Great Dames: What I Learned from Older Women

Rating:
Summary: Fun, If Taken As Such
Review: As a person who enjoys theater, film, and books, I'm always interested in character study.

Benner's book delves into the lives of a number of different American, female, 20th century public figures (including her mother with whom she had a loving, but troubled relationship). Rather than present these women in a one-dimensional way, Benner explored their lives in all aspects and shared the good, the bad, and the nasty.

What I took away from this book is that even the greatest, most admired women have their flaws. Although many of the women were privliged with beauty, wealth, and/or influence, they had to struggle to make their lives a success often in the face of tragedy and adversity.

All of Benner's "Great Dames" posessed unparalled tenacity, candor, and spark. This book was both food for the mind and the spirit.

Rating:
Summary: trivialized women
Review: Brenner trivialized the lives of these women (or perhaps they WERE trivial lives!)focusing way too much on their use of their feminine wiles versus what their contribution was. Many of the women I did not know and it was often 2 or three pages before Brenner directly stated what the women's claim to fame was - the previous text discussed how they manipulated men, went shopping, were coy or cute, etc. The only chapter that actually focuses on the woman's accomplishment (versus her prowess with man, fashion, or dining) is chapter 2 (Motley) and early on Brenner laments the fact that Motely would only focus on her career accomplishments. Brenner did manage to slip in the sentence that before a big court appearance Motely did get a fashionable outfit at Lord and Taylor. The whole tone of the book was degrading to women and did nothing to elevate these women through their accomplishments.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting...not great
Review: Great Dames profiles the lives of ten prominant women who emerged during a time when women were not thought to have much influence. With the exception of Constance Baker Motley ,Kitty Carlisle Hart and her own mother, these women seem to excelled in marrying well, sleeping with the right person and being born into socially or politically connected families. While their stories are facinating and present insight into a time since gone, they are bittersweet and unsatisfying.

Rating:
Summary: At Last, Wonderful Rich Desserts without the Calories
Review: Great vacation for the brain. Smiled a great deal reading the portraits. Good fun. The portraits are written to show different styles these wonderful ladies had to face life bravely and with fun and their own styles. Great stuff...would love to read more!

Rating:
Summary: A disappointment
Review: I am still struggling with this book because I whole-heartedly agree with 'A Reader' in US about how they 'distinguished themselves by their dishonesty,willingness to sleep their way to the top, ability to take other women's husbands and extraordinary self-centeredness.' While I enjoyed Kitty Carlisle Hart and Constance Baker Motley, I shake my head as I read about the others. Please don't excuse their behavior because 'it was a different time'. Integrity is integrity and while some of these women accomplished some wonderful things, their journeys are not to be celebrated. Rather, here is how NOT to be a great dame.

Rating:
Summary: Does anyone else feel this way?
Review: I thought the writing was superb, but I thought most of the women would make nasty role models. Many of them distinguished themselves by their dishonesty, willingness to sleep their way to the top, ability to take other women's husbands and extraordinary self-centeredness. I'd love to learn from older women, but most of these ladies would be my last choice. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the book. It's definitely a good read.

Rating:
Summary: History Lesson falls short
Review: This book sounded great but I am sad to say I found it to read like a history book. I did not feel that Marie Brenner felt any passion for the incredible women focused in this book. The stories lacked a whimsical flair that was needed to make up for the sometimes boring and small details.

Rating:
Summary: Fun, If Taken As Such
Review: Well, the jury seems to be split on this book. The cover and sales pitch for the book do make it seem more "serious" than it actually is. But once you decide to have fun with this book, it's quite enjoyable. I enjoyed the character sketches very much.