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Book Reviews of The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less
The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less
Author: Terry Ryan
Audio Books swap for two (2) credits.
ISBN-13: 9780743508377
ISBN-10: 0743508378
Publication Date: 4/1/2001
Edition: Abridged
Rating:
  • Currently 4.4/5 Stars.
 4
4.4 stars, based on 4 ratings
Publisher: Audioworks
Book Type: Audio CD
Reviews: Amazon | Write a Review

85 Book Reviews submitted by our Members...sorted by voted most helpful

 reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
In this book
you will see
a mother's love
through creativity
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 11 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
While the blurb on the back of the book describes the book perfectly, I was most impressed by this woman, who after raising 10 kids and sending them all off to college on full scholarships, continued to support her husband while he eventually became a better man. He banked every penny of his pension as she supported him in retirement, and surprised her with a gift of it all, upon his death. It was so much money that she was able to live and travel off the interest and her own pension, and leave the total amount to her kids!

Blurb on the back of the book: "This plucky middle American chronicle, starring an unsinkable, relentlessly resourceful mother and her Madison Avenue-style magic, succeeds on many leels -- as a tale of family spirit triumphing over penury, as a history of mid-century American consumerism, and as a memoir about a woman who was both ahead of her time and unable to escape it." --- The New Yorker
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 7 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
This is an entertaining and true story of a wife and mother of 10 who uses product contests in the 1950s to supplement her family's meager living. An easy but interesting read about a great family.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 2 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
What a great find! I picked this book up at the Salvation Army and loved it! It is the true story of a woman who supported her family of 10 kids by doing what she did best- write jingles or finish a line in 25 words or less. She was a gifted writer and she won many prizes to prove it; two cars, numerous trips, bicycles, toys, kitchen appliances and a boat-load of money- all used to support her family. She was a hero to her kids and a true inspiration to the rest of us.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on
Helpful Score: 2
Although a lot of this book was heartbreaking it was also funny and touching. The mother was a genius at writing jingles and ad lines. She did what what she did best to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.
daltonryan avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 38 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
The true story of a woman's triumph over adversity in 25 words or less. A really inspiring read.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on
Helpful Score: 2
I read this book straight through. Besides being an good story, it is an interesting look at what a woman's life in the 1950's-60s was like if she lived with an alcoholic who was abusive at times. Furthermore, it is a wonderful book about a bright woman with a great deal of determination. The final chapters provide insight on how the children saw their mother differently (that is, better understood her) once they looked through her belongings after her death. It made me cry at the end because I think many of us know women like her...
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 38 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is the story of a mother of 10 children and the wife of an alcoholic husband who won contestmoney and prizes to keep her family clothed and fed in an era when women didn't work outside the home. It is a story of one woman's desperate fight to keep her family out of poverty and full of humor and the postive attitude that made life bearable for her children.
gatorgal1981 avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 34 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Great book, great true story. It will really make you laugh and cry. Highly recommend!
remgirl avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
What a fun book! Really captured what it was like to be involved in contests in this timeperiod, great pictures, samples of contest entries and a story line that made it fun to keep reading.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on
Helpful Score: 1
Loved this book about a mom of 10 who entered the word contests of the 50's and 60's and helped support her family through prizes--both cash and items like appliances and cars. The book has parts that are hysterically funny, poignant, and inspiring.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 12 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Really fun, easy read. This woman had a lot of determination and talent!
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 317 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
An amusing , yet realistic, account of the life of a family of 10 children, an alcoholic father and a mother trying to hold the household together with her contesting winnings. Very good!
tightwadreaders avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is such a wonderful read, got it one day and finished it the next! If you have ever seen the movie version, you are missing the meat and potatoes of the story. Read how the Ryan family really triumphed over adversity and hardships with the whit, wisdom, and knowledge of language and word usage from their wonderfully delightful mother, Evelyn Ryan.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 39 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I love this book. I was brought to tears several times by the tales of this family. I saw the movie (which I loved) first, and knew I had to read the book. It didn't let me down. I strongly reccomend both of them.
demiducky25 avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 161 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
