"The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio introduces Evelyn Ryan, an enterprising woman who kept poverty at bay with wit, poetry, and perfect prose during the 'contest era' of the 1950s and 1960s. Standing up to the church, her alcoholic husband, and antiquated ideas about women, Evelyn turned every financial challenge into an opportunity for innovation, all the while raising her six sons and four daughters with the belief that miracles are an everyday ocurrence. The inspiration for a major motion picture, Evelyn Ryan's story is told by her daughter Terry with an infectious joy that shows how a winning spirit and sense of humor can triumph over adversity every time." -Back CoverI think that pretty much sums it up! Evelyn's spirit and tenacity are inspiring and her contest entries are skilled and amusing. You can tell that her children adored her. Terry Ryan is a great writer. I loved all the copies of the contests she put in as well as several fun pictures. One of my favorite lines is when her mother says, "I'm not fat for my height. I'm short for my weight." Talk about a good sense of humor! I love the relationships the family has with the pets, especially Barney the bird and Charley the chicken. The relationships Evelyn and the kids have with their alcoholic father are complex and I disliked him immensely until the very end when he somewhat redeemed himself in a way that brought tears to my eyes. I'd definitely recommend this book!
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