cstefko's review
4.0
I started reading Wendy's memoir right after I got it for my birthday in September, and didn't end up finishing it until last night. It was hard to read about this courageous woman knowing as I do now that she would lose the gubernatorial election.
She talks a lot about her childhood and formative experiences. I wish she had talked more about her work as a lawyer (hence my 4 star rating). The chapter about her abortion was hard to read. I feel so bad for any woman who ends a wanted pregnancy and is judged harshly for it (or for anyone judged for the abortion, no matter the circumstances). Kudos to Wendy for sharing her story, because I'm sure a lot of women in Texas can relate to it.
The hardest part to read for me was of course the chapter about her filibuster on June 25, 2013. Having been there at the Capitol that night, it was like reliving a memory (albeit from another perspective, because I was in the rotunda with my friend and not the gallery, and therefore had to rely on social media to hear about what was happening on the Senate floor). It still makes me angry to remember the flagrant disregard for the rules that the TX GOP showed that night, from calling bogus points of order during the filibuster to changing the timestamp of the official vote. I will never forget how much it meant to me that Wendy stood up for all of us and gave us a voice, especially on such a "controversial" topic as abortion. She is a hero, and Texas really lost out by not electing her to the governorship this year.
She talks a lot about her childhood and formative experiences. I wish she had talked more about her work as a lawyer (hence my 4 star rating). The chapter about her abortion was hard to read. I feel so bad for any woman who ends a wanted pregnancy and is judged harshly for it (or for anyone judged for the abortion, no matter the circumstances). Kudos to Wendy for sharing her story, because I'm sure a lot of women in Texas can relate to it.
The hardest part to read for me was of course the chapter about her filibuster on June 25, 2013. Having been there at the Capitol that night, it was like reliving a memory (albeit from another perspective, because I was in the rotunda with my friend and not the gallery, and therefore had to rely on social media to hear about what was happening on the Senate floor). It still makes me angry to remember the flagrant disregard for the rules that the TX GOP showed that night, from calling bogus points of order during the filibuster to changing the timestamp of the official vote. I will never forget how much it meant to me that Wendy stood up for all of us and gave us a voice, especially on such a "controversial" topic as abortion. She is a hero, and Texas really lost out by not electing her to the governorship this year.
regferk's review
4.0
I have to admit that I was just not impressed with the first half of the book and was prepared to give it just three stars based on that, but the second half was much better.
wallflower11216's review
3.0
I didn't technically finish this because I skimmed through the last 80 or so pages. I just got really bored with it. I admire her, what she has done, and is still doing. I'm just bored with the content.
rick23's review
4.0
Wendy Davis is a bad ass. From a difficult childhood leading to dropping out of college and living in a trailer park, to working her way through undergrad and eventually law school, she’s run the gamut of socio-economic experience. Her emotional vulnerability and maturity felt like a cool glass of water in these parched political times. She gets into some really personal stuff, divorces, miscarriages, and seems to emerge un-embittered. If anything it really gives clarity and authenticity to her platform and decision to run for office.
The negatives in the book are more form than function. The book at times reads like a bad run on sentence. And personally, as someone who loves multiple clauses, the more the merrier I say, just stuff em all into your sentences, Wendy gets a bit convoluted with her writing. You know how legal writing puts people to sleep? “The party of that party has no party to party down at the party with.” That kind of stuff? I think all that legal stuff has seeped into her brain and lodged itself there like a mildly annoying pod person. This book needs a good editing. But after listening to Wendy speak, it’s in her voice. I think she might actually dream in legalese. She does not perform a filibuster, she is a filibuster. She has become one with the Filibuster.*
I think the content carries the book well enough. I found myself gaining a lot of admiration and respect for her throughout the book. The end bits about her “majestic” filibuster felt like they’re pandering just a bit. But overall Wendy seems like an incredibly admirable person.
* HMU if you need a speechwriter Wendy. Happy to plagiarize Johnnie Favs.
The negatives in the book are more form than function. The book at times reads like a bad run on sentence. And personally, as someone who loves multiple clauses, the more the merrier I say, just stuff em all into your sentences, Wendy gets a bit convoluted with her writing. You know how legal writing puts people to sleep? “The party of that party has no party to party down at the party with.” That kind of stuff? I think all that legal stuff has seeped into her brain and lodged itself there like a mildly annoying pod person. This book needs a good editing. But after listening to Wendy speak, it’s in her voice. I think she might actually dream in legalese. She does not perform a filibuster, she is a filibuster. She has become one with the Filibuster.*
I think the content carries the book well enough. I found myself gaining a lot of admiration and respect for her throughout the book. The end bits about her “majestic” filibuster felt like they’re pandering just a bit. But overall Wendy seems like an incredibly admirable person.
