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Recommend this book:
Surviving Chaos
How I Found Peace at A Beach Bar
Harold Phifer
2021 Silver Medal
316 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite
Raised by a schizophrenic mother and a manipulating aunt in Mississippi, Harold’s childhood is fraught with consistent abuse and violence. He soon learns the art of becoming invisible and complacent to avoid the daily ritual of physical and emotional attacks, not only from those who should care for him but also from his older sibling and peers. Although Harold’s childhood is a constant battle to survive each day unscathed, he somehow manages to retain his humor and hunger to succeed. Surviving Chaos (How I Found Peace at a Beach Bar) by Harold Phifer is an inspirational and heartwarming story of one man’s journey to make sense of his chaotic and dysfunctional world with unwavering determination and optimism. Follow Harold’s horrifying story as he recounts the events and memories from the mayhem of his childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. As Harold, now 56 years of age, recovers from a near-death experience in Afghanistan, he begins the long journey toward recovery and a peaceful future.
Surviving Chaos by Harold Phifer is a beautifully written memoir that will take you on a rollercoaster of powerful emotions. Harold is a natural-born storyteller as he invites you inside his world of betrayal, abuse, neglect, and triumph. I loved how the story, switching from past to present, lends the reader insight into Harold’s mindset at each stage of his life. The humor is superb; his attitude toward his lack of friends and his dog abandoning him made me laugh out loud. The characters are memorable, with larger-than-life personalities that leaped from the page, especially Flirty Shirley and Dead Eye Red. The story flowed perfectly and kept my interest. Some of the scenes of abuse were extremely hard to read, especially the manipulating mind games by his aunt. The relentless bullying and violence Harold suffers builds a strength of character that is extraordinary. However, the story reminds us that one event can trigger painful memories of the past if not addressed. Harold’s story is a beacon of hope that we can overcome adversity and regain our dignity, kindness, and resolve to find a positive future. Surviving Chaos is a compelling read.
Raised by a schizophrenic mother and a manipulating aunt in Mississippi, Harold’s childhood is fraught with consistent abuse and violence. He soon learns the art of becoming invisible and complacent to avoid the daily ritual of physical and emotional attacks, not only from those who should care for him but also from his older sibling and peers. Although Harold’s childhood is a constant battle to survive each day unscathed, he somehow manages to retain his humor and hunger to succeed. Surviving Chaos (How I Found Peace at a Beach Bar) by Harold Phifer is an inspirational and heartwarming story of one man’s journey to make sense of his chaotic and dysfunctional world with unwavering determination and optimism. Follow Harold’s horrifying story as he recounts the events and memories from the mayhem of his childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. As Harold, now 56 years of age, recovers from a near-death experience in Afghanistan, he begins the long journey toward recovery and a peaceful future.
Surviving Chaos by Harold Phifer is a beautifully written memoir that will take you on a rollercoaster of powerful emotions. Harold is a natural-born storyteller as he invites you inside his world of betrayal, abuse, neglect, and triumph. I loved how the story, switching from past to present, lends the reader insight into Harold’s mindset at each stage of his life. The humor is superb; his attitude toward his lack of friends and his dog abandoning him made me laugh out loud. The characters are memorable, with larger-than-life personalities that leaped from the page, especially Flirty Shirley and Dead Eye Red. The story flowed perfectly and kept my interest. Some of the scenes of abuse were extremely hard to read, especially the manipulating mind games by his aunt. The relentless bullying and violence Harold suffers builds a strength of character that is extraordinary. However, the story reminds us that one event can trigger painful memories of the past if not addressed. Harold’s story is a beacon of hope that we can overcome adversity and regain our dignity, kindness, and resolve to find a positive future. Surviving Chaos is a compelling read.
