The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio

I finally sat down and watched this terrific film last night.

I bought it, sight unseen, as soon as it was available on DVD because I loved the book so much and had read good reviews of the movie. It did not disappoint.

Julianne Moore stars as Evelyn Ryan, Contester Extraordinaire, who used her talent with words to win the kinds of slogan writing contests that used to be prevalent in the 1950s and 60s. With a husband (played by Woody Harrelson) who spent a disproportionate amount of the family's income on alcohol, this talent literally kept her ten children clothed, fed and sheltered for two decades.

The memoir, written by Evelyn's daughter Terry (nicknamed Tuff), is one of the most delightful books I've ever read, and I think they did an excellent job with the movie. I highly recommend both!

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For more information about the book, the movie and the real Ryan family, check out this website.