The Women of Troy Hill: The Back-Fence Virtues of Faith and Friendship

The Women of Troy Hill chronacles the lives of a group of women who have lived on Troy Hill, not far from Pittsburg for most , if not all their lives. It follows family's immigration to this country, settling down, and the changing roles of women in America throughout the 1900's. These women are strong, faith-filled and examples of lives well lived. This is a delightful book, and a tribute to these wonderful women.

I enjoyed this book because it's the story of so many women's stories: nurturing to many and being a good neighbor. None of these women thought themselves worthy of a memoir because they led and still lead "normal" lives and were just doing what they were supposed to do: be respectful, be humble, be truthful, be genreous, be loyal, be caring, be loving to one another. Ms. Ansberry writes well of ordinary lives that makes you think they are extraordinary. One line that I recall was that, "men worked, but women neighbored." Oh, to have neighborhoods that care and teach us like this!

I am 77 years old and I found this book transporting me back to youthful days. The ethos of the women of Troy Hill was the ethos of my youth. The simple virtues of faith and friendship as described in the book reminded me times gone by and wished for again.

This book pays homage to the ordinary lives of extraordinary women. One of my favorite quotes says it best: "Old ladies, I have believed all my life, are the highest form of human beings on Earth, the strongest, the most articulate, and the top of the line."-Roger RosenblattDelve into the whys and lives of these lovely women who have lived long lives in a kind of neighborhood that no longer exists. These lovely oldsters are people you and I know, people we usually take for granted. Ms. Ansberry very gently attempts to distinguish these six women into a force we can all understand and cherish. Recognizing the huge impact they make on all our lives, from girlhood through child bearing to old age - the author paints a picture of a hillside neighborhood held together by faith, responsibility, church, illness, loss, hardship, commitment, concern, joy and kindnesses. You will be enriched by this read, and never look upon a little old lady in quite the same way. As a middle aged mama, studying the landscape ahead, I was inspired by all of these women, but especially Mary, who "refers to women by their maiden names, though they haven't signed that name to letters since the 1930s. Deliberate or not, it preserves them forever as a young girl and honors their individuality, who they were before they became Mrs. Somebody."This book will appeal to all generations and would make a truly lovely gift for someone special in your life.

Clare Ansberry's portrayal of the vital, loyal and faithful aging friends in a Pittsburgh enclave is absolutely brilliant. She has captured the culture of an exceptional community in "The Women of Troy Hill: The Back-Fence Virtues of Faith and Friendship. The community of Troy Hill may be insular, however, the message of genuine caring and the concept of duty is easily identifiable, if not universal. The reader will profit from the experience of seven octogenarian women who were interviewed by Ansberry for "The Women of Troy Hill" the lessons they learned, out of necessity, to survive in dignity and friendship with quality and care are freely given. The book reminds me of how things were when my mother was a young woman raising my siblings and myself in the suburbs. The woman to woman networking, and the multi generational caring and sharing of their families as attributed to these exceptional women, was also alive in the suburbs when I was a child. The reader will find herself in familiar territory, reliving the life of her parents, grandparents and other members of her extended family. The message of the book will become a great teaching reference when a child asks what things were like in the old days? Prepare to become involved as you recall your life experiences and examine their current value.