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A review by oldrunningmom
Jell-O Girls: A Family History by Allie Rowbottom
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**