An entertaining and quick read--> This was a VERY inspirational story about a woman who managed to keep her family (10 kids!) above the poverty line by using her talent for writing to enter contests in the 1940s and 1950s (jingles, why you like our product in 25 words or less, etc). This book is written by her daughter and you really get a sense of how her mother was a very intelligent, witty, and positive person who started off life with a dream of being a newspaper writer and ended up being a writer in her own way. Evelyn Ryan was trapped in a time period where women were expected to stay at home, but she still found a way to provide for her family. Evelyn's daughter, Terry Ryan paints a very colorful picture of what it was like to live in a house with 10 siblings and an alcoholic father. Her portrayal of her father seems quite realistic- the fear the family felt when he was drinking, how he wanted to stop but was just so consumed by addiction, and the consequences years of drinking took on his body and on his family. Anyway, I felt myself cheering for Evelyn Ryan the entire time and she really shows how any mother would do whatever it is she could do to help her children not only survive, but thrive.
abbykt avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 113 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I was very interested in the life of this woman. I was interested in the ways that she was able to get money for her family. I felt sorry for her married life and was glad that she was able to find joy somehow in her life. It was miraculous how many times she was able to save her families financial situation.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 6 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Quite interesting! Like a trip down memory lane. An awesome tribute to "Mother".
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 132 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Subtitled "How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less," this is the story of an otherwise ordinary woman who supported her family in the 1950s and 60s by winning contests - written by kid #6. An absolute delight.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on
Helpful Score: 1
This book is inspirational and positive. It painted a wonderful picture of what life must have been like in the 1950's, particularly for a mother of 10 children (Evelyn Ryan). There were many parts where I couldn't help but laugh out loud based on some of the things Evelyn's children got into. It also made me cry because of the obstacles Evelyn encountered with her alcoholic husband and other problems which seemed insurmountable. Would recommend this book!
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 10 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is a great story!!!! Much better than the movie!
vandygirl avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed this book because of Evelyn Ryan's positive outlook on life. There were a lot of things about this woman's life that could have left her depressed and homeless, but she just kept on entering those contests. It just goes to show you that when life gives you lemons, you can still make lemonade!
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on
Helpful Score: 1
I received the book today in the mail from another member and couldn't wait to start reading it. 6 1/2 hours later I had finished it and couldn't believe how much I had enjoyed it. I will admit that I cried for the entire last chapter. I rarely read anything but fiction but I truly believe this is a book most people can get something out of and enjoy. I went onto the website to email the author, who happens to be the sixth child of the main character. I found out to my dismay that she had passed on in 2007. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
poohbritt avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 37 more book reviews
Great story about how a mother in the 1950's kept her family from poverty by contentiously winning prizes for writing witty jingles or catchphrases for companies. It's a good movie and an even better book.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 9 more book reviews
This book is a delight to read. Funny, touching, and very clever. You will never forget Evelyn Ryan once you've heard her story.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 5 more book reviews
Great book, even better than the great movie!!! I saw it in Defiance, Ohio, and the book has so much to offer. A real uplifting story...........and a fun look back.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 21 more book reviews
Quirky, interesting fast read!
CK avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 40 more book reviews
True story. I found the constant reading of the jingles a little bit annoying, but it's a good book and it's amazing how this woman supported her family by winning contests. If you want a true to life feel good story, then this is the book for you.
hazeleyes avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 331 more book reviews
This is a wonderful story of triumph over extreme adversity, heartwarming and sweet.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 16 more book reviews
LOVED this book! I had seen the movie and was so impressed with Terry's mother. The book is even better, much more detail about their lives and mom's prize winning!
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 13 more book reviews
A great book and a truly inspirational story.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 2 more book reviews
Very fun book to read.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 39 more book reviews
Fabulous memoir.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 5 more book reviews
I really enjoyed this book, and it's a true story.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 213 more book reviews
Cute, but different then i thought.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 47 more book reviews
Loved it!! Funny, heart-warming story of a woman who provided for her family the best way she knew how.
tchstroo avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 74 more book reviews
I enjoyed this very much! Fun & inspiring.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 391 more book reviews
AWESOME

