Eleanor Roosevelt, 1884-1933
Blanche Wiesen Cook
1992
608 pages
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FTC disclosure: I bought. I read. I conquered.
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If you’ve ever been curious about Eleanor Roosevelt (hereafter known as ER), read this book. Seriously. It’s probably the best biography that I’ve ever read (not that I’ve read a lot). In fact, in places it’s a real page turner. I know, hard to believe.
My only quibble is the book is a little disjointed after the marriage of FDR and ER. There are times where information is repeated, and other times when the chronological order totally falls apart, making things a little confusing. However, I can easily forgive, given all of the wonderful info the book contains.
This book is perfect for the Women Unbound Reading Challenge. ER is an awesome example of a political wife who refused to let politics, or society, or her husband dictate how she wanted to live her life (okay, it took awhile for her to get to this point, but she did get there). After giving birth to six children, submitting to a domineering mother-in-law, and then discovering her husband’s affair, ER finally took control of her own life. She pursued her own interests, made her own friends and eventually crafted a life almost completely independent from her family. And while she would never win any mother-of-the-year awards (for complicated reasons explained in the book), and her politics won’t appeal to everyone (although they do to me), she definitely stands as an example of a (largely self-) educated woman who unapologetically lived her own life. Go Eleanor.
Now that I’ve got you all excited, I should mention this is Volume 1. It ends in 1933, which means there’s a lotta ER’s life left to go. I’ve checked out Volume 2 from the library…I’m on to the presidential years.
She gets so much flack about her looks that people ignore all she did. Glad you are enjoying it, and that you are reading my usual kind of books instead of me! (I’m into “light” these days!)
rhapsodyinbooks´s last blog ..Sunday Salon – New Year’s Resolutions
“I bought. I read. I conquered.” I love it.
ER is a fascinating woman and definitely worthy. Enjoy part 2!
Trisha´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: Literary Spoils
I agree! ER rocks. I read this a very long time ago and always meant to check out Vol 2… I still need to do that.
Care´s last blog ..Sarah’s Key
Oooh! I think one of the first biographies I ever read growing up was about ER!!! First, Helen Keller, then ER. Certainly, yours was a little more comprehensive than my 3rd grade version, but as I recall she was fascinating all the way around.
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I am glad you liked this one, Jill. I’ve been an admirer of ER since I was a child. Did a few school reports on her even. This is one I haven’t read so I’ll have to check it out.
Literary Feline´s last blog ..Review: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Love the FTC disclosure!! I also loved this book – very dense, but rewarding. Volume 2 is on my shelf…
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I am fascinated by Eleanor Roosevelt. I think she was particularly remarkable because of the period she lived in. This book sounds really good!
Kathy´s last blog ..Our life in France – apartment
The best biography I’ve ever read was Dr. Seuss and Mr. Geisel. It sounds like an interesting read though! I’m ashamed to say I don’t know very much about ER.
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I really like Eleanor Roosevelt and wish I knew more about her. She reminds me a bit of Miss Marple. A bit dowdy but SO SHARP
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If I haven’t told you before, I very much enjoy your FTC disclosure statements … they always crack me up and make me glad you are forced to provide them! : )
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I read You Learn by Living last year and loved it. I’ll have to see if my library has this one.
Stacy´s last blog ..The results are in…
I’ve always, always admired her. I’ll have to think about adding these books to my list. I have a bunch of biographies lined up for Wormen Unbound.
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