Book Description
Kim Edwards's stunning family drama evokes the spirit of Sue Miller and Alice Sebold, articulating every mother's silent fear: what would happen if you lost your child and she grew up without you? In 1964, when a blizzard forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his own twins, he immediately recognizes that one of them has Down Syndrome and makes a split-second decision that will haunt all their lives forever. He asks his nurse to take the baby away to an institution and to keep her birth a secret. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child as her own. Compulsively readable and deeply moving, The Memory Keeper's Daughter is an astonishing tale of redemptive love. BACKCOVER: “Edwards is a born novelist. . . . Rich with psychological detail and the nuances of human connection.”
—Chicago Tribune
“Unfolds from an absolutely gripping premise, drawing you deeply and irrevocably into the entangled lives of two families and the devastating secret that shaped them both. I loved this riveting story.”
—Sue Monk Kidd
“Anyone would be struck by the extraordinary power and sympathy of The Memory Keeper's Daughter.”
—The Washington Post
“Kim Edwards has written a novel so mesmerizing that I devoured it. . . . The Memory Keeper's Daughter has it all.”
—Sena Jeter Naslund
“Kim Edwards has created a tale of regret and redemption, of honest emotion, of characters haunted by their past. This is simply a beautiful book.”
—Jodi Picoult
Customer Reviews:
Disappointing ... to say the least ..........2007-10-04
I also bought this book because I had heard such great things about it. Like everyone else stated, the book started out strong but lost you half way through ...
I was really disappointed by this book - wasn't what I thought it would be.
Full of Ridiculous Drama!!!!!.......2007-10-02
This book sounded interesting enough and it was...at the beginning. We read it for our book club so was eager to jump on in. It wasn't one of my least favorites but you keep waiting and waiting for something to happen. Nothing does. Hence the title, you would think the majority of the book would be about Phoebe but it isn't. I got a little sick of Norah's self loathing to be quite honest.
Hopeful in the beginning; disappointed in the end.......2007-10-02
This sounded like a wonderfully intriguing book. While it was well written, it was poorly edited. There was much that could and should have been left out. The storyline with the Rosemary character served little purpose and the sudden death of one of the major characters was baffling. There were strong female characters and weaker male characters throughout the story...and this was so blatant that it took away from the story's believability. I enjoyed the first 100 pages or so and finished it because my book club was reading the book. Interestingly, the other members had the almost identical conclusion.
What was all the hype about?.......2007-09-30
This book began with a strong storyline. Then halfway through it became a drawn out read. I enjoyed chapters that were about Caroline and Phoebe, but those chapters were few and far between. The chapters about Norah and her family were terrible. They were unlikable characters and the book took on such a whiney tone. I could not believe all the people that said this was an interesting read. It was drawn out and generally dull. I would not recommend it.
^~~* It Sucks You In and Keeps You til the End ~~~~.......2007-09-29
Finally, I bought this book after many months of picking it up and putting it back on the shelf at the local bookstore. My bookclub was reading it and that was the excuse I needed.
I started reading and put it down. There were some tough things to absorb. Down's syndrome, twins separated at birth, a marriage fraying at the seams, two women who hadn't found their voices and a man who hadn't learned to heal pain.
There was some willing suspension of disbelief and I was feeling a little too weary to travel on with this rag-tag crew of characters. But a few weeks later, I picked up the book again. And continued, page by page, to be drawn into their lives. Edwards does a nice job of weaving the current "times" into the story without making it a poiltical or historical 'piece.' Yet the story of these characters is directly linked to the changes that happened throuhout the US and small and mid-sized towns during the time of the novel.
At the end I felt calm and much of the intensity had stilled to a patient rhtymn -- like life.
Average customer rating:
- An Excellent Memoir
- A story to share....
- Quick read, Had some insights.
- Rebecca Walker is a Schlemiel and a Putz.
- Thank You Rebecca !
