars
Although this book was written over a decade ago, it's an enduring story that is a must-read for anyone who lives in or visits Texas. Set in the Gonzales and Seguin regions of the state, the true-life events unfold through the eyes of the people who lived them. Even more amazing is the fact that these are the author's ancestors.
As a Californian, I knew about the sad events that took place at the Alamo (San Antonio, TX), but I didn't know much about Texas history. After reading True Women, however, my interest was piqued. I recently made a trip to the San Antonio area to visit Seguin and Gonzales, and took the "True Women Tour" to see the places described in the book. These were amazing women who lived through difficult times, and it was a pleasure to see their homes, the site where Sam Houston gathered the Texans to fight against Santa Anna's troops, and to visit the heroes' and heroines' grave sites in and around the Seguin area.
Book Review: Author doesn't understand point of view
Summary: 3 Stars
This book sounded interesting but I was immediately put off with the first chapter being from the point of view of a five-year-old. The author gave Euphemia observations and thoughts and language far beyond her years. So, what we really had was the author's point of view, not the child's.
I found it irritating. Just didn't work for me.
Book Review: Awesome book!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I first saw this story when it was a miniseries on tv and after I saw it I had to get the book and read it. As soon as I got the book I didn't put it down. I am now in 9th grade and I had the book for silent reading in my 8th grade class and the book was finished in less than a month. Usually I don't like reading LONG books but this one was a page turner. The cool thing is I felt I could relate to Euphemia the most. What these women went through makes me feel awesome to be a woman. If women didn't have people like them around back then I don't even want to think what women's lives would be like today! Read it, because its awesome.Book Review: Compelling Story, Disappointing Prose
Summary: 2 Stars
While Janice Woods Windle's story of Texas pioneer women is engaging, the book overall is handicapped by Windle's shortcomings as a writer. First, Windle merely tells the story, rather than drawing the reader into it. Throughout the entire novel, the reader is constantly aware that she is an outsider looking in. This failing detracts from the otherwise compelling plot. In addition, Windle's characters are flat and one dimensional; each of the women she describes is a heroine, devoid of shortcomings. Hence--the story seems unbelievable, much like a fairytale. Windle's prose also leaves much to be desired--it is simplistic, overstated and frequently cliche. Finally, Windle skirts around serious social issues without actually confronting them--for example, True Women acknowledges the evils of slavery and spousal abuse--but avoids any substantive discussion of the effect each has on its victims. In sum, True Women is a frustrating reading experience: Its compelling plot leaves the reader wanting to know more about the characters and their world--but Windle's stilted writing style fails to provide such insight.