This woman is AMAZING
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 48 more book reviews
I loved this book. I read it after reading other PBS member reviews. It was funny, engaging, inspirational and a fast read. You won't be disappointed.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 130 more book reviews
Fascinating!
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 419 more book reviews
Sweet and a true story.
txbeck avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 64 more book reviews
Very interesting despite being an abridgement. Makes a very interesting companion/contrast to Jeanette Walls "Glass Castle."
LENNY01 avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 82 more book reviews
An enterprising woman who kept poverty at bay with wit, poetry, and perfect prose during the contest era of the '50s and '60s. Her strength, determination, and heart make this a truly wonderful story.
crisislady avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 15 more book reviews
I found this book fascinating, mostly because of how much I admired the lead character -- a woman who had to deal with much adversity in her life, but did it with great humor and an incredible optimism.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 30 more book reviews
I enjoyed this tremendously- anyone with a 50s mother will appreciate especially
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 11 more book reviews
This book was a good light-hearted book full of downhome laughs!
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 121 more book reviews
This was an excellent book. I read it before the movie came out. The movie, by the way, was a very good representation of the book.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on
I loved this book. It showed how a person could take difficulty and keep going despite it all.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 21 more book reviews
I loved this book! I also saw the movie. Its about how one woman supplements her familys income with contests. The husband of the family is a alcoholic who resents her winning but needs the money and prizes to get by. This is based on a true woman.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 9 more book reviews
What an inspiring story of a mom who loved her family. Encourages me to be a better, more loving mom.
vavoice avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 158 more book reviews
An amazing book about an amazing woman. I grew up in a low-income family of five children, but my experiences pale in comparison to the history of this no-income family, living off whatever she could win. Wow!
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 158 more book reviews
I loved this book so much I read it twice.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 131 more book reviews
Absolutely a wonderful read!
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 37 more book reviews
Great story - reminded me of my mother
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 27 more book reviews
I really enjoyed this story.
skywaywaver avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 148 more book reviews
a somewhat sad yet inspiring story abot a mother who raised her large family with the proceeds of her contest winnings, as her alcoholic husband could not provide much. Loved it!
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 31 more book reviews
This is a wonderful book full of Middle-American imagination in earning family living money by winning all sorts of prizes--lots of kids, who eventually get into the act.

The husband drinks up his meager salary, so this started out as an act of desperation and ended up a wonderful act of love.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 64 more book reviews
Wonderful and inspirational story!
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 29 more book reviews
Heartwarming. The mom is truly a heroine.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 41 more book reviews
This was a decent read but overall I was disappointed. For the first half of the book I felt like I was reading the same chapter over and over again. We were poor, mom entered a contest, (insert catchy entry here) she won a prize. It picked up at the end but was too repetative for me.
cloverluv avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 129 more book reviews
This book was great! An amazing and uplifting story.
VintageNana avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 28 more book reviews
I enjoyed reading this book. I remember the juggle contests of the 1950s and 1960s. Evelen Ryan was a typical housewife of her time. She stayed home raising her kids, taking pride in her home and family. She kept her family from poverty with her poetry and contesting. Somehow her jingle winnings always arrived just in time to keep food on the table or shoes on her children's feet. She won sewing machines, washers and dryers, dancing shoes, roller skates, trips and, of course, money. She once provided Christmas for all the children from the things in her prize closet. That's where she kept all the prizes she won. This book is an enjoyable read and I hope you have an opportunity to read it.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 47 more book reviews
Excellent book about Terry Ryan and her wonderfully creative mother. When the family fell on hard times, Terry's mom and her talent for winning contests helped keep them all together in the family home. A must read!
Pambie avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 7 more book reviews
I loved this book on so many levels.

First off, the story of Terry Ryan's mother, Evelyn, and her talent for contesting and, indeed, for living life and rising above challenges is heartwarming. Then again, you've got a vivid, if understated, portrayal of what many Catholic families faced in the '50's when living with an abusive alcoholic. There was virtually no support. A woman was to "put up and shut up." And yet Terry, AKA "Tuffy," does not appear to be bitter about her dad, but rather grateful, another testimony to the grace of her mother.

