The Women of Duck Commander, by Kay Robertson and her daughters-in-law

There is probably no family in America right now as popular and beloved as the Robertsons of West Monroe, Louisiana.  Their A&E TV show, Duck Dynasty, has set ratings records, and their books and merchandise are everywhere.  Now fans of the show can learn all they ever wanted to know about the lives and loves of Kay and her daughters-in-law.  In The Women of Duck Commander: Surprising Insights from the Women Behind the Beards About What Makes This Family Work, Kay, Korrie, Missy, Jessica, and Lisa tell stories of their childhoods, family histories, courtship, marriage, and lives as Robertson women.

The Robertsons have invited TV cameras into their homes and lives for several years now, putting their lives on display, so it's not surprising that they lay bare so much of their personal lives in this book.  Some of the stories they tell are pretty ugly.  The patriarch, Phil, spent many years early in their marriage as a drunk, and nearly tore apart their marriage and family with his terrible lifestyle.  But Kay was patient, and Phil met Jesus, transforming his life.  One of the daughters-in-law had an affair, but they chose reconciliation over divorce, and their marriage ended up stronger.

That hope and transformation forms the real theme of this book.  Each of them reveal personal stories of some bad choices they and the Robertson men have made, but in every case a commitment to family, a dependence on Jesus, and a hopeful outlook sustained them and redeemed their lives.  Duck Dynasty viewers will learn a side of this family that they might only have seen hints of on the show.  Everyone who picks up The Women of Duck Commander will be inspired by this close-knit family who enjoy each other, love their lives, and show a deep commitment to one another.

I did enjoy getting to know these ladies, but I should make a couple of objective comments, in order to be most helpful to interested readers.  The narrative jumps around among the authors.  Each time the voice changes, it's clearly indicated, but I got a little lost sometimes, having to remind myself who was writing when.  For fans of the show, this will be less of a problem; many fans know the Robertson family tree as well as they know their own!  Similarly, the stories they tell are very personal, but much of what they write would probably be of interest only to fans.

As you might expect from a book tied to a TV show, The Women of Duck Commander is essential reading for fans.  Those who are not familiar with the show will read some amusing and inspiring stories of family life, and good reminders that keeping Jesus first and each other second is a key to strong families.  But for non-fans, reading this would be like reading a whole bunch of Facebook posts from people they don't know.



Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!