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melmar's review against another edition
3.0
I’ve described this as 1/3 food history, 1/3 family history, 1/3 feminist thoughts. It’s interesting and heart breaking. Her exploration of mother-daughter relationships was so honest and showed so much vulnerability from the author.
himissjulie's review against another edition
Didn't finish. Was pretty interesting, but not enough to keep me reading. Might go back to it another time.
happiestwhenreading's review against another edition
4.0
I didn’t know what I was getting into with this one. I picked it up on a whim on my last library haul, and I’m glad I did!! It was intriguing!
Not only was I intrigued with the cultural history of an American icon - JELL-O -, but I absolutely loved the memoir part of Rowbottom’s life. Her relationship with her mother was difficult and honest; I loved the sense of redemption and hope I was left with by the end. The feminism/patriarchy theme was a pleasant surprise.
This book is smart and got me thinking from a new perspective. I think this would make a wonderful book club selection as there is much to dissect.
I didn’t know what I was expecting when I picked this one up, but I definitely got more than I thought it would be. This would have made my Top of 2018 list had I read it sooner. Parts of this book will stick with me for awhile.
Not only was I intrigued with the cultural history of an American icon - JELL-O -, but I absolutely loved the memoir part of Rowbottom’s life. Her relationship with her mother was difficult and honest; I loved the sense of redemption and hope I was left with by the end. The feminism/patriarchy theme was a pleasant surprise.
This book is smart and got me thinking from a new perspective. I think this would make a wonderful book club selection as there is much to dissect.
I didn’t know what I was expecting when I picked this one up, but I definitely got more than I thought it would be. This would have made my Top of 2018 list had I read it sooner. Parts of this book will stick with me for awhile.
dundermifflin's review against another edition
2.0
This reminded me of my reaction to Devil in the White City. Everyone was fascinated by the serial killer and I was more interested in the Chicago World's Fair and history. They struggles of a spoiled, wealthy family was of little interest (nothing special there), but the role of Jell-o in the United States, the early marketing and branding of a product, what lives and the perception of women were at the time were fascinating. Great cultural history. I almost didn't finish this, but the history was so fascinating I struggled through the family story.
Oh, and the audio editor should have told the author that even though she wrote the book, she isn't the person to narrate it.
Oh, and the audio editor should have told the author that even though she wrote the book, she isn't the person to narrate it.
oldrunningmom's review against another edition
3.0
I grew up in the 60s and 70s and Jell-O was a big part of my life. All I knew about Jell-O is that it was a fun and colorful sugary treat. Dinners were always better with Jell-O on the side. My grandma used to put black cherries in the black cherry jello and it was magical. And then there was that Hawaiian fruit salad using Jell-O and Cool Whip I made for Girl Scouts...super healthy, right? Totally 1970s. By the time Bill Cosby was on the scene, I was over Jell-O.
Of course, now I know better--the food colorings and chemicals in the product make it a health hazard. Little did I realize the story about the family behind the product or the focused marketing on women, housewives in particular. Jello-Girls is a big book- part memoir, part women's history, and part history of the town and a supposed curse on the women who lived in LeRoy, NY. While I found the writing to be beautiful, this book was kind of all over the place. The chapters on the history and development of Jell-O were interspersed with the author's family story and the story of the local women who were supposedly cursed, altho it sounds to me that they were kind of brainwashed into thinking they were ill. I don't know. I wasn't there. I just know that the culture was way different back then. Still, this was a really interesting story and worth reading for a look into the past, especially if you grew up in this era.
**3.5 stars**
Of course, now I know better--the food colorings and chemicals in the product make it a health hazard. Little did I realize the story about the family behind the product or the focused marketing on women, housewives in particular. Jello-Girls is a big book- part memoir, part women's history, and part history of the town and a supposed curse on the women who lived in LeRoy, NY. While I found the writing to be beautiful, this book was kind of all over the place. The chapters on the history and development of Jell-O were interspersed with the author's family story and the story of the local women who were supposedly cursed, altho it sounds to me that they were kind of brainwashed into thinking they were ill. I don't know. I wasn't there. I just know that the culture was way different back then. Still, this was a really interesting story and worth reading for a look into the past, especially if you grew up in this era.
**3.5 stars**
janp's review against another edition
2.0
Jello-O Girls is a memoir by a descendant of the people who bought the Jell-O patent in 1899. From then until the present, though the family has been financially set and immensely privileged, Rowbottom posits that a "curse" beset the family and manifested itself in suicides, cancer, alcoholism and mysterious ailments. To me, that could be the story of many families, but without the Jell-O connection. And I had trouble relating her personal family story to the impact of Jell-O not only in their lives but the lives of Americans, especially to women and "the female experience". A disappointing read.
readalot662f9's review against another edition
2.0
This reminded me of my reaction to Devil in the White City. Everyone was fascinated by the serial killer and I was more interested in the Chicago World's Fair and history. They struggles of a spoiled, wealthy family was of little interest (nothing special there), but the role of Jell-o in the United States, the early marketing and branding of a product, what lives and the perception of women were at the time were fascinating. Great cultural history. I almost didn't finish this, but the history was so fascinating I struggled through the family story.
Oh, and the audio editor should have told the author that even though she wrote the book, she isn't the person to narrate it.
Oh, and the audio editor should have told the author that even though she wrote the book, she isn't the person to narrate it.
eager_reader_'s review against another edition
2.0
Do not recommend. I love a good family drama, but this was snoozeville. This is the actual story of the Jell-O dynasty apparently. The women are "cursed." ZZZZzzzzzzZZZZZzzz The author also did the narration and nearly put me to sleep. If you read this one, I don't recommend the audio.