Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Becoming Madam Secretary by Stephanie Dray

4 reviews

bg_oseman_fan's review

Go to review page

emotional informative inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This was a great read. For me, Frances Perkins was previously a sentence or paragraph. This book introduced a whole person to me, and her consequential role in history. The book was engaging and interesting. It told the story with a lot of heard and knowledge, and I’d recommend to anyone, history buff or not
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

jtlars7's review

Go to review page

hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

I have enjoyed other historical novels by this author and looked forward to this one. I didn’t get into it as much as I did those set during the Revolution and felt that while individual chapters went quickly, the book overall dragged a little. It did pick up near the end with the fight to pass Social Security legislation. 

I can’t believe I never heard about this incredible woman until I read this book. Her story was inspiring and I think we should all learn about the first woman cabinet secretary and driving force behind Social Security in school. (I don’t remember ever hearing even a Women’s History Month mention!) I think it said in the Afterword that Frances Perkins has directly affected more American lives than almost any other cabinet member in our history. It was a little disheartening, though to realize that we haven’t yet eliminated the kinds of workplace misogyny that she dealt with in the 1930s.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

whatjoannasreading's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous informative inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

oceanwriter's review

Go to review page

emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

The fact Frances Perkins isn't a more widely discussed historical figure is shocking to me. I’m guilty of having spent years only knowing her by name and the fact she was the first woman to be a part of a presidential cabinet. I knew nothing of her story or her works.

The book follows Frances Perkins’ life and career in politics. This largely includes her marriage to Paul Wilson, her friendship with Mary Rumsey, and her partnership with Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Emotional, heartfelt, and above all inspiring, we get to follow her footsteps from New England to Washington D.C.

Though this is a work of fiction, there is a lot to be learned and, for me, has prompted further research. I particularly enjoyed reading the part of the story about Frances’ marriage to Paul and his mental health struggles. I appreciate how much care went into writing these real-life characters. It steered away from some of the more controversial topics that a lot of authors would have jumped to explore.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for providing a free e-ARC of the book!
Expand filter menu Content Warnings