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Black, White, and Jewish: How Memory Works
Rebecca Walker
Manufacturer: Riverhead Hardcover
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Meridian
ASIN: 1573221694
Release Date: 2000-12-28 |
Book Description
When Mel Leventhal married Alice Walker during the civil rights movement in the late 1960s, his mother declared him dead and did not reconcile until after the birth of her first grandchild. After Mel and Alice divorced, their daughter, Rebecca, alternated homes every two years, spending time in Mississippi, Brooklyn, San Francisco's Haight Ashbury, Washington, D.C., the Bronx, and suburban Westchester. With each new place came a new identity and desperate attempts to fit in: as white or black, as Puerto Rican or Jewish, as a party girl, a fighter, or a lover. Confused, and mostly alone, she turned to sex, drugs, books, and a cast of dangerous and thrilling characters.
Black, White, and Jewish is the story of a child's unique struggle for identity and home when nothing in her world told her who she was or where she belonged. Poetic reflections on memory, time, and identity punctuate this gritty exploration of race and sexuality. Rebecca Walker has taken up the lineage of her mother, Alice, whose last name she chose to carry, and has written a lucid and inventive memoir that marks the launch of a major new literary talent.
Customer Reviews:
An Excellent Memoir.......2007-05-30
I discovered how much I like Rebecca Walker's writing, voice and style after reading a forward she wrote for an anthology of mixed race writings. Then I heard her speak and I read "Black, White and Jewish" the next day. I didn't want to put the book down and I was sorry when her memoir ended because I wanted to keep on reading.
And no, at that point it had not yet occurred to me that she was Alice Walker's daughter. Besides, that would not have made any difference to me anyway. Both Alice and Rebecca are excellent authors, but the fact that they are related is not important to me. What matters is that Rebecca has written an excellent memoir.
Thank you Rebecca.
A story to share...........2007-05-07
What caught my eye at first was her last name...Walker. So I said to myself she must have inherited her Mom's way of putting into words her thoughts. Once I started to read the story, I could not put it down. The pain was felt through each chapter, each change of home every two years. What a way to grow up. But grow up she did into a very complex woman who can share her childhood with others who may also have the identity crisis of having not only parents from different racial backgrounds, but also of having the constant shift of "home". The book helped me understand what my daughters have gone through with their Mom being white, their Dad being African American and a military family with the moving every couple of years. Once I was done, I gave the book to my now 24 year old daughter, a mother now of half Honduran and the rest of her children. Thanks for opening her up to others being out there who may share her pain and to open our conversation up more than it already was.
Quick read, Had some insights........2007-02-26
ALthough I enjoyed the writing style and some of the portrayals of her family and multi-racial experiences, I expected this book to be more about the later and her coming of age rather than the attention given to her sexual experiences. This did not seem as important to the book as the themes on racism, black/Jewish relations, etc. I would have liked more of that. It seemed like she had a lot of rebellion against her dad and his wife, but they seemed more there for her than her mom. I found this book very interesting and I would like to read more by this author and on this topic.
Rebecca Walker is a Schlemiel and a Putz........2007-01-26
What do Lenny Kravitz, Craig David, Derek Jeter, Hale Berry, Barak Obama, Rain Pryor, Keanu Reeves, and The Rock all have in common? They're successfull bi-racial Americans of politics, arts, and athletics. Unfortunately, Rebecca Walker Leventhal doesn't measure up. She feels sorry for herself because she's half-white, and she's angry at her father for making her half-Jewish. Poor thing.
Leventhal's life is nowhere near as bad as she wants us to believe. Her father cared about her very much, and her stepmom sounds okay to me, but she writes about her father like he was neglectful. She's angry at him for moving the family to a suburb, but was that such a bad thing? What's wrong with wanting to live in a good area with great schools? She felt alienated from her white Jewish friends, but that was self-imposed. All these Jewish people WANTED to be her friend, but the suburbs just weren't good enough for her.
Her next complaint is her teen years. She acts like it was all pain and guilt, but from what I read, she had a great time. She had lots of interesting boyfriends, and spent a summer on the set of "The Color Purple." She graduated from high school, went to an Ivy League college, and that doesn't sound bad.
Walker's problem is her MOTHER. Alice Walker was a terrible parent. What kind of mother refuses to take her daugher to meet her principal? What kind of mother refuses to be involved in her daughter's life. I think the reason she complains so much is that she's realy angry at her mother, but seems guilty accusing her. After all, Alice Walker is black, and she can't accuse her black mother of anything. Her Jewish father is an easier target.
