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sunflower_lavender's review against another edition
3.0
solid 3 star read, it was informative, I always love hearing sapphic love letters. didn't shy away from the bad parts of Eleanor and hick their antisemitism and racism. learned lots of stuff had a good time listening
carolineolesky's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.5
This was not bad but it also was not good. I think the author was really screwed by their editor. The book is tooo long and ends up being quite repetitive ( like the same point with the same quotes will be made just paragraphs apart) and some major world events of the time are just completely ignored (hello… the atomic bomb?) but overall it was nice to learn more about Roosevelt and Hick. Also lots of FDR drama which I was into.
peperopoi's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
3.0
The biggest strength of this book is how it reveals parts of Eleanor Roosevelt's life that were omitted from the public record, while contextualizing them in the greater historic narrative that most people already know — President Franklin Roosevelt's election, policies, and involvement in WWII. While most know that Eleanor was an exemplary activist and diplomat, she was also a person who contained all of the inherent complexities of the human experience. Every individual mentioned in this book (Eleanor, Franklin, their children, Lorena Hickock, etc.) is described with the humanity and respect that is often missing in history books. It's a great read and I think a true reflection of history.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Death of parent, Sexism, Child abuse, Car accident, and Infidelity
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Alcohol, Incest, War, and Classism
witchboyofboston's review against another edition
History has erased a lot of sapphic context when it comes relationships, especially with people as eminent as first ladies. I praise Susan Quinn for bringing it back into the light as it was likely difficult to do so. However, the account seemed to drag in a lot of places where information was repeated and overall it depressed me (especially Eleanor's distance and Hick's fate).
reflectiverambling_nalana's review against another edition
4.0
Having been around more than the usual share of information on the Roosevelts longer than I can remember, and having always been interested in Eleanor, I thought I knew quite a bit about one of the most infamous first ladies. While I had some of the broader strokes about her history and some of her more notable projects committed to memory, this book still had some finds for me. I had no clue she was so influenced, and for better or worse, had a small part in the 'fate' of Puerto Rico.
What was most appealing about this book, however, was the insight it gave me into Lorena Hickok or “hick”. I knew a little about her due to her relation to the first lady, and in finishing this book and seeing how that very fact of her legacy plagued her in some ways, I am again moved to wonder just how amazing people we would never know about if it weren't for someone more influential. Her life and personality were just as captivating. Yet she's never really been honored and recognized for her individual effort.
The tone of the book is intimate and respectful, but never too presumptive, or written with a gossipy bend. A really endearing read and look into these two lives and the unconventional world and relationships of all sorts they toggled.
What was most appealing about this book, however, was the insight it gave me into Lorena Hickok or “hick”. I knew a little about her due to her relation to the first lady, and in finishing this book and seeing how that very fact of her legacy plagued her in some ways, I am again moved to wonder just how amazing people we would never know about if it weren't for someone more influential. Her life and personality were just as captivating. Yet she's never really been honored and recognized for her individual effort.
The tone of the book is intimate and respectful, but never too presumptive, or written with a gossipy bend. A really endearing read and look into these two lives and the unconventional world and relationships of all sorts they toggled.
mariefleurie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.75