By: Janice Woods Windle Publisher: Ivy Books Average Rating: Binding: Mass Market Paperback Label: Ivy Books Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 432 Publication Date: November 30, 1994 Release Date: November 30, 1994
Product Description: Alive and pulsating with the events of our history, TRUE WOMEN tells the story of two dynastic family lines in Texas, the Kings and the Woodses. Euphemia Texas Ashby King could ride and shoot like any man, and she was there when Sam Houston's rag-tag army routed Santa Anna at San Jacinto . . . . Though she risked her plantation running the Yankee cotton blockade during the Civil War, Georgia Virginia Lawshe Woods still had to defend her family from a corrupt Yankee officer . . . . Bettie Moss King survived wolves, storms, and the Ku Klux Klan to steer her family through the turbulent birth of modern times. Inspired by the author's own Texas roots, here is an unforgettable saga of the grit, determination, and courage of TRUE WOMEN. ""Heartfelt . . . The hardships and adventures faced by [this] family are so movingly described that I was in tears." -- The New York Times Book Review
Cover to Cover enjoyment I was born and raised in S.E. Wisconsin. We moved recently to Seguin, Texas - so loving history, I started to look for true accounts in this area of Texas. I passed an old historic theater with the marque showing TRUE WOMEN the mini-series. I purchased the DVD for $6, but it didn't seem to tell it all. I found the book in a local 1/2 price book store, bought it, read it and loved it. I daily travel many of the roads, cross over the bridges (where they only had the a river or stream), pass by ranches with names from the pages and travel to the neighboring towns mentioned in this book. I just finished reading HILL COUNTRY and also enjoyed it very much. These are real people and places...with a story that shows the true grit of each individual to survive in the old west.
What a wonderful saga! What a bunch of terrific dames! I will never forget my enthusiasm in reading this novel of Janice Woods Windle. And that enthusiasm led me to recommend it a dozen times over, and to buy copies for friends and relatives. I just think it is one of the most incredible reads of historical fiction of Texas that has been written.
Don't let the racy paperback cover mislead you. This is not a bodice buster. It is BETTER than that, as Woods Windle's connection to Texas' early days of settlement through the fight for freedom from Mexico to those as a young republic and finally a part of the United States are just terrific.
Related from Windle's own family tree, the original hardbound copy contains photos of her own family's women in the front and back end pages of the cover. While reading, it is a joy to thumb back and forth to match the faces to the characters in the story.
The courage of these women on the Runaway Scrape, against the area's Indians, in maintaining home and hearth while their men tended to the business of warfare, both for independence and the War between the States, or of cattle drives, or trade, that courage makes them just unforgettable.
This is one of my all time favorite reads. I can't recommend it anymore highly than to say, I would read it again and give it as a gift even today.
Compelling Story, Disappointing Prose While Janice Woods Windle's story of Texas pioneer women is engaging, the book overall is handicapped by Windle's shortcomings as a writer. First, Windle merely tells the story, rather than drawing the reader into it. Throughout the entire novel, the reader is constantly aware that she is an outsider looking in. This failing detracts from the otherwise compelling plot. In addition, Windle's characters are flat and one dimensional; each of the women she describes is a heroine, devoid of shortcomings. Hence--the story seems unbelievable, much like a fairytale. Windle's prose also leaves much to be desired--it is simplistic, overstated and frequently cliche. Finally, Windle skirts around serious social issues without actually confronting them--for example, True Women acknowledges the evils of slavery and spousal abuse--but avoids any substantive discussion of the effect each has on its victims. In sum, True Women is a frustrating reading experience: Its compelling plot leaves the reader wanting to know more about the characters and their world--but Windle's stilted writing style fails to provide such insight.
My favorite book! True Women is my favorite book. I especially love Sarah. She is so strong and fearless, it was amazing. The book deals with many issues you see today. It has lots of history, so you learn about Texas as well. I'm originally form Texas myself, and my mom had read it before, so I decided to read a book that talked about Texas history as well as the lives of people, which I like. I started to read it and became hooked. Janice Woods Windle gives such a vivid, well described, in-depth description of Euphemia, Georgia, Sarah, and Bettie. Any western and/or history buff will enjoy this book very much.
One of the best I've read Couldn't put it down. I first found this story through the mini series on tv. I then read a friends copy of the book moving on next to the "Hill Country" book. The hardships these women endured to just survive are incredible. I have read it over again and recently went to Seguin, TX to take the True Women tour starting with Sarah Mclure Braches' house. Needless to say I am hooked. Janice Windle Woods is a wonderful author and I highly recommend this book especially to history buffs.
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