Reviews (51)

They Finally Get To Tell Their Stories...
What a fantastic book. I saw a short write up for it in a popular women's magazine, and though I never before had any interest in this subject, I was intrigued. I'm so glad I read it. I can't believe the things these poor scared young women had to go through. Most being pretty much abandoned by their families, and sent to 'homes for unwed mothers'...all because society of the 50's and 60's said it was unacceptable to be a pregnant, unmarried woman.
I lived with the Aftermath of my Mother's History....
My mother was a "Girl who Went Away"...a fact that I didn't learn until I was in my mid-twenties.
Such an important book which sheds light on the past as well as the present
Fessler has compiled a very moving collection of oral histories from mostly white, middle class women who were coerced to relinquish their babies as teenage unwed mothers.Many of their stories recount how little they knew about sex and pregnancy, and their very ignorance makes a strong indictment of the social norms of the times, when the sexual appetites of teenage girls were denied. The saddest stories are told by women who saw their pregnancies as the culmination of their love affairs and as the beginning of family life with their babies' fathers.To protect the reputation of their own families, parents of these girls turned to the adoption industry and the babies disappeared.Young mothers were told that they would forget about this early 'mistake' when they married and had more children. They were also told that they were not competent to be parents, and that other couples were more worthy.Many of the storytellers in this book carried that sense of unworthiness with them throughout their adulthood until, aided by reunion with their now adult surrendered children, some are able to heal.
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Subjects:  1. Adoption    2. Adoption And Adoption Services    3. Birthmothers    4. Psychological aspects    5. Social History    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. United States    9. Women's Studies - General    10. Women's Studies - History    11. Social Science / Women's Studies   

Subjects:  1. History    2. Physics    3. Science    4. Science/Mathematics    5. Women's Studies - History    6. History of science    7. Science / Physics   

Reviews (2)

Seeing history from an amazing perspective
Reading someone else's old letters can evoke universal feelings and can even bring to life a time before we were born. This is what happens in "Women's Letters: America from the Revolutionary War to the Present," edited by Lisa Grunwald and Stephen J. Adler. In more than 800 pages, the editors compiled women's letters from 1775 up to and including the current war in Iraq. The letter writers include slave owners, slaves, politicians, movie stars, moms and daughters. There are love letters, a "last will and testament" and eyewitness accounts of historic events. For me, the most unusual was from Marilyn Monroe, who taped a handwritten note to her stomach before having her appendix out, begging her doctor to "cut as little as possible." I also got caught up in the World War II letters from a Japanese American wife housed in a separate internment camp from her husband. This is a fascinating way to see America through its cultural and political changes and observe the changing roles of women.

A social history shaped through the correspondence of women
Lisa Grunwald and Stephen J. Adler, the powerhouse couple behind LETTERS OF THE CENTURY --- and now WOMEN'S LETTERS --- make history both accessible and captivating, presenting it in the format of correspondences written throughout our nation's history. With this epistolary approach Grunwald and Adler illuminate the events that molded and defined America.
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Subjects:  1. Correspondence    2. History    3. Letters    4. Letters And Correspondence    5. Literary Collections    6. Literature: Classics    7. Pictorial works    8. Sociology    9. Sources    10. United States    11. United States - General    12. Women    13. Women In The U.S.    14. Women's Studies - General    15. Women's Studies - History    16. Literary Criticism & Collections / Letters   

Reviews (14)

A must read for Catholics!
Double Crossed is a must read for all Catholics - practicing, lapsed or somewhere in between.
DOUBLE CROSSED and AT THE CROSSROADS
DOUBLE CROSSED shows how Church Fathers thoughtlessly killed its willingly obedient, unpaid or underpaid nun work force and, in the process, killed so many excellent schools, hospitals, and social services. When Vatican II arrived, this writer had been privileged with sixteen years of extraordinary Catholic schooling, and, in good conscience, felt forced to review how one could maintain faith in such a woman-unfriendly church. Still, no longer identifying with Catholicism, I continued to respect and honor the women who taught me to think for myself. I considered them feminists before we used that term. That's when, in appreciation and tribute, I wrote AT THE CROSSROADS, a novel about four contemporary nuns facing feminist issues. If you liked DOUBLE CROSSED, you will like AT THE CROSSROADS because it lets the reader experience what it was like to be a nun "before" we accepted women as equals, and the kind of moral challenges one must endure before one dares embrace an "after."

