Book Review - The Whip

About the Book
THE WHIP is inspired by the true story of a woman, Charlotte "Charley" Parkhurst (1812-1879) who lived most of her extraordinary life as a man.

As a young woman in Rhode Island, she fell in love and had a child. Her husband was lynched and her baby killed. The destruction of her family drove her west to California, dressed as a man, to track the murder.

Charley became a renowned stagecoach driver. She killed a famous outlaw, had a secret love affair, and lived with a housekeeper who, unaware of her true sex, fell in love with her.

Charley was the first woman to vote in America (as a man). Her grave lies in Watsonville, California.

About the Author
Karen Kondazian’s theater career includes starring opposite Ed Harris in Sweet Bird of Youth (which she also produced), Richard Chamberlain in Richard II (dir. Jonathan Miller), Stacy Keach in Hamlet, (dir. Gordon Davidson) Ray Stricklyn in Vieux Carre (West Coast Premiere-Beverly Hills Playhouse, dir. Clyde Ventura, which she also produced). She also starred in Eduardo Machado's off-Broadway play, Kissing Fidel (dir. Michael Garces). She won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Actress in The Rose Tattoo, (in which her work as actor and producer so impressed Tennessee Williams that they became friends and he gave her carte blanche to produce any of his work in his lifetime). Other awards and nominations include Ovation, Drama Critics Circle, LA Weekly and Garlands for, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Berkeley Rep., dir. Richard Syde) Orpheus Descending (Fountain Theatre, dir. Simon Levy) Night of the Iguana (Old Globe, dir. Jack O'Brien) Lady House Blues, Freedomland (South Coast Rep, dir. David Emmes) The Milk Train Doesn't Stop Here Anymore (Fountain Theatre, dir. Simon Levy) Master Class (Odyssey Theatre - LA, Lobero Theater - Santa Barbara, dir. Simon Levy). She has appeared as series regular lead in CBS's Shannon and guest starred in over 50 television shows and films including, TNT's James Dean with James Franco (dir. Mark Rydell) NYPD Blue and Frasier, Steal Big Steal Little with Andy Garcia and Alan Arkin, Yes Giorgio with Luciano Pavarotti.

My Take on the Book
This was a great book. You are taken on a historical journey into the life of a real person and you are transfixed as a reader. As I picked up the book I have to say that I did not want it to end and I kept reading straight through to find out what would happen next and whether Charlie would get found out. After reading this I was encouraged to find out more about the real person and the more that I read the more amazed I was. If you enjoy reading about the Old West as well as a story that will amaze you this is the one to read!

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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