Jell-O Girls: A Family History
Jell-O Girls: A Family History
Biographical Note: Allie Rowbottom received her BA from New York University, her MFA from the California Institute of the Arts, and her PhD in Creative Writing and Literature from the...
Vendor
Little, Brown PaperbacksType
Print BooksBinding
Spiral BindingCouldn't load pickup availability
People are viewing this right now
Details
Shipping & Returns
Reviews (0)
FAQ
|
Biographical Note: Review Quotes: " Jell-O Girls is an artfully crafted feminist excavation of an American legacy and its dark underbelly by a tender and perceptive memoirist, a keen cultural critic, and a deserving chronicler of her mother's legacy. Jewel-toned as its subject, Rowbottom's prose brings into crystal focus the lacerating toll of patriarchy in our media, our homes, and our own bodies. She is a talent to be heralded."-- Sarah Gerard, author of Sunshine State and Binary Star Review Quotes: "Rowbottom's keening book is at its core an act of devotion to her mother.... Rowbottom shares her mother's trenchant view of Jell-O's subliminal social programming, and her passages about the brand's marketing offer stimulating feminist cultural analysis. What gives her text its emotional force is the interweaving of this material with her own personal stories and those of her mother.... A moving portrait of abiding mother-daughter love."-- Boston Globe Review Quotes: "Intimate and intriguing.... A fascinating feminist history of both a company and a family."-- Publishers Weekly Review Quotes: "Brilliantly written and beautiful, Jell-O Girls is both a feminist document and an act of love. In compiling a history of the spell the Jell-O brand cast on the American housewife-by working its way into every dietary fad from "domestic science" to Weight Watchers-Allie Rowbottom also manages to chart the mystery of female pain. Along the way, Rowbottom reclaims her own family history, writing a tribute to her mother that is both gutting and gorgeous."-- Alice Bolin, author of Dead Girls Review Quotes: "Rowbottom paints a fascinating portrait of the family behind one of America's most famous desserts.... This account illuminates both the rise of an American product and dynasty. The renown of Jell-O will attract a variety of readers to this memoir, and the storytelling will keep them turning pages to the very end."-- Library Journal (starred review) Review Quotes: "This is more than a book: it's a phenomenon. It kept me up nights with its urgency and insistence, following Rowbottom, in her masterfully clear-eyed grief, on the hunt for understanding and explanation. JELL-O GIRLS is a heart-wrenching confession, an exacting cultural history and an important and honest feminist story for right now." -- Aja Gabel, author of The Ensemble Review Quotes: "Rowbottom delivers a moving memoir of a daughter seeking to understand her mother, family, and the place of women in American society, and the narrative also serves as a thoughtful, up-close-and-personal feminist critique of a cultural icon. A book brimming with intelligence and compassion." -- Kirkus Review Quotes: "Allie Rowbottom's JELL-O GIRLS is a gripping and compelling portrait of the women born into one of America's most recognizable brands. With masterful storytelling, Rowbottom weaves together her story and her mother's, both coming of age as ambitious women in the shadow of an American icon. JELL-O GIRLS is a feminist revelation and a captivating investigation of the true history behind a family and the collective consciousness of a nation." -- Julia Fierro, author of The Gypsy Moth Summer Review Quotes: "Mysterious illnesses, great disappointments, haunting events-the story behind Jell-O (yes, that Jell-O) is crazy. The author picks up the narrative from her mother, who became obsessed with researching, documenting, and overturning what she believed was a family curse, before she passed away in 2015. Jell-O Girls is part family history, part American history, and part commentary on our patriarchal society. But unexpectedly and at its core, it's a story of motherhood."-- Goop Review Quotes: "This surprising page-turner of a memoir tells the story of the drama-haunted family behind the wiggly dessert that went on to become one of the most profitable businesses in American history (and a favorite Southern ingredient)." -- Garden & Gun Review Quotes: "This is a capable, highly readable book on a topic that deserves more attention." -- C.E. Morgan, New York Times Book Review Publisher Marketing: A "gorgeous" (New York Times) memoir that braids the evolution of one of America's most iconic branding campaigns with the stirring tales of the women who lived behind its facade - told by the inheritor of their stories. In 1899, Allie Rowbottom's great-great-great-uncle bought the patent to Jell-O from its inventor for $450. The sale would turn out to be one of the most profitable business deals in American history, and the generations that followed enjoyed immense privilege - but they were also haunted by suicides, cancer, alcoholism, and mysterious ailments. More than 100 years after that deal was