I think the reader is double-crossed
If the author, as an investigative journalist, took a step back and looked at the past versus the future in terms of American female religious, he would discover that there are orders today that are anything BUT in decline. I'll site one for example, that I have personal experience with: The Nashville Dominicans. This order has over 200 woman, and the average age is 36. Yes, 36. When you look closer, it is easy to see why. As with every other religious order in this country that is blossoming today, the members wear full habits, they pray the Rosary, they focus on Eucharistic Adoration, and they are obedient to the Magisterium. For readers trying to figure out what really happened after Vatican II, here is some true history... When Cardinal Wojtyla (the future John Paul II and a man who had significant input in many of the documents that were issued from Vatican II) returned to his home country of Poland, he helped his people understand and implement the changes that the Council had discerned. The Polish had no problems embracing the changes, and their faith deepened as a result. Poland remains the most devout Catholic nation in the world. The American Bishops, on the other hand, did not exhibit the same cohesive leadership in our own country after Vatican II, and as a result, many priests, religious, and lay people were left to figure things out on their own. The fruits of this experimentation has led to poorly catechized adults, a decline in priests and religious, and a secular mindset. These facts cannot be argued. Post-Vatican II Catholics, like myself, want more than the watered-down faith we've been handed. We seek the truth, which is waiting for us at the heart of our faith, and we seek priests and religious who represent that truth. I, for one, feel double-crossed by Mr. Briggs, not the Catholic Church. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Catholicism    2. Christianity - History - Catholic    3. Christianity - History - Social Issues    4. Monastic and religious life of women    5. Monastic and religious orders for women    6. Nuns    7. Offenses Against Women    8. Religion    9. Religion - Classic Works    10. Sexuality & Gender Studies    11. Sociology Of Religion    12. United States    13. Women's Studies - General    14. Women's Studies - History    15. Religion / Catholicism   

Reviews (49)

****
There are a few errors historically speaking but the overall book is informative and insightful. P.S. Also, it's not for one moment just another 'feminist rant'. It's a scholarly piece of work.

An insightful and stunning read...
In the beginning God was a woman...
Great
This is an amazingly good book.Buy it, read it.You'll be glad you did. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Comparative Religion    2. Gods    3. Religions    4. Social Science    5. Sociology    6. Spirituality - Women's    7. Women and religion    8. Women's Studies - General    9. Women's Studies - History    10. Modern fiction    11. Religion / Comparative Religion   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Encyclopedias    3. Ethnic Studies - Hispanic American Studies    4. Hispanic American women    5. Reference    6. Sociology    7. Women's Studies - History    8. American studies    9. Latin America    10. Social & cultural anthropology    11. USA   

Reviews (11)

Well-written, well-organized, and... ready to go to work
Why So Slow? The Advancement of Women, by Virginia Valian, is a book with a mission.It is not Professor Valian's objective in writing this book to discuss the issues of women in leadership positions with the limited number of other academics studying the issue.It is her objective to shake the people responsible for "the accumulation of disadvantage" of women, and to make them, or their supervisors, accountable for the recruitment and retention of women.
A true eye-opener!
Valian is a cognitive psychologist.I saw her speak at a local university and was impressed by the breadth of evidence she presented re: how ingrained gender discrimination is in the thinking of both men and women, but also with her logical suggestions for addressing this problem.(She, as a matter of fact, was invited by women students and faculty to help them strategize how to get more women into higher positions.)In her convincing talk, I was struck by the evidence that discrimination is not something "done" by men to keep women down, but is, in fact, "done" equally to women by both men and women. So I got her book and was more impressed when I read it. I can't stop recommending this book to every woman I know.
I waited too long to read Prof. Valian's book. Had I been armed with the knowledge offered in it earlier, I might have been spared some of the most unpleasant experiences and obstacles in my professional life. The breadth of the research covered, on everything from how young girls are channeled into certain careers or non-careers to the publishing patterns of men and women in academics, is its most impressive quality. I find myself referring to it often in everyday conversation, and recommending it to female friends and family members of all ages and levels of employment. If I have more confidence and a more positive outlook on my life's work now, it is in large part due to Prof. Valian's superb mega-study and her suggestions for moving forward. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Feminism & Feminist Theory    2. Gender Studies    3. Social Science    4. Sociology    5. Women's Studies - General    6. Women's Studies - History    7. Equal opportunities    8. Labour economics    9. Psychology    10. Women's studies   

Editorial Review

Helen Keller would not be bound by conditions. Rendered deaf and blind at 19 months by scarlet fever, she learned to read (in several languages) and even speak, eventually graduating with honors from Radcliffe College in 1904, where as a student she wrote Read more

Reviews (61)

A Classic
Of course this book is a classic.It is Helen Keller in her own words.It is well written and interesting to be "there" as she developes and learns.If you haven't read the book yet, I recommend you do.I "read" the book as a book on tape. Email:boland7214@aol.

