The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Kids on 25 Words or Less (An Inspiring Memoir)

To think that until the last year I had never heard of Defiance, Ohio or of the Ryan family, and now I've fallen in love with the family, especially the indomitable mom. I reconnected with a former classmate via classmates.com who lives in Defiance. While volunteering with some church friends, I told a friend about my new email friend from Defiance. She told me that her husband lived in Defiance at one time. The next thing I knew she was giving me the dvd about the Ryan family. I watched it and was so moved--I cried and cried. It was hard for me to laugh, though. I then knew that I definitely wanted to read the book. I looked forward to getting back to the book every day even though it seemed like it was one jingle after another! We get to read her winning jingles and all the ones that didn't win. This was interesting but I felt as though I needed a break from the contest routine. I needed more about the children (they were fleshed out a little but not a lot). It was interesting to read about their house and all the broken appliances and the mom's ingenuity when it came to coping with them. Can you imagine not having a handle on your refrigerator door? I will admit that I wanted to hear more about her alcoholic father's rages, but she is very discreet when it comes to focusing on her dad's shortcomings. Now I'm thinking that she was right to take the focus away from him and to concentrate on her absolutely wonderful, amazing, ingenious mom who kept the family afloat with her prize-winning contest entries. I cried at the end. It was illuminating for me to find that some of the scenes in the movie were exactly how they happened. Sometimes when I was watching the movie, I was thinking that a particular incident couldn't have really happened but sure enough it did. The father was interesting in that he was terribly violent but he'd snap out of his rages and become gentle again. I kept thinking that some of the occurrences wouldn't have happened with my father who could be violent without any alcohol to fuel him but whom we would have been afraid to challenge verbally and physically as the Ryan family does with their head of family. This dad is like a lion and a mouse all in one. He's remorseful after many of his blow-ups. I guess if he'd been worse the family wouldn't have been as happy as they were. They became such a resilient family--the children learned from their mother about resourcefulness and survival techniques. In order to understand this book, you have to know more about the fifties when so many moms were out of the work force, taking care of home and family, and often not even being able to drive a car. My mom didn't drive when I was growing up. She was our mainstay--always home when we got home from school. Gave me a very secure feeling. The book is a treasure because it's a relic in many ways--it's a tale from a bygone era and for me it was inspiring and amazing and beautiful. So glad Terry Ryan shared this story before her untimely passing.

I enjoyed the movie and decided to read the book when I saw it on sale. I’m glad I read this well written, interesting and optimistic book. It was much better than the movie and it amazes me that it’s a true story. The "prize winner" is a smart and industrious housewife with 10 children and an alcoholic husband. It’s up to her to take care of the family and make sure they have food on the table and a roof over their heads. This book is really a love letter to a mother by a daughter and you can see why. In another time, this smart, clever, persistent and imaginative woman could’ve had a highly successful career in any number of fields but in this era, women didn’t have as many options, birth control wasn’t as available and times were tough. Somehow she managed to win enough cash and other prizes to consistently keep the family afloat for decades. I really wanted to see what her winning entries were and this book is filled with them. What impresses me most about this incredibly impressive woman and family is her endless optimism and their enviable closeness. Most of us would’ve succumbed to despair and poverty feeling overwhelmed by the constant obstacles presented with maintaining such a large family and dealing with an unpredictable alcoholic. It’s remarkable to me that it seems as if the kids never felt deprived of attention or love. Evelyn Ryan must’ve had an incredible amount of energy, steadfast faith in herself and a will of iron to remain so wonderfully optimistic and determined. Not to mention a big dose of luck. I don’t know how she did it but I’m in awe.~

I read this book when it first came out. This time, I listened to it. Both times, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Evelyn Ryan was one of a kind. She was NEVER a whiner; almost always optimistic and cheery, in spite of so many turbulent events in her life. Whiney women of these days could learn a lot from this remarkable woman, who was determined to keep her family afloat, in spite of an angry alcoholic husband, who often belittled his wife for her financial - and other - contributions to the family household. I loved the writing, the humor, the unbelievable accidents, the animal episodes. When she finally met a group of like-minded contesting women, through letter writing, I cheered for her happiness in having a group of women who understood her. Evelyn Ryan should win Mother of the Year. Her children adored her, and her life was focused on them. I HIGHLY recommend this delightful, entertaining and lovely book.

This book prompted a movie by the same name. As usual, the book is richer, with more depth and insight than is possible in a movie.It's a wonderful, true story about a woman, as seen through the eyes of her children. It is filled with humor, as well as the anger, frustrations and fear that occurs when living with an alcoholic. Throughout the ups and downs, the times that appear impossible to overcome, Evelyn Ryan's positive outlook and determination carry her, her husband and their ten children successfully past, over and around the challenges.The book also presents a time in America's history when life may have been simpler, but definitely not easier. Kids rode bikes everywhere and played outside unattended. Moms who didn't drive or own a car, walked to town for banking, shopping, to go to the post office or library. The milkman brought bottles of fresh milk to your door and TV, if you had one, was still only three black and white channels. Most people made just enough money to live on and you could buy a house for $10,000 or less.You'll also get to meet Charley, the chicken, and Mammy, the talented cat who learned how to open doors by herself.This is truly a worthwhile read. I believe you will find yourself thinking of Evelyn Ryan long past the last page.

I loved this book so much that I've bought this copy to pass on to a friend of a friend. Any one that loves entering consumer competitions... or maybe you don't... it's a good entertaining read. I have yet to come across anything which such a quirky different take on the trials and tribulations of bringing up a family with little money, living in extreme poverty and combating it by winning your way through life. Such an inspirational story line and proves sitting around wallowing in self pity doesn't work.In fact I am going to re read my copy as it's been a good few years since I completed it but it still takes pride of place on the bookcase.We were all asked to buy a book for a friend. One that you enjoyed so much that you think is too good to not pass around. Maybe, just maybe, my friend will now become a competition addict and I will see a few prize wins in the horizon. If not, then instead she got a good entertaining read and a great book to pass around to other friends when she's finished with it.Well done Terry Ryan, great book, great read, fantastic story. I must have a look to see if you've written any other books.

Read a library copy of this ages ago, had the urge to read it again and as a lover of movies, I wanted this particular cover - even though I've yet to see the movie: Look how pretty it is both inside and out!The true story itself is compelling, funny and moving. I'm not even into bios - hardly ever read them, but this reads so wonderfully and effortlessly - I've even highlighted the bestest bits! Incredibly well written it is.It's a tale of a phenomenal every day superheroine. Even the hateful villain of the piece redeems himself somewhat by the end.LOVE LOVE LOVE IT.Whoever you are, whatever you're sitch,BUY IT NOW ~ YOUR HOME LIBRARY WILL THANK YOU FOR IT!

Being a comper I've read them all - "how to do this" and "how to do that", all in the efforts of winning those elusive prizes on offer. But this book is different, and a joy to read. It won't teach you anything you didn't already know about the world of competitions, but it will make you smile, and realise that what "compers" do today is nothing new. In the 1950's people were entering, winning (and losing) competitions. This book follows the trials and triumphs of one resiliant lady. Humour is running through each page with a whimsical but heart-felt slant. The hippopotamus jingle alone, is worth the price.

Great, easy read when I was keen on some light non fiction

As expected, used but in good condition. Glad to get it as hard to track down