struck, Allie's mother Mary was diagnosed with the same incurable cancer, a disease that had also claimed her own mother's life. Determined to combat what she had come to consider the "Jell-O curse" and her looming mortality, Mary began obsessively researching her family's past, determined to understand the origins of her illness and the impact on her life of Jell-O and the traditional American values the company championed. Before she died in 2015, Mary began to send Allie boxes of her research and notes, in the hope that her daughter might write what she could not. Jell-O Girls is the liberation of that story. A gripping examination of the dark side of an iconic American product and a moving portrait of the women who lived in the shadow of its fractured fortune, Jell-O Girls is a family history, a feminist history, and a story of motherhood, love and loss. In crystalline prose Rowbottom considers the roots of trauma not only in her own family, but in the American psyche as well, ultimately weaving a story that is deeply personal, as well as deeply connected to the collective female experience. |
Author: Rowbottom, Allie
Publisher: Little, Brown Paperbacks
Binding: Paperback
Pub Date: 2019-07-09
BISAC: Biography & Autobiography|Memoirs|Biography & Autobiography|Literary Figures|Business & Economics|Industries|Food Industry|Cooking|History|Social Science|Feminism & Feminist Theory
Weight: 0.5 lbs
ISBN: 9780316510622
ASIN: -
SKU: SP-9780316510622
Shipping Information: Free delivery on all orders over $45, arrives within 3–5 days, you can also choose expedited shipping
Returns Information: 90-day return policy begins once the item ships, we cover the round-trip shipping costs for returns caused by quality issues (Return Address: 8039 S 192nd ST, STE 120, Kent, WA, 98032)
Exchanges Information: The new order will be processed once the old order is in transit back to the warehouse. Customers will only be charged for the old order if it has not been returned to the warehouse within 14 days
After-Sales Service: Simply email your requirements to support@westbindery.com, and we will process them as soon as possible upon receipt
Customer Service: Online 24/7, we recommend contacting us via email as a first choice, though you can also chat with us online
Value-added service: If you are giving the books as a gift, we also offer gift-wrapping services
Lifetime Warranty: At West Bindery, we are committed to providing you with nothing but the best. We want you to be completely satisfied with your purchase. That's why all West Bindery books come standard with a lifetime warranty
Q: How do I track my order?
A: Order Tracking InformationOnce your order has been placed and processed, you will receive a confirmation email containing your order details. This email will include:
- A tracking number
- A link to our tracking page
How to Track Your OrderClick on the tracking number link in your confirmation email.
Important Notes: Tracking information may not be immediately available after you place your order. It can take up to 36 hours for the tracking number to activate in our system. If no updates are visible right away, please check back later.
Q: What if my package gets lost or arrives damaged?
A: Lost packages: At West Bindery, we strive to ensure every order reaches you in perfect condition. In the event that your order is lost during transit, please reach out to our customer support team here with your order number and any relevant details.
Damaged packages: Please report to our customer support team here within 24 hours of receiving the order and include photos of the damaged items or package. We will review the provided documentation and, if necessary, arrange for a replacement or issue a refund.
Q: Can I change my shipping address after my order is submitted?
A: Unfortunately, we’re unable to change the shipping address once your order has been submitted. If you’ve entered the wrong address, please contact us at support@westbindery.com as soon as possible—we’ll do our best to help before your order ships.
Q: What happens if I accidentally ordered multiple copies of the same book?
A: If you have accidentally ordered multiple copies of the same book, you can return the excess copies by following our return process. Please ensure the items are in their original condition and returned within the 90-day window from the shipping date. Upon receipt and inspection of the items, if the refund is approved, it will be processed on your original payment method. Visit our return center and follow the provided instructions to ensure a smooth and timely return.
Q: I received an incomplete order, what should I do?
A: How to Report an Incomplete Order: To help us address your concern, please follow these steps:
- Email our support team at support@westbindery.com with:Your order numberThe email address associated with your order
- Let us know which item(s) is/are missing from your order.
What Happens Next: Our team will verify your order and investigate the issue. We will contact you within 1 business day with an update or resolution, including sending the missing item(s) or other suitable options.