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The Prize Winner Of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids On 25 Words Or Less by Terry Ryan
kaylin_means's review against another edition
4.0
I thought this book was so fun. Set against a very Tree Grows in Brooklyn backdrop with the alcoholic father and doting mother who does what she can to keep the family together and functional, Prize Winner was even more intruiging for the fact that it is a true story! The story was almost unbelievable in scope and was bettered by having her actual entries and photos of contest blanks and the family sprinkled throughout. Overall a great read about a pretty incredible woman. 4.5 stars.
librarydancer's review against another edition
3.0
This book didn't entirely work for me, but it was really interesting look at what feels like a different world -- how some women really kept their families about financial water through contesting.
carriedoodledoo's review against another edition
5.0
Necessity is the mother of invention, and this mother invented an awful lot--after all, a spendthrift husband and ten children, in the middle of an era where married women NEVER worked, don't feed, clothe, and care for themselves! An inspirational tale of the bygone era of commercial contests.
happylilkt's review against another edition
3.0
Anecdotal biography of the author's mother and her competing in jingle contests in the mid-20th century. As other reviews have stated, it is reminiscent of Cheaper by the Dozen, but perhaps with a bit more dysfunction. What I especially liked was that the dysfunction was not the focal point of the story -- it was an unfortunate reality, but there is a spirit of optimism and hard work that carries the day.
jennyhamel's review against another edition
4.0
For one of those novels you're forced to read in college freshman English, this was a great book! I wasn't expecting to like it so much, but it's relatable, easy to read, and quite fun to follow along with. I guess judging a book by its cover [ and plot summary ] really isn't the best way to choose a good one ;)
panda's review against another edition
4.0
I think this is a very good story. It has a lot of heart and you can feel a lot of love for their mother coming throughm I knocking a star just because some parts of this can be a bit tedious with Ryan listing out every single thing that happened in chronological order when you really don't need that but aside from that's it's great
alidottie's review against another edition
5.0
I am always inspired at the strength of women who have it soooo much harder than I do.
hnbb's review against another edition
4.0
I am glad I finally got to read this book. When we read it for book club I couldn't get a copy. It was a nice read. I wish they still did contests like that, mostly because I wonder how I would fare.