In a tiny neighborhood perched atop a hill in Pittsburgh thrives a world we think we have lost. It is a world of loyalty, faith, energy, and it is a world composed of women in their seventies and eighties who have spent most of their lives in this tightly knit community. Having grown up there, raised families there, and buried their loved ones there, these women still live wonderful, independent, energetic lives. From their common perspective of age come family stories that span the twentieth century, and through them our rushed and restless generation is reminded of the important things in life.

That being said, these women were all amazing. They did was has to be done and didn't complain. In reading this it was easy to see my own grandparents and understand a little better why they do the things they do....why relationships and family is so important. The last chapter kind of made the book. It talks about the vitures of friendship and how these women have been friends for so long that they wouldn't know what to do without the other. It is rare to find a friendship like that in today's society. Friends and Family are the world to these women....maybe we can all learn from that


Not What I Expected.......   June 7, 2001
Joanna (Hillsboro Beach, FL USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Maybe it was the writer's fault, but this story just wasn't presented the way I thought it would be. It turned out to be more of a travelogue of this little neighborhood than individual stories about the ladies themselves. I couldn't finish it.


Lives well-lived   February 22, 2001
Mary G. Longorio (Eagle Mountain, UT)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

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.


Neighbors as teachers   January 19, 2001
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

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!