Recommend this book:
The Other Madisons
The Lost History of A President's Black Family
Bettye Kearse
2021 Bronze Medal
272 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
The Other Madisons: The Lost History of a President's Black Family is a non-fiction American history memoir that chronicles the lineage and legacy of author Bettye Kearse's ancestry, a direct descendent, and the four-times great-granddaughter of Founding Father and fourth president of the United States, James Madison. But this is not a story about James Madison. It is something so much better. The book begins with the intimate backstory of Kearse's first known African-born ancestor, a slave named Mandy, whose heart-wrenching and violent subjugation is the maternal thread that weaves the story together. As each layer of delicate fabric is slowly connected, Kearse's pieces are brought to life as her generation's family griotte. She is the keyholder of oral family history that she augments with her own extensive research. And this is her story. “Always remember—you’re a Madison. You come from African slaves and a president.”
It has been way too long since I've had the great fortune to read a book that haunted me for weeks after finishing it. The Other Madisons required time to decompress in my mind, overwhelmed by the phenomenal writing of Bettye Kearse and the unpacking of thoughts around a president I thought I knew a lot about. It turns out, not so much. Kearse and her relationship with her mother, the griotte chosen to hold the sacred story before her, as well as her difficulty reconciling the regard held for her most famous family member and the fact that he owned human beings. What I loved in Kearse's account is that the focus is really on the origins of the enslaved; Mandy and her daughter Coreen, who is both James Madison's half-sister and mother to his enslaved son, Jim. From there the lines of the family tree are firmly drawn, interspersed with Kearse's fact-finding, its emotional toll, and the accounts of all those before who brought her here today. Kearse has written this glorious book and shared it with us, no longer the griotte of her family alone, but one that carries the heritage of a nation flowing through her veins and through the tip of her pen. I would give this book a whole bucket of stars if I could.
The Other Madisons: The Lost History of a President's Black Family is a non-fiction American history memoir that chronicles the lineage and legacy of author Bettye Kearse's ancestry, a direct descendent, and the four-times great-granddaughter of Founding Father and fourth president of the United States, James Madison. But this is not a story about James Madison. It is something so much better. The book begins with the intimate backstory of Kearse's first known African-born ancestor, a slave named Mandy, whose heart-wrenching and violent subjugation is the maternal thread that weaves the story together. As each layer of delicate fabric is slowly connected, Kearse's pieces are brought to life as her generation's family griotte. She is the keyholder of oral family history that she augments with her own extensive research. And this is her story. “Always remember—you’re a Madison. You come from African slaves and a president.”
It has been way too long since I've had the great fortune to read a book that haunted me for weeks after finishing it. The Other Madisons required time to decompress in my mind, overwhelmed by the phenomenal writing of Bettye Kearse and the unpacking of thoughts around a president I thought I knew a lot about. It turns out, not so much. Kearse and her relationship with her mother, the griotte chosen to hold the sacred story before her, as well as her difficulty reconciling the regard held for her most famous family member and the fact that he owned human beings. What I loved in Kearse's account is that the focus is really on the origins of the enslaved; Mandy and her daughter Coreen, who is both James Madison's half-sister and mother to his enslaved son, Jim. From there the lines of the family tree are firmly drawn, interspersed with Kearse's fact-finding, its emotional toll, and the accounts of all those before who brought her here today. Kearse has written this glorious book and shared it with us, no longer the griotte of her family alone, but one that carries the heritage of a nation flowing through her veins and through the tip of her pen. I would give this book a whole bucket of stars if I could.
Recommend this book:
Crash
How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver
Rachel Michelberg
2021 Honorable Mention
224 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' Favorite
Crash: How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver by Rachel Michelberg is a memoir that details an important period in her life. After a couple of broken engagements, she got married to David and had two children. Rachel had lost satisfaction in the marriage, but she persevered. A catastrophic plane crash involving her husband years later would disrupt what was left of her family. From seeing David through multiple surgeries to handling the children and holding onto her sanity, there was only so much a person could take. She had to decide concerning the care of her husband, and that put her at odds with his family. Would they ever understand what she had to deal with? How does she care for her husband in his present state, the kids, and balance other areas of her life with her mind intact?
