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Rating: 
Summary: The Story of a Troublemaker
Review: This book tells the story of Grace Paley's journey through her life as an activist, a mother, a daughter and a friend. She has lived a truly authentic life. The picture on the back of the book is worth a thousand words.Read the chapter "Women's Pentagon Action Unity Statement" and stand up when you realize how few of the stated demands have been realized in 21 years. Stand up and join Grace Paley and become a troublemaker.
Rating:
Summary: The Story of a Troublemaker
Review: This book tells the story of Grace Paley's journey through her life as an activist, a mother, a daughter and a friend. She has lived a truly authentic life. The picture on the back of the book is worth a thousand words. Read the chapter "Women's Pentagon Action Unity Statement" and stand up when you realize how few of the stated demands have been realized in 21 years. Stand up and join Grace Paley and become a troublemaker.
Rating: 
Summary: For fans of Paley's journalism
Review: This is an excellent collection of Grace Paley's journalism and essays, revealing her continued and inspiring political activism. With the same sincerity, frankness and heartfelt committment she shows in her fiction, Paley shows us a world full of activists, ordinary citizens, cops and politicians. She has been involved in anti-war activities since her youth and, now in her later years, shows no signs of closing her powerfully observant eyes. Testimony about her experience in Viet Nam during the American war and after is an important contribution to historical studies. She shows no regret for her activism, which is great relief to this reader (tired as I am of seeing the 60s generation back off from their earlier work) and remains unapologetically truthful. A great inspiration for all women who live and work for 'the people'.
Rating:
Summary: For fans of Paley's journalism
Review: This is an excellent collection of Grace Paley's journalism and essays, revealing her continued and inspiring political activism. With the same sincerity, frankness and heartfelt committment she shows in her fiction, Paley shows us a world full of activists, ordinary citizens, cops and politicians. She has been involved in anti-war activities since her youth and, now in her later years, shows no signs of closing her powerfully observant eyes. Testimony about her experience in Viet Nam during the American war and after is an important contribution to historical studies. She shows no regret for her activism, which is great relief to this reader (tired as I am of seeing the 60s generation back off from their earlier work) and remains unapologetically truthful. A great inspiration for all women who live and work for 'the people'.
Rating: 
Summary: not what I thought
Review: While I am a big fan of Grace Paley's short stories and poetry, her work here doesn't do much for me. Perhaps my expectations were set a bit too high, as I couldn't help but feel a little let down by this collection. This compilation of Paley's non-fictional work definitely touches on plenty of worthy social causes and is interesting to read, but it lacks the fire, spark and excitement that pervades her other books. I just don't think that Paley's writing style is properly showcased here - it doesn't let her show off the things that make her writing great. For one, her ear for language and dialogue is almost totally lost in these pieces. I found this book to be very intellectually stimulating, but still found myself feeling bogged down and a bit bored during many parts. For any fan of Paley's that is interested in learning more about the author, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book. As for the more casual reader, I'd pass.
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