* HMU if you need a speechwriter Wendy. Happy to plagiarize Johnnie Favs.
dannafs's review
2.0
The title of Wendy Davis's memoir comes from a quote of Lady Bird Johnson's: "Become so wrapped up in something that you forget to be afraid." The first time I heard of Wendy Davis was when she made a groundbreaking filibuster in 2013. Her goal: to prevent the passing of bill SB 2, which would have severely limited access to safe and legal abortion in the state of Texas. She is now running for Governor, and wrote a memoir, I'm sure, to help gain publicity and votes.
I looked forward to reading Davis's story; I wanted to know what shaped her path to make her the strong woman she is today. It's a tough story--like many people who have come to a position of recognition or power, Wendy rose from adversity. She had a tough childhood, which she spends nearly a third of the book detailing. Frequent moves, poverty, a suicidally-depressed mother and a philandering father, were some of the troubles that shaped her path. Surprisingly, Wendy was a painfully timid youth. But at some point, she pushed past her fears and became a force to be reckoned with in the political arena. Her Harvard Law degree helped.
This is a great story, but I had to skim through because the writing lacked eloquence and was frequently repetitive in the way books written by non-writers can be. I felt like every chapter ended with "and this adversity is what shaped who I am today." Yes, Wendy, we know. I respect Wendy tremendously, so it's tough for me to write a less-than-glowing review, but, honestly, the book wasn't very good. After reading about 100 pages, I skipped forward to find her account of the notorious filibuster, looked through the pictures inset, and put the book down for good. For the record, reading the filibuster account IS pretty incredible.
Wendy, you get my vote for governor, but not for the book. Great luck.
Favorite quote.
"They saw that we cannot continue to cede our values simply because we may not win every time we speak out" (3).
I looked forward to reading Davis's story; I wanted to know what shaped her path to make her the strong woman she is today. It's a tough story--like many people who have come to a position of recognition or power, Wendy rose from adversity. She had a tough childhood, which she spends nearly a third of the book detailing. Frequent moves, poverty, a suicidally-depressed mother and a philandering father, were some of the troubles that shaped her path. Surprisingly, Wendy was a painfully timid youth. But at some point, she pushed past her fears and became a force to be reckoned with in the political arena. Her Harvard Law degree helped.
This is a great story, but I had to skim through because the writing lacked eloquence and was frequently repetitive in the way books written by non-writers can be. I felt like every chapter ended with "and this adversity is what shaped who I am today." Yes, Wendy, we know. I respect Wendy tremendously, so it's tough for me to write a less-than-glowing review, but, honestly, the book wasn't very good. After reading about 100 pages, I skipped forward to find her account of the notorious filibuster, looked through the pictures inset, and put the book down for good. For the record, reading the filibuster account IS pretty incredible.
Wendy, you get my vote for governor, but not for the book. Great luck.
Favorite quote.
"They saw that we cannot continue to cede our values simply because we may not win every time we speak out" (3).
ericareads's review
4.0
Let me start by saying I found great respect for Wendy Davis is 2013 when she filibustered the abortion bill attempting to pass which was set to make it even more difficult for women to seek abortions, despite their reasons. Had this bill been in effect 4 years earlier, my life would have been completely different. When Davis ran for governor again Greg Abbott, I was thrilled! I remember going out to vote for her, because the last thing I wanted for Texas was another Bush or Perry. But sadly Davis did not win the election and I was pretty upset.
I can’t believe it took me this long to read her book. I thought it was a well written memoir and I enjoyed reading about her upbringing and the difficulties she sustained as a child growing up poor. I felt even more connected to Davis as she became a young mother perusing her college education. I feel ya, girl. It was difficult. I’m happy Davis opened up in her book about her abortions. It was her decision to make and her business, but this book really showed what she went through with her pregnancies. Overall, a positive read.
I can’t believe it took me this long to read her book. I thought it was a well written memoir and I enjoyed reading about her upbringing and the difficulties she sustained as a child growing up poor. I felt even more connected to Davis as she became a young mother perusing her college education. I feel ya, girl. It was difficult. I’m happy Davis opened up in her book about her abortions. It was her decision to make and her business, but this book really showed what she went through with her pregnancies. Overall, a positive read.
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