Review by Purti10 -- From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search...

[Purti10]

[Following is a volunteer review of "From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream" by Janice S. Ellis.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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From Liberty to Magnolia- In Search of the American Dream by Janice S. Ellis is a Gold winner memoir set in the backdrop of the Civil rights movement, and the Women's liberation movement. By writing this book she hopes to make people understand how one can embrace challenges, defy the odds, and achieve a real and meaningful purpose in life.

Janice was born in a farmhouse located in Mississippi, America. Being an African American woman she faced racial and sexual discrimination all her life. But all these racial and sexual segregation could not deter her from becoming a strong and powerful woman. She was determined to do something meaningful for herself and for the society.

Her love of books proved to be a ticket of escape from the farm life, and she managed to get a scholarship for college. But the struggles did not end here, even after getting good grades, she could not find an adequate job for her, and she had to start working at an information booth. She struggled through two abusive relationships in her personal life. But she stood strong despite all the odds and carved a niche for herself. Her journey from the cotton fields of Mississippi to corporate America is truly motivating.

The story focuses on two very important issues, I.e. racism and sexism. In this book, the author has described how she dealt with both. Her life story is an inspiration for all those who have been a victim of racial and sexual discrimination. I liked how the author has shared each and every experience of her life without any inhibitions. She has described how she dealt with the issue of the glass ceiling effect during the peak of her career. There were a few incidents which left a big impression on me, like, the five ‘n' dime incident or when she boldly writes a letter to Eric Sevareid to ask him for an interview. These incidents clearly depicted how brave and determined she was. I began to like her bold personality, right from the start.

The whole memoir is divided into two parts depicting two main themes. The First part is called, “Finding My Purpose,” in which she described her life story, her struggles, and how did she find her calling. Second part is called, “Fulfilling My Purpose,” in this part, she mentioned, how she fought for her rights and achieved her goals. Both parts contain equal chapters, and each chapter depicted a particular time period of the author's life.

Janice found her inspiration from Eric Sevareid and Walter Lippmann, and started to write columns on social issues for radio broadcasts and newspaper. She did her PhD on the works of Walter Lippmann and has cited his notable works in the sixth chapter of the memoir. She has also included her works from the radio broadcasts in the end.

I would gladly give this book 4 out of 4 stars. This Book seems to be professionally edited as I could not find any errors while reading the book. Janice's story is a motivational and emotional read. I could connect with her throughout the journey. I would recommend this book to everyone who loves reading inspirational stories.

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From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream
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[Muskan Afzal-]

Your review helps me in finding my next read. Thanks for your review.