Leventhal (or Walker, whatever she calls herself) should stop thinking of herself as a victim and a mutant, and start thinking of herself as the product of two wonderful things. Lenny Kravitz was another Black Jewish American, and he had his lumps, including his parents' divorce. But being Black and Jewish didn't hold him back, it kept him going. Rain Pryor was a Black jew, and her dad was a cokehead, but she writes about her life with strength and humor.
At first I didn't think Rebecca had the wisdom commonly associated with American Jews. But then I realized she's one of us. How do I know? Her whining! Read "Born to Kvetch" and you'll learn why Jews are stereotyped as whiners. We're very vocal about things, including our problems. It's one of the ways that we avoid stress and anger, which in other cultures leads to drunkness, temper flashes and wife-beating. But we do other things besides complain, and that's all she does. Complain.
Thank You Rebecca !.......2006-11-30
While I believe you were more privileged than I was, thank you for telling the Jewish community what it needed to hear as opposed to what it wanted to hear.
As a fellow multiracial Jew, your assertions about the Jewish community were unfortunately more accurate than many would like to admit. Rebecca distanced herself from a community that didn't accept her. While I still express my Judaism at home and attend synagogue on the HHD, I don't attend schul due to racism myself. I got tired of being mistaken for the janitor, maid, or nanny. I deserve more respect than that, I'm a human being. She's getting a lot of criticism from people who want to believe in the "Jews never have race problems" crowd. Sorry guys, but its an issue.
The intercallary style of the book may annoy certain readers, but I felt they were a welcome literary device to evoke her deepest emotions. I believe she may be a bit self-indulgent at times, but I think she does display how many mixed people (and mixed Jews for that matter) feel about their communities. However, Rebecca's downward spiral into self destructive behaviors is more of a symptom of bad parenting than a community that rejects her.
I honestly don't think Rebecca is ashamed of her Jewish heritage. What Rebecca IS ashamed of how she was treated by her family and others. How would you feel about a community that doesn't consider you Jewish enough? Even worse, the same people tell you that you're not taking enough pride in your heritage, although it rejects you.
Guess what guys, the problem is mostly you, not Rebecca.
Book Description
This deeply felt memoir is a journey through family history, feminist insight, and Southern mythology. In it a daughter reflects on the complicated and volatile love she and her father shared. Shirley Jean Abbott grew up in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in the 1940s and 50s and was the beloved daughter of Alfred Bemont Abbott, affectionately known as "Hat." Hat wasn't a bookmaker in the obvious sense, even though he allowed Shirley's mother to believe as much while they were dating. Rather, his craft was gambling, and his business was horse racing.
Despite the corruption, which put food on the table and rabbit coats in the closet, Abbott remembers the kind and attentive father who spent nights reading to her. He alone is responsible for opening the door to a world of language and literature for her. And she ran with it. Against her father's wishes, after graduation she headed for New York City. In the end, the girl he had nurtured into an independent and intelligent young woman had outgrown the small town where she grew up. The Bookmaker's Daughter was originally published by Ticknor and Fields in 1992, and was a Book of the Month Club selection.
Customer Reviews:
A heartfelt tale of family bonds thicker than water, stronger than time........2006-10-04
Originally published in 1991, and now featuring a new introduction by award-winning author Shirley Abbott, The Bookmaker's Daughter: A Memory Unbound is the poignant memoir of a daughter remembering her father, growing up in Arkansas in the 30's and 40's. Her father survived the tough times of the depression not through the trade of physically making books, but rather through the business of gambling and horse racing. Yet The Bookmaker's Daughter is about books in another way; the father who once read to his young daughter and stimulated her imagination saw her outgrow her small home town and head for New York City after graduation, against his wishes. A heartfelt tale of family bonds thicker than water, stronger than time.
a well-written memoir.......2006-09-15
I read her story when it was first published, also lost it after lending it to a friend. Since I didn't remember the author or title, it was left as a memory of a book I enjoyed both for the story AND the word-craft. I would compare the satisfaction of reading this bood with that of "Daughters and Rebels" (Also published as Hons and Rebels) by Jessica Mitford. Suddenly, last night, the title popped into my head, and here I am, ordering it for myself and several friends and daughters...