Crash: How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver by Rachel Michelberg was an intense and emotional book. I couldn’t put it down until I turned the last page. Rachel was so brutally honest, putting down information without bias or pretense. She said her truth and owned it, regardless. It was a constant battlefield of the mind; a war between duty and self-preservation. I was plagued with a ton of thoughts revolving around wedding vows, compassion, more recognition for caregivers, choosing liberation, and more. Caregiving is not a walk in the park, especially when spouses are involved. The mental strain and new family dynamics could have a negative ripple effect, especially in a household of growing children. Hence, Rachel, a strong woman although flawed like all humans, focused on what mattered. Thank you for sharing a part of your life with the world.
Crash: How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver by Rachel Michelberg is a memoir that details an important period in her life. After a couple of broken engagements, she got married to David and had two children. Rachel had lost satisfaction in the marriage, but she persevered. A catastrophic plane crash involving her husband years later would disrupt what was left of her family. From seeing David through multiple surgeries to handling the children and holding onto her sanity, there was only so much a person could take. She had to decide concerning the care of her husband, and that put her at odds with his family. Would they ever understand what she had to deal with? How does she care for her husband in his present state, the kids, and balance other areas of her life with her mind intact?
Crash: How I Became a Reluctant Caregiver by Rachel Michelberg was an intense and emotional book. I couldn’t put it down until I turned the last page. Rachel was so brutally honest, putting down information without bias or pretense. She said her truth and owned it, regardless. It was a constant battlefield of the mind; a war between duty and self-preservation. I was plagued with a ton of thoughts revolving around wedding vows, compassion, more recognition for caregivers, choosing liberation, and more. Caregiving is not a walk in the park, especially when spouses are involved. The mental strain and new family dynamics could have a negative ripple effect, especially in a household of growing children. Hence, Rachel, a strong woman although flawed like all humans, focused on what mattered. Thank you for sharing a part of your life with the world.
Recommend this book:
A Saint and a Sinner
The Rise and Fall of a Beloved Catholic Priest
Stephen Donnelly with Diane O'Bryan
2021 Honorable Mention
352 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite
As I read the last few pages of this courageous memoir, A Saint and a Sinner, I was overcome with a profound sadness that a man who’d fought so hard to win control over his various addictions and was helping so many people made one more bad mistake. That slip-up resulted in his dismissal from the Catholic Church. In his honest and raw memoir, Stephen Donnelly shares details of his less than idyllic upbringing that resulted in his decision to become a priest. His great love of God, coupled with his genuine desire to serve God’s people, qualified him for the priesthood but...and it’s a big “but”...he was addicted to cocaine and eventually, alcohol. Worse yet, being celibate wasn’t possible as he was deeply in love with Camilla. Honestly, Hollywood scriptwriters couldn’t write a more eye-opening film script.
But A Saint and A Sinner by Stephen Donnelly with Diane O'Bryan is no fiction movie. What Stephen, and other priests like him experience, is a most difficult, sometimes ugly reality: the priesthood is a lonely and demanding vocation. Growing up Catholic, how well I remember being in awe of and just a little afraid of priests. But as an adult, I found it almost preposterous that young men in their prime were denied the right to sexual relationships. Over the years I often wondered how they managed the self-denial. Well, Donnelly’s memoir sheds much light on the real difficulties priests endure. I feel sure that if I were one of his parishioners, seeing all the good he did to help others recover from addictions, the dedication he brought to his duties, and the genuine love he continues to have for his vocation and church, I would forgive him for all those sins. As for what got him dismissed, well, you will have to read A Saint and A Sinner to find out. This memoir is beautifully executed, fast-paced with lots of realistic dialogue, and characters to whom you can readily relate and whom you will not easily forget. What stays with me most is the courage it must have taken to write this memoir. Hats off to you, Father Stephen Donnelly. You’re my kind of saintly sinner and the world could use many more like you.