Think about it , Helen was successful in life even though she was blind and deaf
Helen Keller was indeed blind and deaf. I liked this book because it tells you about so much things Helen overcame being blind, deaf and earlier on "dumb" ( bcause she was unable to speak). It makes you realize that you can do anything if you really want to no matter what your circumtance is. Also it teahces people to be content and accept the way or conditions that you are in.It's true when they say " it could have been worse".I read this book to do an essay and i think it was a good choice although it was a little challenging to really comprehend what Helen was always talking about. So if you want to learn more about Helen Keller this is a good good book to learn from.

Very confusing at times
This book is written by Hellen Keller, a blind and deaf woman, telling about her childhood and growing up. The book is filled with anecdotes. Each one is about a page or two long and has no connection with the one before it or the following one. The date can vary from year to year without much warning. I would not recommend this book to young readers. I am 14 and became quite confused at times. I had to read this book for school. There were some very nice points in the book, though. If you are a Hellen Keller fan, I would highly recommend this book. It is full of many things in her life that you would not know if you only read a biography or just watched one of the movies made of her life. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1880-1968    2. Biography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Blind-deaf    5. Historical - General    6. Keller, Helen,    7. Literature - Classics / Criticism    8. Public Policy - Social Services & Welfare    9. United States    10. Women's Studies - History    11. Biography & Autobiography / Historical    12. Modern fiction   

Subjects:  1. Encyclopedias    2. Europe    3. Europe - General    4. History    5. History - General History    6. History: World    7. Medieval    8. Middle Ages, 500-1500    9. Reference    10. Women    11. Women's Studies - General    12. Women's Studies - History    13. Reference / Encyclopedias   

Reviews (1)

Foundational Work in Gender History
Joan Scott's "Gender and the Politics of History" is one of the landmark books in the field of gender history.What is gender history, you ask?To a large degree, that's a question this book is trying to answer.This book can be regarded as an explanation of *what* gender history is (as Scott defines it, at any rate), why it's important, and how it can be done.Read more

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. 20th century    3. Gender Studies    4. General    5. History    6. Sex Roles (Sociological Aspects)    7. Sex role    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Sociology Of Women    11. Women    12. Women's Studies - General    13. Women's Studies - History    14. Cultural studies    15. Historiography    16. History / Europe / General    17. Women's studies   

Reviews (8)

Unequivically biased
Unfortunately I bought this book hoping that it would uncover more historical data and the actual works of Veronica Franco translated by a scholar in the field.
A difficult tome
After seeing "Dangerous Beauty" I became curious about the distinctive life style of Renaissance Venice, and hoped to learn a lot more.This book was just a bit too dry and scholarly for casual reading.A great deal of space is used for both the Italian and English translations, which must be interesting to some readers.Although Veronica comes across as intelligent, determined and brave, I would have wished to know more about her and her society in terms of food, clothing, houses, daily activities, etc.Perhaps not enough is known about Veronica herself, but I would hope that a gifted author somewhere could make her story into a novel and breathe some warmth and life into her legend.

5 star history; 2 star read
This book is a must read if you're interested in 16th century Venice, Veronica Franco, or the world of the famous Venetian courtesans. It's also an EXTREMELY dry read. The book is quite obviously a doctoral dissertation, and could have used an edit to made it more accessible (something more along the lines of Stephen Ozment's books). I'm glad I read it. I tracked it down because I wanted to see just how accurate the movie Dangerous Beauty--which is LOOSELY based on this book--was. The answer is: Not very. Oh well. For those of a scholarly bent, this is a great resource book, for those looking for a light, romantic read (a la the movie) look elsewhere. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1546-1591    2. 16th century    3. Authors, Italian    4. Biography    5. Courtesans    6. Franco, Veronica,    7. General    8. History - General History    9. History: World    10. Intellectual life    11. Italy    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. Venice (Italy)    15. Women's Studies - General    16. Women's Studies - History    17. Biography: historical    18. Biography: political    19. European history: c 1500 to c 1750    20. Social Science / Women's Studies    21. Social history    22. Women's studies   

Reviews (1)

