Jell-O Girls: A Family History

Questions About Jell-O Girls: A Family History

by Allie Rowbottom (Goodreads Author)

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Answered Questions (2)

Has anyone read this book?
Nicholas Katzban-Beren It is fantastic. Speaking as a news journalist, who takes truth in hard-nonfiction very seriously, I must say, I think the focus on what is real or wh…moreIt is fantastic. Speaking as a news journalist, who takes truth in hard-nonfiction very seriously, I must say, I think the focus on what is real or what is not real from some reader's responses and reviews is misguided. This is a work of contemporary memoir, which now falls under the genre of "Creative non-fiction." Conflating facts and events, and reconstructed dialogue are all acceptable in this metier. But I do not think the author did anything to change the overall spirit of the truth when it comes to the historical and impersonal aspects of the books. She cites all her source material. So, any alleged falsehoods in her book may just as well be leveled at the authors of the hard-nonfiction books from which she culled her facts on the history of LeRoy, NY and the Jell-O corporation. But more than anything, and to the initial point of this answer, I think truth is irrelevant to the quality of this book. More than the first half of it is written in the style of a novel. Her family members are referred to by their first names, not as her relatives. That is to say, Rowbottom treats these real-life figures as characters in a story. This story. Recall that It's discursive to get caught up in truth in art. Where an essential reportage of facts with no curation is a fate accompli. Enjoy this book for what it is. I sweeping and multi-focused outrospection of what familial myth and mid-century propriety did to a generation of womyn and, in turn, the generation they engendered.(less)
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Im 13 looking for a good Memoir is this a good one for me?
Linda No. It is not really about girls.
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