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informative
reflective
fast-paced
It's a serviceable quick biography of Eleanor Roosevelt's life, but I have to say it's a shame that the author didn't focus more heavily on Eleanor's time in the Village in the 1910s and 1920s. This is a really interesting and formative time in her life, but the book actually discusses it very little, and instead is more of an overview of the major Roosevelt events, quoting quite a bit from other, longer biographies and (a little too much for my taste) trying to figure out a few Roosevelt mysteries by quoting a psychologist's broad guesses about what might have motivated Franklin and Eleanor to do things.
I think it would have made more sense to have the entire book, or almost all of it, focused on the Eleanor and her political activities and friendships she developed in the Village, and providing more context on the Village and the people she met there. That would have given this book an angle that is distinct from other Eleanor Roosevelt biographies.
I think it would have made more sense to have the entire book, or almost all of it, focused on the Eleanor and her political activities and friendships she developed in the Village, and providing more context on the Village and the people she met there. That would have given this book an angle that is distinct from other Eleanor Roosevelt biographies.
An intriguing look into the life of an American hero.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Non-series / Non-fiction
Audiobook (All of my entries on The Story Graph are audiobooks.)
Why I added this book to my TBR pile: I've always been intrigued by Eleanor and the chance to learn more about the Village was appealing. (See further comments about this below.)
Will I read more about this subject?Probably Not Maybe Definitely This is my fourth or fifth book about Eleanor, including works about her relationship to FDR. She is a very interesting subject, even though one biography gave the impression that she was anti-Catholic. (This impression has yet to be disputed by additional information nor has it been inflated.) If I find another appealing work about Eleanor, I will listen to it. I would like to learn more about Eleanor's relationship with her children.
I think Eleanor in the Village was a misleading title for this book; a mere description used to sell another biography. The work was very thin on her Village life. Nonetheless, the title worked because it made me want to read the book.
The narrator was Samantha Desz. She has a lovely soothing voice.
Source: Hoopla
Audiobook (All of my entries on The Story Graph are audiobooks.)
Why I added this book to my TBR pile: I've always been intrigued by Eleanor and the chance to learn more about the Village was appealing. (See further comments about this below.)
Will I read more about this subject?
I think Eleanor in the Village was a misleading title for this book; a mere description used to sell another biography. The work was very thin on her Village life. Nonetheless, the title worked because it made me want to read the book.
The narrator was Samantha Desz. She has a lovely soothing voice.
Source: Hoopla
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child death, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Misogyny, War
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
This book picks up a lot of threads that other ER biographers have left hanging. By framing ER's metamorphosis around the people and progressiveness of Greenwich Village, Jan Jarboe Russell capably provides documented context about Roosevelt's lasting legacy and influence among women.
informative
slow-paced
As other reviewers have noted, the title is misleading. This book is best understood as a light biography on the life of Eleanor Roosevelt, with some space given to the history of Greenwich Village in the 20th century. It was an easy, quick read and a good overview of Eleanor's life and loves.
I felt this was a YA book, except for the sex--mild.
informative
fast-paced
Incredibly interesting, this is a biography of Eleanor Roosevelt and those with whom she had close relationships. The main claim of the title - that of Eleanor's time in Greenwich Village and potentially any same-sex affairs she had - is hinted at, mused about, but never really examined. There is no real proof detailed. Nor is there any time truly give to Eleanor's time in the Village. She had an apartment there, but there is no discussion about what she experienced there or what she discovered there about herself. Instead, it's very much about a few relations she had, some of which were romantic or sexual and others simply friendships between women. But this does examine - to an extent - what impacted her in her self-esteem and how she saw herself. And from there, we also see why she stayed with FDR in spite of his affairs and their diminished love for each other.
In short, this was disappointing because it never really talked about those things it purports to be examining. And yet there is some interesting information in here that was enjoyable in its way.
In short, this was disappointing because it never really talked about those things it purports to be examining. And yet there is some interesting information in here that was enjoyable in its way.