All Together All At Once
Reinharz' book doesn't only study feminism and social research yet itpresents many ideas and voices within her book on various research topicsand discussions. I think it is essential for any social researcher to readthis book since it is a pluralistic volume of many different, controversialyet unique voices and human intellect that inspires the reader. Anyquestions and problematic issue is delivered in this book with careful andenlarged examination of literature related to the issue. Especially thosewho want to understand and learn about feminism and social sciencesresearch through multi-foci examination should read this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Feminism    2. Methodology    3. Research    4. Social sciences    5. Sociology    6. Sociology - General    7. Women's Studies - History    8. Women's studies    9. Social Science / Research    10. Social research & statistics    11. Sociology | Theory & Methods    12. c 1970 to c 1980    13. c 1980 to c 1990    14. c 1990 to c 2000   

Reviews (31)

Not Just a History Book
I have read "A Midwife's Tale" so many times that it has fallen apart. I went on Amazon to see if I could find a hard copy to replace the one I wore to pieces. When I saw the reviews, I decided to put my two cents in.I was also compelled to puchase the video based on this book. The video did an excellent job of translating the book to video and putting a voice to Martha. Although I was intrigued by the concept of a complete diary of a midwife, I was not prepared for the impact it would have on me. As an alternative health care provider, I often use herbs to help patients and have actually assisted in the delivery of 3 babies. I am an older woman that has raised my children and now have grandchildren. Martha's life parallelled mine in so many ways. She had a hard time finding help, her children were less then obedient, particularily her eldest son. Premarital sex was rampant. Her husband seemed to often ignore her.He was perfectly happy in jail while she froze at home while her children neglected her. Her faith in a God carried her so many times. I began to casually start reading chapters whenever I was having a particularily difficult day, thinking to myself, "I wonder what challenge Martha overcame this chapter?" She touched my life in such a tender, loving, healing way even though our lives were seperated by 100's of years. I wonder if she ever thought who would read her diary in the future and what an inspiration she would be? I offer this book as a gift of a wonderful woman's life.

Tour de Force
In A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on her Diary, 1785-1812, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich finds a character who is at turns heroic, strong and exceptional. Yet, it is in the mundane details of Ballard's life as recorded in her diary that Ulrich finds her real value for a history of 18th century America. Historians had looked over Ballard's diary before, but they had never quite known what to do with the virtually endless trivia it recorded. However, Ulrich notes in the introduction that "it is in the very dailiness, the exhaustive, repetitious dailiness, that the real power of Martha Ballard's book lies." (9)
Martha, a unique woman
First, it is necessary to mention the period before the 18th century, when the typical puritan woman was more radical and moral, excluded from any participation in the political life of the colony, typically got married in her 20s, having children in two year intervals with an average of 8 children, which made the puritan population increase steadily. This increase also helped to cover the labor needs on colonial farms when land availability was a given. Women were more cooperative, supportive and faithful to their husbands.
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Subjects:  1. 1735-1812    2. Augusta    3. Augusta (Me.)    4. Ballard, Martha,    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Hallowell    9. Hallowell (Me.)    10. Literary    11. Maine    12. Midwives    13. Sociology    14. Women's Studies - History    15. Ballard, Martha    16. Biography: historical    17. Social Science / Women's Studies    18. USA   

Editorial Review

Some books are like revelations, they open the spirit to unimaginable possibilities. Read more

Reviews (53)

Other Options for the Human Race
It was wonderful and freeing to read this book.Even if there were some oversimplifications, how liberating to have other possible explanations of and options for human history!This book has inspired me to question and reexamine beliefs and attitudes that are so ubiquitous in our society that it's hard to even know that we hold them, let alone question them.I'll always be grateful to Ms. Eisler for helping me find greater freedom in all aspects of my life.

Our History Our Future
Rhiane Eisler's book The Chalice and The Blade is a counter measure to the increasing sociobiological and Darwinist essentalism currently being written.When it was first published it was considered very radical.I see this book is still perceived as radical and hence has been dismissed by some critics.I strongly recommend this book and ask that individuals read it for themselves and decide rather assuming some of the reviewers' negative criticisms are correct.