I Am Also A bookmakers' Daughter.......2006-07-23
I read this book several years ago.I lent it to a co-worker who moved away from this area.Unfortunately,we lost touch & I lost my book.Recently,I purchased a new copy for myself & am just now getting around to rereading it.I strongly identify with the writer,even though our lives are very different.Her love for her father touches me deeply.I will always prefer to read a biography or autobiography to fiction any day.
Book Description
Create a loving keepsake about the special relationship between mother and daughter. This bestselling volume captures all the special moments of a daughter's life through her loving mother's eyes, from her first day of school to her wedding day, with sections devoted to:
- "About Our Family"
- "About Myself"
- About My Daughter"
To My Daughter With Love helps mothers pass down and preserve the precious moments and family history they hope their daughters will always remember. It's a poignant memory book that generations of daughters will treasure.
Customer Reviews:
Get Real.......2005-11-03
This book is unbelievably presumptuous. The author seems more intent in giving you her own perspective and history rather than allowing a reader to fill in theirs. This book provides an idealized relationship with one's mother and doesn't allow for anything outside the storybook fantasy. There are plenty of other books of this nature that allow you to record and pass on all the life details to your daughter in a much more personalized way.
However, if you come from a white family that spent many a day wearing lace and attending tea parties, then this book is for you.
Beautiful Keepsake.......2005-01-21
This is a beautifully illustrated and beautifully written keepsake book from mother to daughter. My only complaint is that I wish I could find something similar for my adopted daughters.
Worth more than all the gold & treasures in the world!.......2004-10-13
This is a wonderful book for you to record memories of for your daughter when she was young all the way up to her wedding. But the book doesn't stop there, there is a section for information on your Mother and also about you. It's wonderful to find out information & memories of when you where a child as well as your mother! With just little bit every now and then as your child is growing up and you will have something your daughter will treasure forever!
Donna Green is also a wonderful artist! The drawings in this book are so beautiful and live like, such awesome talent!!!!
Fun To Write and Read.......2001-12-07
I genuinely loved doing this book for my daughter. My interview with my mother was enlightening and I know my daughter is going to love reading it. I only wish there was one for sons as my 21-year-old son wants one like this.
To My Daughter, With Love.......2001-03-23
This book is a must for mothers who want to pass on an intimate,candid and historical record of their memories of their mothers,asking what your earliest memory was of her, what she smelled like or what she wore, what she loved, her shortcomings. It moves through our own childhood (our best friend, our best/worst memories,advice given but not taken,favorite recipe. There are a few spots for favorite pics of your mom, you and your daughter. Lastly, you write about your legacy & dreams for her. It is a carefully laid out format, simple w/stunning paintings of daughters/mothers Victorian style with a contemporary accent. A great wedding or 21st birthday gift!
Product Description
Edwards's assured but schematic debut novel (after her collection, The Secrets of a Fire King) hinges on the birth of fraternal twins, a healthy boy and a girl with Down syndrome, resulting in the father's disavowal of his newborn daughter. A snowstorm immobilizes Lexington, Ky., in 1964, and when young Norah Henry goes into labor, her husband, orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Henry, must deliver their babies himself, aided only by a nurse. Seeing his daughter's handicap, he instructs the nurse, Caroline Gill, to take her to a home and later tells Norah, who was drugged during labor, that their son Paul's twin died at birth. Instead of institutionalizing Phoebe, Caroline absconds with her to Pittsburgh. David's deception becomes the defining moment of the main characters' lives, and Phoebe's absence corrodes her birth family's core over the course of the next 25 years. David's undetected lie warps his marriage; he grapples with guilt; Norah mourns her lost child; and Paul not only deals with his parents' icy relationship but with his own yearnings for his sister as well. Though the impact of Phoebe's loss makes sense, Edwards's redundant handling of the trope robs it of credibility. This neatly structured story is a little too moist with compassion.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Lack of story.......2006-10-17
The main story happens within the first 100 pages of the book. You can save yourself reading even the first 100 pages by reading the book flap instead. Kim Edwards struggles for the next 300 pages to add substance to the story. She is a very descriptive writer and can write for a half page or more on how lint looks on a shirt. I felt that she used her creative descriptions to compensate for a lack of story in the book. I found myself distracted by her writing style and skimming entire pages hoping to find some substance in the story.
