Book Review: The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

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Book Club Book Review of Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray is a historical fiction novel that spans many years and tells of the friendship between former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune.

I don't know if I would have picked up this book if it hadn't been the August selection for one of the book clubs I belong to in my area because I don't read a lot of historical fiction. However, I am so glad that I read it and was able to learn many things I hadn't learned about in any of my history classes. 

I don't recall learning anything about Mary McLeod Bethune, and she is an important part of American history. The things she helped spearhead to provide African American people equal rights is quite impressive.

One of the things I was horrified to learn about is Franklin D. Roosevelt's resistance to stop lynchings because he was afraid of losing the Southern Democrats backing for his New Deal Bill. Another thing that I found shocking was that the women that Sara and Eleanor Roosevelt brought together to help with women's rights absolutely refused to sit and eat at the same table as Mary McLeod Bethune just because of the color of her skin.  Furthermore, I was flabbergasted that people would gawk at Roosevelt and Bethune when they would dine out together.

There are just so many things I learned from this historical fiction book that I can't begin to cover everything that was mentioned, but it's a definite must read for everyone interested in actually learning about our country's history during the depression through World War II, especially when it comes to giving people equal rights.

Told from alternating perspectives, the book was well written and easy to follow. For much of the story, I became completely immersed and forgot where I was. I will say that the ending of The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray felt a little rushed. All in all, this was four star out of five star read for me.

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