Riane's words needed more than ever in these dark times . .
I'd like respond to some recent reviews that suggestRiane Eisler's work is not based on fact and that it lacks plausibility. It is quite a sweeping dismissal of a scholarly and well researched ten year work, drawing from many disciplines,from a womanwhose life has been dedicated to helping us understand the mess we are in:how we got here, how violence is perpetuated, and how we can get out of it. Riane Eisler presents us with a roadmap to peace; whether we have the wisdom to understand it and respond to it is something else.Until violence against children and women has been abated there will be no peace.Violence begets violence.
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Subjects:  1. Gender Studies    2. General    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: American    6. Patriarchy    7. Sex role    8. Social evolution    9. Women's Studies - History    10. Social Science / General   

Reviews (1)

Noble talking
The description on the approach of the book provided by the "Book reviews" is fairly accurate. Therefore, I will only point out that the book is no very engaging, but it is not dry either. It can be savoured by the professional historian, and by the educated layperson too. Therefore, my rate is 5 (content) and 3/4 (pleasure of reading). In addition to this work, other books that I would recommend to read would be "Nobilities in Transition 1550-1700 : Courtiers and Rebels in Britain and Europe" by Ronald G. Asch; "Myths of Power. Norbert Elias and the Early Modern European Court " and "Vienna and Versailles : The Courts of Europe's Dynastic Rivals, 1550-1780 (New Studies in European History)" by Jeroen Duindam (whose books present a more accurate view of monarchy, nobility, the court and the state contrary to that provided by Elias's "The Court Society"); and "The Pleasures of the Imagination: English Culture in the Eighteenth Century" by John Brewer.
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Subjects:  1. Europe - France    2. France - History    3. History    4. History - General History    5. History: World    6. Intellectual History    7. Women's Studies - History    8. History / France   

Reviews (2)

Dry and timid
The theme is interesting, although unsubstantiated and weak.For centuries, Mexican-American women have silently been shaping the cultural and economic development of the Southwest. These women have raised children who have integrated into the US culture, worked, built networks.Their efforts have helped Mexican Americans find their own place in America. However, this book does not do the justice it probably had the intentions on doing.The strong aspect of the book is the distinctive culture that has slowly gained momentum in the last Century. Either the strength just isn't there, or this author was not able to accurately portray it.

A fast paced research
The information is priceless as a sort of reference-compendium and salute to Latina and Mexicanaimmigrants. A good chunk is dedicated to a case analysis of a Protestant social service mission working in a Texas community to imprint anglican values and culture on the new immigrants. Another dedicated cultural aspect explores the affect of Americanization on young unmarried women and the system of chaperoning stemming from the honor of the family having to be upheld by orthodox views of virginity. The book is inspiring in its scope but meanders a bit excitedly like a river through early immigration, americanization and chicana feminism. Starts off slow and nurturing upon each theme but gradually erodes into a more sporadic form. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Ethnic Studies - General    2. Minority Studies - Ethnic American    3. Social Science    4. Sociology    5. Women's Studies - General    6. Women's Studies - History    7. Ethnic studies    8. History, American | Women    9. Social Science / Ethnic Studies    10. Women's studies   

Editorial Review

When we think of the wives of Henry VIII, we tend to think of women who literally lost their heads. But Antonia Fraser opens the door to the political and cultural demands that shaped the destinies of the king and his royal wives. Romance, unfortunately, rarely had anything to do with it. And if you think the modern American media is too tough on political leadership, you oughta READ about the royal court in King Henry's day! That's one family you'd never want to marry into. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

A man of whims, to be sure
A good book to read to get an overview about what went on with Henry and all those wives.Those who enjoy history and detail will enjoy the perspective Fraser always provides.This one is not to be missed if you enjoy British history.

Somewhat slow but still worth reading....
Antonia Fraser has certainly written more enjoyable works but nonetheless, The Wives of Henry VIII is worth taking the time to finish, especially if you're not very familiar with the subject matter beforehand.She does a fantastic job of laying down facts as with all her historical works but she also injects her own rather 'forgiving' viewpoint regarding the intentions and motivations of the people about whom she writes.Fraser has a wonderful way of exposing the core humanity of characters that most of us have been inclined to view as ruthless, inhuman monsters.I would suggest, however, that one read other not quite so tame opinions because the 'truth' usually lies somewhere in the middle of the extremes.

thorough and thoroughly engaging
Antonia Frazer makes history alive and completely interesting. This book separates fact from fiction regarding the Wives of King Henry VIII.There are many pieces of information regarding Henry and his wives that historians disagree upon. Frazer discusses WHY she came to the conclusions she did and discusses the alternative viewpoints of other historians.This detail in particular really impressed me.(Of course, it was a little disappointing, however, to discover that Katherine Howard didn't actually cry out her love for Thomas Culpepper from the scaffold, though!)
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Subjects:  1. 16th century    2. Biography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. General    5. Great Britain    6. Henry VIII, 1509-1547    7. Historical - General    8. History    9. History - General History    10. Marriages of royalty and nobil    11. Marriages of royalty and nobility    12. Queens    13. Women's Studies - History    14. Biography & Autobiography / Historical    15. Henry    16. Marriage