The Most Talked Book Today.......2006-08-09
The most talked about book today. A phenomenal first novel by Edwards. The choice of a father to hide the birth of one of his twins has far reaching consequences."
Book Description
It's December, and Amy can't help but remember the last holiday she spent with her mother. Back then, Amy was training Sundance, the feisty pony they had rescued from an auction. While Sundance had proven to be a talent in the show ring, he was still impossible to handle in the stable. Frustrated by the pony's attitude and her mother's rigorous training schedule, Amy is lacking holiday - and Heartland - spirit. But then, Sundance falls ill. As Amy watches over him, she is finally able to glimpse the vulnerable pony's true heart - and understand the precious gift she shares with her mother.
Customer Reviews:
heartland 1 coming home.......2005-04-24
Very good and sad because Amy's moteher dies and Amy is left to carry on her mothers gift
Heartland is BORING!.......2005-03-25
Heartland is sssssssssoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo boring i just couldnt read ANY of it! Thats why i gave it one star thought i should of put none...but oh well
A Holiday Memory.......2005-03-23
Hi! I wanted to tell the people that haven't read this book yet that I found it kind of disapointing and boring. I think the only part I really liked was at the end when she got something. I can't tell what it was, though! I also want to say that the whole book was kind of sad. I hated the part were Sundance got colic. My horse got colic, and he was almost about to die, but he just made it! Whenever I read this, that part makes me cry. I like the other books better. But Lauren Brooke, WRITE MORE!!!
GREAT!!!!!.......2004-12-09
This one was really really good! It gives you an idea of what Amy's mom was really like. It is sad when Sundance gets the colic, but it is really sad knowing amy's mom didn't live that much longer after when the story is based. You can really see how much Amy has improved with the horses since her moms death. A must for Heartland and horse fans.
Heartland Holiday Edition.......2004-12-04
I am absolutely in love with the Heartland series, however, this particular book was a bit of a rude awakening. Not much time was spent in explaining the horses and Amy's time with them, and it was by far the most melodramatic and confusing story yet. I am sure this one is simply one glitch in the Heartland's numerous fascinating stories. I love the rest of 'em, just not quite this one!
Keep readin', writin' and learnin' about horses! They teach us everything!
P.S. Rescue Remedy (r) works on humans and dogs, too, not just horses! I use the Natural Remedy methods at my barn in Duvall, WA.
Love,
Anna
Average customer rating:
- A QB for History
- THE BALD EAGLE SOARS
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Giants and Heroes: A Daughter's Memories of Y. A. Tittle
Dianne Tittle De Laet
Manufacturer: Steerforth
ProductGroup: Book
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ASIN: 1883642132
Release Date: 1998-06-01 |
Book Description
None of the books in this genre is remotely comparable to de Laet's remarkable effort. --The Sporting News
Customer Reviews:
A QB for History.......2003-06-11
Calling all LSU, SF 49er, and NY Giants fans. This book is a fun read, and leaves one with the feeling of having intimately known one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever wear a football uniform. As opposed to many sports books, the author's vantage point allows her to tell the story of this football icon with refreshing sensitivity. The author, through her lively descriptions, tells the story of how from his humble beginnings in East Texas, Y.A. Tittle rose to become the toast of New York, and a member of the NFL Hall of Fame.
Y.A. Tittle's unique athletic abilities, and sense of humor are framed by the parables of Greek mythology. This unique treatment is appropriate, because the author provides an inside view of growing up with a legend.
