What do 317 Jewish women have to say on 72 topics from feminism to friendship, fashion and shopping, violence and rape, Israel and Judaism, truth, lies and superstitions, sex and success? Answer: A lot. Partnow (The Quotable Woman
) gathers their wisdom and humor in 2,400 quotations that reflect diverse scholarly, social, literary, theatrical, political and spiritual worlds. All the women "have helped heal the world with their ideas, their activism, their service, their talent and their labor," she writes. Like the editor herself, readers may be surprised to find among this Who's Who of Jewish Women financial adviser Sylvia Porter, philosopher-writer Ayn Rand, actor Winona Ryder and artist Frida Kahlo, alongside more predictable choices like Anne Frank and Golda Meir. "That's part of the fun of this book—these discoveries," notes Partnow. An index allows readers to locate quotes by author rather than subject. The one-paragraph biographies of each woman are perhaps the most fascinating part of the book, adding a personal dimension to the women's fascinating achievements. The collection's strength lies in diversity; as author and activist Grace Paley writes: "You have an opinion. I have an opinion. Life don't have no opinion." Many opinions fill these pages, something to inspire every reader. (Aug.)
