Molly Ivins: A Rebel Life

[Are_grits_groceries]

Whether they rallied behind her biting critiques of power or were appalled by her politics, readers were inevitably moved by the work ofTexas debutante turned hard-hitting journalist Molly Ivins. Bill Minutaglio, a journalism professor at the University of Texas, and W. Michael Smith, a former Ivins colleague, explore her legacy of speaking truth to power— often as the only woman in the room—acerbic wit and social activism.

From her experiences as a student in the 1960s, to her reporting days in the heart of Texas, drinking political thoroughbreds under the table, to her bouts with alcoholism and the breast cancer that would finally take her life, Minutaglio and Smith chronicle a full life with help from the subject herself. “Molly was an incredibly self-aware person,” says Minutaglio. “She was a pack rat and kept everything from the age of 12 on. We found dozens and dozens of bankers boxes in her archives at the university, mostly unopened.

In large part she tells the story herself.” Tracing her metamorphosis as a journalist from the New York Times, to a
nationally syndicated columnist in more than 400 newspapers, to a bestselling nonfiction writer, Minutaglio was struck
by how important a role Ivins played in the evolution of news. “Molly is really sort of the spiritual leader of a lot of writers and journalists today—Maureen Dowd, Anna Quindlen, Arianna Huffington,” he says. “Many women became
public voices because Molly Ivins was there before them.”


Coming November 10th.

I miss Molly!!!

[Jim__]

1. Thanks for posting. Can't wait to read that book! - n/t

[Laelth]

2. k&r for the late, great Molly Ivins. n/t

:dem:

-Laelth

[patrice]

3. Molly, one of my Sisters, lives in my heart. Looking Forward to the book! nt

[Tansy_Gold]

4. I miss her too. K&R

[Raster]

5. Proud to recommend! Molly was one of my personal heroes.

I lived in Texas during Molly's heyday and corresponded with her a few times. She was the package: intelligence, style, wit and just enough Texiana to tie it all up. I miss her wonderful perspective every day. And let's not forget: she was one of the first to call a Bush* a shrub. She has his number years before it was fashionable--or acceptable.

[malaise]

6. Get thee to the greatest page

I'd love to read Molly on the Health Care protesters.

[Demoiselle]

7. Oh how I miss Molly!

She was incredibly incisive and told the truth...and yet...no matter how ugly the truth was, there was something so good natured about her. Even when she was slicing and dicing Dubya, she never really sounded MEAN. And oh my did she make us laugh.
I'd love to hear her comments on birthers, teabaggers, deathers et al.

[Are_grits_groceries]

8. She never pulled a punch, but

she always made me laugh.