THE BALD EAGLE SOARS.......2002-01-21
I LIKED SEVERAL THINGS IN THIS BOOK. I ALSO DISLIKED A FEW THINGS IN THIS BOOK. IT WAS INTERESTING WHEN IT STAYED FOCUSED ON THE CAREER AND LIFE OF Y.A. HIS EXPERIENCES WITH THE COLTS, 49ERS AND GIANTS IS EXCEPTIONALLY WELL DONE. THE BOOK IS WRITTEN BY HIS DAUGHTER WHO DOES A GOOD JOB OVERALL. BUT SHE RAMBLES ON AND ON ABOUT SOME BORING CHILDHOOD MEMORIES AND NEVER REALLY DOES A GOOD JOB OF TELLING US WHAT KIND OF PERSON AND FATHER TITTLE IS. SHE TRIES TO BE TO TOO DEATILED AND CREATIVE DESCRIBING THINGS OF MINOR IMPORTANCE. BUT SHE IS TALENTED AND VERY SWEET. I DONT WANT TO BE TOO HARD ON THIS BOOK. I RECOMMEND IT FOR ALL GIANT FANS AND FANS WHO WANT TO READ ABOUT A GREAT QUARTERBACK.
Product Description
When Linda's mother died on March 25, 1969, an apparent suicide, nothing of Linda's staid world remained the same. Her father, the scion of a wealthy San Francisco family, already enamored with Denise Minnelli, fell into her control. Denise managed to estrange him from his family and end up the sole heir of his estate. Linda recounts here her pilgrimage of gradually learning to stand up for herself and make peace with her history.
Customer Reviews:
An excellent read!.......2007-07-05
This book was well written and I enjoyed it so much that I had a hard time putting it down to get some sleep. It is amazing how a parent can be so wrapped up in themself that they can't see how they are negatively affecting their children but then the narcissistic among us are not capable of a love based on give and take. Kudos to Linda for rising above her upbringing to become the wonderful person that she is. The world is a much better place for it. Thanks to her for writing this book and seeing that there are others that have grownup in similar situations and have not turned into the very creatures that have inflicted so much grief on them as a child.
an amazibngly wonderful book.......2007-06-11
A very level recounting of dysfunction among the rich and social as told by a daughter in the family. The dish, though great reading, is secondary to a young woman getting a grip on a losing situation and finding her strength, and her self.
Couldn't Put It Down.......2007-04-23
If you've ever had a crisis of conscience where you had to stand up to a dominating personality- father, spouse , boss, etc. you'll be able to identify with Bucklin's struggle to find her own voice. A fast and easy read, I only wish it was longer.
While offering an insider's view of the lives of the wealthy and powerful, the segments describing the Hale family's ranch and overseas trips are equally compelling- transporting you to a childhood world of natural wonder. How Bucklin maintained her personal integrity (and eventually triumphed over those for whom money was all that mattered) makes this a tale worth reading and a great multi generational gift.
Managing one's life.......2007-04-18
A can't-put-it-down compelling story of one woman's struggle to come to terms with her own history in the face of tremendously difficult obstacles. An often cruel, abusive and controlling father, a loving gentle mother who worshipped her husband, and a stepmother who is the apparent antithesis of her own mother - Ms. Bucklin has written a fast-paced and compelling account of her life and how she turned her pain into compassion and love, with great courage and determination. The book is fascinating, a terrific story and an absolute must-read.
A Brave and Moving Memoir.......2007-04-09
Linda Bucklin is a writer, champion tennis player, wife and mother of three. She is also the daughter of the late Prentis Cobb Hale (1910-1996), a powerful retail executive and entrepreneur who was based in San Francisco. As Linda grew up, her powerful father had great influence and both positive and negative control over her life. He taught her how to hunt, how to excel at sports, and how to appreciate nature. But he also berated her for her weight gain in college, her choices in boyfriends, and her desire to enter the New York publishing world. This control took a tragic turn when Linda's mother died on March 25, 1969, an apparent suicide. Her mother's death came shortly after she realized that husband of 33 years planned to divorce her for another woman--Denise Minnelli--wife of director Vincente and stepmother to Liza. Denise soon became Linda's stepmother with dire consequences--and herein lies the tale.
With a sharp eye for detail and a sharp ear for dialogue, Mrs. Bucklin shows both creative and journalistic skill as she gives us an inside view into the life of a privileged family. This is Dominick Dunne territory--but of course, Dunne's stories are told from a man's point of view--and he is generally an "outsider". Here we have a woman's "inside"story-- a brave memoir that relates insecurities and vulnerability, the yearning for family connections and love, and ultimately forgiveness. Readers may not agree with all of the choices that Mrs. Bucklin made throughout her life and younger readers who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, may wonder why she did not fight back harder, sooner. However, all of these factors make this book an excellent book group choice--certainly one with important lessons for women (and men) of different generations. I could not put this book down--I read it in one afternoon and evening.
