Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Book Review: The Mighty Queens of Freeville by Amy Dickinson

"The Mighty Queens of Freeville" by Amy Dickinson

Published by Hyperion

Rating: 4 stars

"The Mighty Queens of Freeville" is Amy Dickinson's humorous memoir, describing her childhood and life thus far, and in particular focusing on her experiences as a single mother raising her daughter, Emily. There are also hilarious stories about the colorful members of her extended family, who have managed to remain close over the years.

This was a very fast and easy read for me. I enjoyed the way Amy recounted tales from her youth with vivid detail and always with a humorous slant. I especially liked the chapter about the 'dorkiness' that runs through her family's genes, highlighting her talent for self-deprecating humor.

Beyond the humor in the book though, what I liked most is the way Amy conveys her love for her family. Is is so evident how much she respects and admires them, despite their occasional mockery and overhwelming quirkiness. While I originally expected that there would more written about Amy's experiences on the job as the replacement for Anne Landers, I think it was the right choice to include more content about her family and it made my reading experience more fulfilling.

BIG THANKS to Hyperion for my review copy.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed this book too.