Status Updates From Unflinching Courage: Pionee...

Frustratingly, the chapter on "The Mother of Texas" was mostly about the men who helped her. I really don't see what Jane Long did, as least with her story told this way, to 'shape Texas' other than have set after set of fortuitous circumstances and outside help.

Just skimming a bit at this point. I'm not fond of the author's family history section of this book. It's not written in a way that interests me as an outsider. I rather feel like I'm at a friend's family reunion and some distant relative is talking ear off because I made the mistake of showing polite interest in their family tree.

In the prologue, I get irritated every time Native Americans are mentioned because the author glosses over (when she even touches on it) the "Anglo" mistreatment of the Natives. Very one-sided viewpoint that makes the settlers seem like poor victims when we all know the Natives didn't just start attacking without reason.

"...the independence of these women was partially due to the Spanish laws that set the precedent for women's property rights. Widows inherited half of estates and daughters generally inherited equally with their brothers. Community property has long been the law in Texas, so even in divorce, women were entitled to half their marital property."

"The spirit of Texas has been cussed and discussed throughout its storied history. Texans are ruggedly independent, fiercely loyal, colorful, fun-loving, and entrepreneurial." Oh, as a Texan, you're making me blush~

I checked this out from the New Arrivals section at the library and I think I may be the very first person to have done so! The book opened with that satisfying new-book crack.