The story follows Dickinson from her divorce (when her daughter Emily is a toddler) to Emily's freshman year of college and catalogues the wide and varied lessons they learned together along the way. It's not a memoir about her rise to fame but rather about the extraordinarily ordinary women in her family who gave her skills to become a successful advice columnist and at the same time raise a child. ( )

A delightful, poignant story of Amy and the women (and some men) in her life. It is written in an engaging, personal style which makes it very pleasurable reading. Fine literature, it is not, but you probably knew that, already. ( )

"The Mighty Queens of Freeville" is a delightful book and Amy Dickinson is a delightful woman. I had the privilege of hearing her speak last weekend at a High Tea sponsored by a local group. She is warm, "real", funny, and down-to-earth. No matter what road she travels, she always returns to Freeville for nurture, hugs and understanding from her loving, extended family. Her father left their family when she was 12, her husband left her with a toddler when she was in her early 30's. When she returned to Freeville from England (where she and her husband lived), she regrouped in Freeville, and began a new life in Washington, DC -- full of struggles, tears, tons of laughter, and total devotion to her daughter. Her tale of replacing Ann Landers as an advice columnist is worth "the read." I live in Ithaca, NY and Freeville is a little hamlet near by. I woudn't be surprised to see Amy in the future. As my southern Mom would have said "she doesn't put on airs!" Buy her book -- read her column in your daily newspaper -- and get to know Amy. It will be a worthwhile trip. ( )

I don't think I liked this book as much as most of the reviewers. I think it is slight, and not only in terms of its length. Although it is amusing, there are also somber stretches; the grief the author feels over the breakup of her marriage pervades the early part of the book, and, though the description of her cat's quirks is endearing, the final moments of Pumpkin's life are painfully sad. Overall, the book reads more like a series of essays than a cohesive narrative, and I didn't feel I gained much insight into any of the characters. The descriptions of small-town life struck some chords--I live in a small town in upstate NY--but overall, I was disappointed in this book.

Well written and engrossing story. ( )