Lauren John M.L.S.
Book group leader
Menlo Park, California
Average customer rating:
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Jamaica Kincaid: Writing Memory, Writing Back To The Mother
J. Brooks Bouson
Manufacturer: State University of New York Press
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A Small Place
ASIN: 0791465233 |
Book Description
Charming, debonair, and impeccably attired in a black tuxedo, Dean Martin was coolness incarnate. His music provided the soundtrack of romance, and his image captivated movie and television audiences for more than fifty years. His daughter Deana was among his most devoted fans, but she also knew a side of him that few others ever glimpsed.
In this heartfelt memoir, Deana recalls the constantly changing blended family that marked her youth, along with the unexpected moments of silliness and tenderness that this unusual Hollywood family shared. She candidly reveals the impact of Dean’s fame and characteristic aloofness, but delights in sharing wonderful, never-before-told stories about her father and his pallies known as the Rat Pack. This enchanting account of life as the daughter of one of Hollywood’s sexiest icons will leave you entertained, delighted, and nostalgic for a time gone by.
Customer Reviews:
A must read for a Fan.......2007-05-14
Deana Martin gives a very honest, blunt portrayal of her father - faults and all. Very easy reading. And a must read for anyone who is a fan of Dean Martin.
Disconnected........2007-04-26
Well, folks.....if Dean Martin was as emotionally detached as all sources (including this one) claim than Deana Martin is most assuredly her Father's Daughter. Throughout the entire book, one gets the feeling that she is struggling to write about her father when she really, really wants to write about her. And then write about herself some more. And maybe, maybe she can keep on doing that if she keeps on staving us off, by putting a little bow here and a whistle there, in the name of thy Father, of course. The detached-ness I mentioned earlier is a constant running ribbon from the first page straight on thru to the last. And the cherry on top (of what mind you...the whistles?....sorry ;P ) is she seems genuinely oblivious. The perfect example is a small mention of her father giving her five hundred dollars for a small jar of Pasta Fagiole in his later years....mind you this is after a longwinded everlasting session of grousing over how he was stingy with her about a car or something...something distasteful because she is oblivious to her state of being a grown woman, but seeing the world as a princess-deserving-of-privelege....Yawn. Nonetheless, she goes on and on about what she wanted and why she felt unfairly neglected (we are talking about an event that happened in HER middle AGE) and then she mentions her selfless, sacrificing, heroic effort in making her elderly father a small pot of pasta, and he thanks her with half a grand. Now here is the part that she is to clueless to realize is revealing and not in her favor. Daughter dearest then proceeds to bombard her father with the Pasta...with her hand out of course. The book was amusing, but not for the right reasons. The book was revealing to be sure....just about the WRONG Martin. In finishing the last paragraph, I didnt feel like Deana was a particularly horrible person.....just typical, self-centered and way, way to old to be so. On the flip side, I enjoyed the book her brother wrote, "That's Amore", tremendously. I found it to be honest and vivid. Oh, as for pictures in this book, they are all sufficient and expected except for this one wonderful pic where Dean Martin is Mid-Air, Mid Swan dive towards the family swimming pool, with all the kids splashing about below. Its a precious picture. I wish the picture she painted was half as real. Tsk Tsk.
--Chas
Very, Very Good.......2007-04-25
Since receiving this book as a gift one month ago, I am reading it for the second time already. The first reading took only one and half days. It's that good! My previous encounters with Rat Pack were from The Rat Pack Confidential but this book shows a daughter who desperatly wanted for of her fathers precious time and the things kids will go through to get their parents attention. I must admit that the tears flowed on more than one occation. I very good book and a must for any Dino fans.
A wonderful autobiography!.......2007-02-20
This was purchased as a gift and it has made its way down to several people, who all agree, this was one of THE best books written on Dean Martin! His daughter did a truly wonderful job!
Dean Martin.......2007-01-19
A thoroughly entertaining read. I've been a fan of the rat pack for years, but obtained some interesting insights in this read
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Books Index
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