As I read the last few pages of this courageous memoir, A Saint and a Sinner, I was overcome with a profound sadness that a man who’d fought so hard to win control over his various addictions and was helping so many people made one more bad mistake. That slip-up resulted in his dismissal from the Catholic Church. In his honest and raw memoir, Stephen Donnelly shares details of his less than idyllic upbringing that resulted in his decision to become a priest. His great love of God, coupled with his genuine desire to serve God’s people, qualified him for the priesthood but...and it’s a big “but”...he was addicted to cocaine and eventually, alcohol. Worse yet, being celibate wasn’t possible as he was deeply in love with Camilla. Honestly, Hollywood scriptwriters couldn’t write a more eye-opening film script.
But A Saint and A Sinner by Stephen Donnelly with Diane O'Bryan is no fiction movie. What Stephen, and other priests like him experience, is a most difficult, sometimes ugly reality: the priesthood is a lonely and demanding vocation. Growing up Catholic, how well I remember being in awe of and just a little afraid of priests. But as an adult, I found it almost preposterous that young men in their prime were denied the right to sexual relationships. Over the years I often wondered how they managed the self-denial. Well, Donnelly’s memoir sheds much light on the real difficulties priests endure. I feel sure that if I were one of his parishioners, seeing all the good he did to help others recover from addictions, the dedication he brought to his duties, and the genuine love he continues to have for his vocation and church, I would forgive him for all those sins. As for what got him dismissed, well, you will have to read A Saint and A Sinner to find out. This memoir is beautifully executed, fast-paced with lots of realistic dialogue, and characters to whom you can readily relate and whom you will not easily forget. What stays with me most is the courage it must have taken to write this memoir. Hats off to you, Father Stephen Donnelly. You’re my kind of saintly sinner and the world could use many more like you.
Recommend this book:
 has scored a major hit with her personal insights found in her book Gilligan’s Dreams: Th...){kind=link}
Gilligan's Dreams
The Other Side of the Island (Second Edition)
Dreama Denver
2021 Finalist
272 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Daniel D Staats for Readers' Favorite
Depending on your age, you probably will remember Bob Denver as either Maynard G. Krebs—from The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis—or Gilligan from Gilligan’s Island. If you think you know Bob Denver, think again. Bob’s wife of over 25 years (Dreama Denver) has scored a major hit with her personal insights found in her book Gilligan’s Dreams: The Other Side of the Island. You will love reading their love story and see how they remained married through the years of trials. You may think that TV stars are all about money and fame, but you would be wrong. Bob was a loving and caring man. Together, Dreama (Bob called her Dreams) and Bob reared a differently-abled son. Bob was a dedicated father and together Dreama and he cared for their son.
This book gives the reader a glimpse into the personal life of Bob Denver. Dreama Denver was Bob’s fourth wife. In Gilligan’s Dreams: The Other Side of the Island, she shares some details about Bob’s life before he met Dreama, personal stories from his Gilligan days, and how they met. Then she goes on to talk about the charmed life the two of them lived together from their first meeting. After a few years of marriage, they decided to start a family. Together they had a son who was severely differently-abled. He had autism and seizures. Read how together they took care of their son, sacrificing everything for him. The book tells the sad story of Bob’s cancer and death. There is an afterword that talks about Dreama’s life since Bob’s demise and how much progress their son has made. Be sure to have a box of tissues with you if you have an ounce of compassion. You will need them. But also, be ready to laugh until you cry.
Depending on your age, you probably will remember Bob Denver as either Maynard G. Krebs—from The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis—or Gilligan from Gilligan’s Island. If you think you know Bob Denver, think again. Bob’s wife of over 25 years (Dreama Denver) has scored a major hit with her personal insights found in her book Gilligan’s Dreams: The Other Side of the Island. You will love reading their love story and see how they remained married through the years of trials. You may think that TV stars are all about money and fame, but you would be wrong. Bob was a loving and caring man. Together, Dreama (Bob called her Dreams) and Bob reared a differently-abled son. Bob was a dedicated father and together Dreama and he cared for their son.
