Thanks to the good folks at Mom Central , I was provided the opportunity to read and review The Mighty Queens of Freeville: A Mother, a Daughter, and the Town That Raised Them by Amy Dickinson. I was thrilled at the opportunity because I mean come on, Queens of Freeville, does it get any more ironic than that? Additionally, I watched Dickinson shop the book around on the talk show circuit a month or two ago and thought it sounded like a book I’d enjoy so I jumped at the opportunity.
Dickinson is the “Ask Amy” syndicated columnist that you may or may not remember replacing Ann Landers a few years back. She’s also been an NPR contributor over the last couple of decades. This work details both her upbringing, as well as the parallel upbringing she provided for her child, Emily. It’s a touching work filled with personal remembrances and poetic musings, focusing heavily on the female support network of her family and the charming idyllic town, Freeville where Dickinson was provided with her true sense of being.
Central to the book is the author’s struggle to be a single parent and attempt to deal with her own upbringing by a single parent. At times a little dark and cynical, the work still has hope woven throughout and an amazing amount of humor. Of great importance to Dickinson is her personal faith, most poignant when she was in attendance at Freeville United Methodist Church.
Some people preach from the pulpit, moving people toward belief or action. Others, like our Freeville neighbors, minister by sharing their joys and concerns, by cooking and selling chickens, or by dressing in their bathrobes [to re-enact the Nativity] and standing in the cold while they demonstrate their faith to the community. All of us had something in common – the desire to show up, to be a witness to others, and to patiently wait for a miracle (pg. 99).
Dickinson’s thoughts on parenting (especially single parenting) provoked thought for me, too.
Parenting is not a process of control but of surrender. I learned this during the dreamy months of our first summer. My best efforts to build a model family had failed. I led a guy to fatherhood, but I couldn’t make him stay. We are not our best intentions. We are what we do. My husband taught me that. Now I had to build something out of what was left. Emily and I were two dots, connected by a thread. I decided whatever strange shape or structure our family assumed – it would never feel broken.
The book is worth the read if you’re looking for a springtime read. And if you’d like to win my copy of this book, simply leave a comment stating who has been a Queen in your life. What woman has given you strength when you had none or provided inspiration in your darkest hour? Who has shown you what it means to live life to its fullest? A winner chosen by random.org will be announced on Sunday March 15th. Tweet or post a FB status about this giveaway (and then post the link here) for two additional entries.
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www.queenoffree.net
I met an amazing woman who lost a child to cancer who never failed to support me and show me how to be a stronger, better parent no matter how tired and defeated I felt. I always thought, if she could do it through her loss, I couldn’t possibly give up when my child was still alive.
wow! Sounds like a book I would really enjoy reading. Thanks for the fine review.
My mother has always been a queen to me. She raised my brother and me by herself and did it with dignity and grace. She taught us the value of a dollar and to always save for a rainy day.
Great review. Would love this book.
The ‘queen’ in my life. My mom, of course.
At 83 she is still living life to the *fullest* and running to serve every single day.
How to live in the moment lessons continually flow through Cherie. She may be my physical princess, but she’s a royal soul – that had nothing to do with her birthright. (right up there with Aretha Franklin – oh, no that’s a different queen of soul – but I digress.)
My Mom was my Queen. She passed away on February 15th. It still hurts.
My mom is the queen in my life. She’s always supported me no matter what. I hope I will be able to do as much for my kids as she did for me!
I would have to say my mom would be my queen. She is a great example of many things
Well, it seems to be a common theme, but my mom is the Queen in my life. My dad was killed when I was 14. My mom showed great faith, strength and grace throughout the tragedy. She went back to work after years of being a stay at home mom, and somehow still managed to be at every event my brothers and I ever had. She is amazing.
Queens change in my life depending on what I need to learn on my journey at that time. Right now it is my 6 month old daughter. She went through open heart surgery a month ago. I strongly believe God placed her in my life with her special issue to teach me to slow down. Through her ordeal, I learned to play on the floor more with the kids instead of dusting the house, to give them an extra hug each day, to say I love you more often and to get down on my knees to pray. She is truly my little queen.
The queen in my life is my mother in law(also known as the queen mother). I admire her and aspire to be like her when I grow up.
My Queen is my Mom she was always there for me and helped me through many rough times. Being miles away and with a new baby it was always as if she was right beside me. I was able to be with her when she became ill and she always had a smile and a card for all the Grandchildren, Great Grandchildern and Great Great Grandchildern. I miss her everyday and think of her often during the day.