Ruth Kramer

I wanted to enjoy this book but found it to be ponderous, condescending and with contrived, childish dialogue. I actually began counting how many times per chapter the words “friend” and “my friend” were used, as if issuing forth from the mouth of a 12 year old. In this fictionalized telling, Eleanor is presented as unattractive, insecure, wishy washy, and always servile. She is presented as only being a Civil Rights champion because of what Mary tells her to do. When I got to this sentence, “ As Franklin’s wife I may be famous but Mary is more-she is a celebrity,” I just shook my head. Halfway through the book I stopped reading because I just wasn’t interested anymore.