Highly recommended.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 108 more book reviews
This is the story of an amazing family with a strong, self-reliant woman in charge. I loved every word of this book and was sorry to see it end.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 12 more book reviews
Heartwarming story...if you grew up in the 40s and 50s like I did, it brings back memories.
DesertShaman avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 203 more book reviews
Very easy read, nice style. Gave perspective on the family's life without whining about how poor or unfortunate they were. A fun read.
Bossmare avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 306 more book reviews
This was a good book about a gutsy woman. When things seemed like nothing was going right and money was short a win always seemed to come through. Evelyn Ryan, who kept poverty at bay with wit, poetry, and perfect prose during the "contest era" of the 1950's and 60.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 404 more book reviews
Wonderful, bright, fun, uplifting book.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 11 more book reviews
This is a very interesting and remarkable story, but I felt the writing was very bland and not very smooth flowing.
Caryn9802 avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 91 more book reviews
A very quick and entertaining memoir. I'm looking forward to the movie!
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on
This book is amazing. It's been a LONG time since I've cried while reading a memoir/biography, but, I lost it during the final pages. Evelyn Ryan was a REMARKABLE woman, and her daughter Terry tells her story beautifully. Fascinating, emotional, fun, sad, uplifting - all in one book. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!
VintageNana avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 28 more book reviews
Evelyn Ryan was a housewife and mother in Defiance, Ohio who between the 1950s and 1960's (the contest era) entered every contest available. She wrote poetry, prose, jingles, short stories for the newspaper. With her winnings she managed to keep her family afloat and poverty at bay. Her husband was a typical man of the time; worked, drank, managed the money. By entering contests where ever she found them - TV, radio, newspapers, etc Evelyn was able to win bicycles, watches, washing machines, dryers, cars, trips and even a jutebox. She sold almost all of her prizes because her family needed the money. The story is about her upbeat, look at the good side of life personality. She raised ten kids who turned out to be strong honest hard-working people. I really liked the book and would recommend it to everyone.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 141 more book reviews
The biography of a woman who raised 10 children by entering contests in the 50's and 60's when you completed jingles or with 25 words or less entries. (written by one of her daughters.)
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 83 more book reviews
Excellent reading
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 49 more book reviews
The full title of this book is The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio. How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less by Terry Ryan. That pretty much sets the premise of the book, which is based on the true story of Evelyn Ryan who raised a hungry brood on contest winnings in the 1950s and 60s. Her husband was an alcoholic who contributed very little to the family. In fact, his inability to provide for his family, coupled with his abusive temper was a hindrance that Evelyn had to work around. Undaunted, Evelyn armed herself with humor and an indomitable spirit and plowed forward to support her family the best she could. She did that by writing snappy little jingles for products like Dial soap, Lipton Soup, Heinz ketchup, and more. And she was good at it. She would set up her ironing board, get out her note cards, and write lines like: Dial is wonderful, gently repealing what most fresheners just succeed in concealing. She won many, many prizes: money, food, toys, and appliances just to name a few. It was because of her winnings that her kids were able to enjoy roller skates, pogo sticks, sleds, and boots. One of the most memorable scenes in the book is when she won a shopping spree at a local supermarket. Weeks before the scheduled ten-minute spree she strategized on ways to make the most of the assault. She shot through the store like a missile and hauled in $411.44 worth of goodies (about $3,000 today)! This book is a true love letter to a mother who gave all she had to keeping her family fed and happy! Read other reviews at http://readinginthegarden.blogspot.com
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 45 more book reviews
A lovely story.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 5 more book reviews
This was an inspirational book. I read it because my neighbor in Florida was one of the kids. I enjoyed the characters and the solutions. It is not a hard book to read and goes very quickly
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 34 more book reviews
interesting book.
Readnmachine avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 1470 more book reviews
True-life story of an Ohio woman who supplemented her family's income to provide for the family's 10 children by entering (and frequently winning) the "25 words or less" type contests popular in the 1950s.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 4 more book reviews
This is a wonderful book! After I watched the movie, I wanted to read it and really enjoyed it!
isitfriday avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 170 more book reviews
i though this book was very cute. i loved the mother's charm and her tenacity. i found it entertaining and fun to read.
rolfeswife avatar reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 83 more book reviews
In a nutshell, this is one of the very best books I have ever read!This true memoir is set mainly in the good 'ol 50's! They are Catholic, good moral , "baby poppin" people :) To help her alcoholic husband ( he wasn't as "religious" as Evelyn was) provide for the growing family, she started entering "jingles" short poems touting products.She wins a car, a fridge, and so many , many other wonderful prizes, lots of money, actually, enough money to support the family.
In the 40's and 50's..when "jingles" which were little poems to advertise products, were written by the consumers. This wonderful lady wrote jingle after jingle, right in the nick of time, to help bail them out of many financial disasters,. It was so entertaining, I loved it so very much..You will too!!
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 18 more book reviews
Maybe it's just because this book hits so close to home, but I really enjoyed this one.God used this Mamma's talents and interests to bless this family and it is entertaining to see how He did.
reviewed The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio : How my mother raised 10 kids on 25 words or less on + 9 more book reviews
This was a really great story!

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