It’s May, Lars Book Clubbers! As we remember and celebrate mothers and the women who have influenced us this month, we wanted to share with you the incredible story of one resilient, unwavering mother whose enterprising wits and enduring humor kept her family out of poverty. The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio by Terry Ryan tells the story of Evelyn Ryan, a married mother of ten children and a “contester” during the 1950s and 1960s. As she completed songs, poems, and advertising jingles for various companies, her pencil and paper kept her children fed, clothed, educated, and even entertained. Evelyn Ryan was a woman ahead of her time, providing for her family when women weren’t encouraged to do so, and had little to no say in financial matters. Author and daughter Terry Ryan tells her mother’s story and shares her prize-winning writing in a wonderfully humorous way, despite their hardships and struggle with an alcoholic father and husband. We hope you are inspired by this story, surely a tribute to tireless, hard-working mothers everywhere! Feel free to follow along with us @larsbookclub , where we’ll post quotes and thoughts from the book. Check back in the middle of the month too, when we’ll have some discussion questions and artwork up on the blog for you! Happy reading!
And after you’re done reading the book, watch it in the 2005 movie!