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The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio  By  cover art

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio

By: Terry Ryan
Narrated by: Carrington MacDuffie
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Publisher's summary

The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio introduces Evelyn Ryan, an enterprising woman who kept poverty at bay with wit, poetry, and perfect prose during the "contest era" of the 1950s and 1960s. Standing up to the church, her alcoholic husband, and antiquated ideas about women, Evelyn turned every financial challenge into an opportunity for innovation, all the while raising her six sons and four daughters with the belief that miracles are an everyday occurrence.

©2005 Terry Ryan (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

What listeners say about The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Heartwarming yet unsentimental

If you could sum up The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio in three words, what would they be?

Terry's mom rocks.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mrs. Ryan was an inspiring figure.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

This book made me laugh and tear up in a few spots...not cry.

Any additional comments?

I really enjoyed the story. It's told without nostalgia, yet somehow made me think of times now gone. I'll never forget the protagonist and the Ryan family.

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9 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An outstanding read

Rarely do I take the time to write a review. This book deserves my time. It is warm, humorous, and nostalgic. It combines a time capsule of Americana and a glimpse of a family struggling before government handouts.

It is a celebration of achievement. It is also a picture of what a family can achieve by finding the highest value in what matters most about life. Told with wit and a compelling narrative, I found it difficult to put down.

Finally, and perhaps the greatest compliment, I was sad to hear it end. The author did a wonderful job of completing the story, a story that deserved to be told. It is the historical account of an amazing but simple women. It is a story that deserves to be told...and heard.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great listen

She would have made a great ad agent. Reminded me of my mother who just passed away.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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  • J
  • 03-18-23

Excellent

This woman is the spokesperson for positive mindsets change lives. Thank you for sharing her with the world.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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I didn’t want it to end!

Truly a little piece of Americana. I would loved to have known Evelyn Ryan. She was a jewel.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Good listen. Uplifting story.

A little hard to listen to all the contest entries. But entertaining and a great true life story.

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A reminiscent of joys and not so, but beautiful

Oh how there were many laugh out loud moments as well as heartfelt defeats in this American family living in the 1950's. A large family raised with a less than perfect father and a creative mother that must have stood in line twice at her creation for things like wit, charisma, literary apt and love. I cried at times because I took had a mom that was the contest queen! So many memories and feelings, but would ha e enjoyed this book even if I had not had such a grand experience.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Better Than The Movie

When I first bought this book I thought it would just be a repeat of the movie, I enjoyed the movie immensely and have watched it several times since, which is why I bought the book, but to my surprise, I was happy to learn that it was better than the movie and told more stories so it was like watching the movie for the first time again. This poor woman endured a lot but left a lasting legacy and her spouse was really the jerk that they portrayed him to be on TV which I found tragic, she had an amazing life story

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An Inspirational Remembrance

I have heard criticisms about this book as well as the movie, I heartedly disagree.

I dont think it’s an unrealistic memoir. ‘Tuff’ has painted a picture that is both flattering and unflattering. For those who have lived with fewer dollars in hand than the stack of unpaid bills -understand the struggle.

Tuff has a great way of telling her story in a relatable way. This is a story for all ages. I laughed and cried as if I was part of the family.

My compliments to the author, and narrator.

Thanks for remembering the lives that touched yours.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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READ. THIS. BOOK. !!!!!!!!

You will laugh, cry, be angry, be happy but most of all be inspired to live better and be better and be happier even in difficult circumstances.

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  • Kindle Customer
  • 08-02-22

A Prize Winning Story

Loved everything about the telling of this oh so human story. Thank you so much.

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