This book gives the reader a glimpse into the personal life of Bob Denver. Dreama Denver was Bob’s fourth wife. In Gilligan’s Dreams: The Other Side of the Island, she shares some details about Bob’s life before he met Dreama, personal stories from his Gilligan days, and how they met. Then she goes on to talk about the charmed life the two of them lived together from their first meeting. After a few years of marriage, they decided to start a family. Together they had a son who was severely differently-abled. He had autism and seizures. Read how together they took care of their son, sacrificing everything for him. The book tells the sad story of Bob’s cancer and death. There is an afterword that talks about Dreama’s life since Bob’s demise and how much progress their son has made. Be sure to have a box of tissues with you if you have an ounce of compassion. You will need them. But also, be ready to laugh until you cry.
Recommend this book:
Remembering Ravensbrück
Holocaust to Healing
Natalie B Hess
2021 Finalist
308 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite
Remembering Ravensbruck: Holocaust to Healing by Natalie B. Hess encapsulates a journey from childhood to adulthood. She speaks of her experiences as a Holocaust survivor where she gives glimpses of early childhood images related to the horror of the Holocaust, survival in the Jewish ghetto of Piotrow Tribunalski, the cattle train deportations, the treatment in the women's concentration camp of Ravensbruck, and the arrival of the ‘white buses’ in April 1945 which took her to Sweden. Her story is proof of how one can actually succeed in rebuilding life after all the trauma she had experienced. The healing that happens as her life progresses will give hope to many readers who have undergone challenges and adversities in their lives.
Remembering Ravensbruck is heartbreaking, heartwarming, inspiring, and is about grief, pain, difficulties, resilience, and healing. Natalie B. Hess is very honest while sharing her story and I enjoyed reading about her Americanization and becoming an American girl. Stories of the Holocaust and stories of the survivors are always compelling and poignant, and the story of Natalia Chojnacka will warm the hearts of readers and give them glimpses of the Holocaust and its survivors. Her journey is admirable and encouraging, as well as motivating to watch her rise and grow as a teacher. Written in a conversational format, the author also shares her life stories in Israel and America. She speaks about her happy family which will bring a smile to the faces of readers, knowing that she has come a long way from being a survivor.
Remembering Ravensbruck: Holocaust to Healing by Natalie B. Hess encapsulates a journey from childhood to adulthood. She speaks of her experiences as a Holocaust survivor where she gives glimpses of early childhood images related to the horror of the Holocaust, survival in the Jewish ghetto of Piotrow Tribunalski, the cattle train deportations, the treatment in the women's concentration camp of Ravensbruck, and the arrival of the ‘white buses’ in April 1945 which took her to Sweden. Her story is proof of how one can actually succeed in rebuilding life after all the trauma she had experienced. The healing that happens as her life progresses will give hope to many readers who have undergone challenges and adversities in their lives.
Remembering Ravensbruck is heartbreaking, heartwarming, inspiring, and is about grief, pain, difficulties, resilience, and healing. Natalie B. Hess is very honest while sharing her story and I enjoyed reading about her Americanization and becoming an American girl. Stories of the Holocaust and stories of the survivors are always compelling and poignant, and the story of Natalia Chojnacka will warm the hearts of readers and give them glimpses of the Holocaust and its survivors. Her journey is admirable and encouraging, as well as motivating to watch her rise and grow as a teacher. Written in a conversational format, the author also shares her life stories in Israel and America. She speaks about her happy family which will bring a smile to the faces of readers, knowing that she has come a long way from being a survivor.
