NonFiction Book Club America's Women by Gail Collins Buy book: $17.61
Collins chronicles a history spanning book rich in detail, filled with fascinating characters and 400 years of women--dolls, drudges, helpmates, and heroines.
I was skimming the dust jacket into to the book and was halfway through when I thought, "Surely that did not say 'women peeing worriedly over the side of the "Mayflower."'" Of course, it did NOT say that. I must slow down and read more carefully, but I must admit that was a vivid image.
This is going to be such a good book I can't wait to read! From the first installment I can already tell this is a great book! Her truthful treatment of American Indian women leads me to believe this is a well researched throughly documented study, akin to the scholarly work of the great Angie Debo who wrote with such passionate throughness that her books are true literary treasures. Thank you to Gail Collins!
Fascinating. History from the distaff side -- how intriguing to read about the depradations made by female French prisoners sent to Louisiana!!
I disagree that 'no one knows' what happened to the two sets of Roanoke colonists. The local Croatoans knew very well what had happened, but no colonist spoke their language -- too busy bowling? The Roanoke colonists' disregard of the Croatoans suggests why there is 'mystery' on the invaders' side: no one talked to the locals.
The 'recent' deciphering of Mayan stone writings was made possible through recognition that the language the stone engravings represents must be related to the language of the local people. With the suppression of Amerindian language and culture, we lost the longest part of American history. Here in California, where aboriginal decimation was insured by putting a bounty on the head of any passing Indian, our land hunger and gold greed presaged the current sale of timber and gas from federal parks.
California Indians are now working their way through corpora amassed by old resarchers, discovering long-lost parts of their histories. African Americans are doing the same with old records. Collins adds women to the mix, yahoo!
I am so amazed by the details and names mentioned in the book.I must add here that it is only the begining that I have read so far but this book is very involving .
I would wonder how the author collected so much data and put it in such precise words.
It seems at times that we are swimming from one detail to the other and getting back to the topic and getting more info.It is a sheer pleasure and fast reading.
I love it!!
can't wait to get my next dose of her book tomorrow
I love this book -- great choice, Suzanne (and staff)! It's so inspiring to read about feisty women from so long ago! I have already put this on my library list and sent the information to the other strong women in my life. If it lives up to its promise, I'll be sure to buy it and save it for my (equally fiesty) daughter!
After the second installment I knew I had to read the whole book. And I did. I got it at the library on Thursday and finsihed it on Saturday. It is packed with interesting women and information about the ordinary lives of the times. I am not a civil war fan but really learned a lot about the times from this wonderful book. I've already recommended it to other friends, and I will probably buy this one to re-read. Thanks for a great choice.
I really enjoyed America's Women! It made me write the title down so that I could get it soon and I like History, just didn't know at first how I would feel about this, but liked it from the start! Thanks!
I want to use this wonderful book for a book club. I would like a list of discussion questions, but have not found such a list at my usual websites. If someone has/knows of such a list, please contact me.
