I discovered this book when I was 10 yrs old. My first enlightment of women's issues ( )

American Wife lent me a new perpesctive of the public figure. I found many insights into the complexities of being a first lady in this novel that I probably would not have come up with on my own. Being a lefty, dare I say that I could at many times empathize with the Blackwells? Other times I found myself muttering obscenities. Whatever one's political view, the book is great! ( )

This is one of the most impressive works to ever come out of the Appalachian genre. Arnow manages to breathe life into her characters, and the reader feels just how desperate they are to adjust to their new lives in Detroit. Until the very last page of the very last chapter, I found myself anxiously rooting for this family, and horrified at the horrors they had been subjected to in their lives. The interactions between the characters are so real that you nearly feel guilty for eavesdropping on their private discussions! Heart wrenching and realistic to its core! ( )

http://gr4c5.wordpress.com/2008/01/15... ( )

This was an excellent book about simple people from Kentucky who move to Detroit to work in the factories during WW2.
As I had just recently finished viewing "The War" by Ken Burns, I found it interesting to compare the patriotic theme from the movie with a more realistic view told through the eyes of the exploited working class and thier families. Compelling. Written in 1954 but still timely. ( )