Recommend this book:
Accidental Activist
Justice for the Groveland Four
Josh Venkataraman and Barbara Venkataraman
2020 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
Accidental Activist: Justice For The Groveland Four by Josh Venkataraman and Barbara Venkataraman is about a case in 1949, in Groveland, Florida, where a white 17-year-old young woman had falsely accused four young African-American men of rape. In 2015, Josh, a 21-year-old University of Florida student at the time, had read a copy of Gilbert King's Pulitzer Prize non-fiction novel about the case and decided to do something about it. "Nothing was right about this case and I wanted--I needed--to do something to help." With the help of his mother, Barbara, Josh tracked down Carol Greenlee, daughter of one of the accused, Charles Greenlee. By this time, an effort to clear the men's names had been done but it was unsuccessful. A launched petition further cemented Josh’s effort, but the journey to justice was riddled with obstacles.
The narrative tone is casual but deftly presents the heavy subject to readers. I would never have known about this case if not for Accidental Activist and I appreciated that several photos and timelines relevant to the case are included in the book. That said, the complex and challenging racial norms of 1940s America is well-known. I wonder how many more similar cases had been buried or forgotten with no chance to be judged without prejudice? And we’re all very aware that racial injustice is still happening today－unfortunately, it will always be a tough dragon to slay. This is a commendable book about the efforts, perseverance, and success of all those involved in the exoneration of the Groveland Four. They made a difference and are an inspiration to others.
Accidental Activist: Justice For The Groveland Four by Josh Venkataraman and Barbara Venkataraman is about a case in 1949, in Groveland, Florida, where a white 17-year-old young woman had falsely accused four young African-American men of rape. In 2015, Josh, a 21-year-old University of Florida student at the time, had read a copy of Gilbert King's Pulitzer Prize non-fiction novel about the case and decided to do something about it. "Nothing was right about this case and I wanted--I needed--to do something to help." With the help of his mother, Barbara, Josh tracked down Carol Greenlee, daughter of one of the accused, Charles Greenlee. By this time, an effort to clear the men's names had been done but it was unsuccessful. A launched petition further cemented Josh’s effort, but the journey to justice was riddled with obstacles.
The narrative tone is casual but deftly presents the heavy subject to readers. I would never have known about this case if not for Accidental Activist and I appreciated that several photos and timelines relevant to the case are included in the book. That said, the complex and challenging racial norms of 1940s America is well-known. I wonder how many more similar cases had been buried or forgotten with no chance to be judged without prejudice? And we’re all very aware that racial injustice is still happening today－unfortunately, it will always be a tough dragon to slay. This is a commendable book about the efforts, perseverance, and success of all those involved in the exoneration of the Groveland Four. They made a difference and are an inspiration to others.
Recommend this book:
Managing Bubbie
Russel Lazega
2020 Silver Medal
248 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Heather Osborne for Readers' Favorite
Managing Bubbie by Russel Lazega is a heartwarming and hysterical memoir of his “Bubbie,” Lea Lazega. Intermixed with a narrative about her harrowing journey across Europe to America during World War Two are snippets of conversations between various family members, providing insight into the modern life of this courageous woman. As the Nazis invade countries in Europe, Lea manages to escape by the skin of her teeth with her three small children. Being Jewish at this time was difficult enough, but Lea continues to show courage in the face of adversity, finally managing to get her children out of Europe, back to America and safety.
I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir. Mr. Lazega had me from the beginning, as I am a huge Neil Simon fan. I was reminded of Brighton Beach Memoirs, a play I have directed, in the way he portrayed the scenes of his family life. Even more inspiring was Lea’s journey through war-torn Europe. I can only imagine the fear she must have felt, knowing at any moment they could be caught and sent to a concentration camp. I did not want the story to end, and I wanted to know what exactly happened to Eva and Lea’s first husband. Mr. Lazega has done an impeccable job weaving together the memories and experiences of his Bubbie. I loved the addition of letters and photographs to bring even more life to the colorful members of his family. Managing Bubbie by Russel Lazega is certainly a different type of Holocaust memoir, one of hope, inspiration, and humor.
Managing Bubbie by Russel Lazega is a heartwarming and hysterical memoir of his “Bubbie,” Lea Lazega. Intermixed with a narrative about her harrowing journey across Europe to America during World War Two are snippets of conversations between various family members, providing insight into the modern life of this courageous woman. As the Nazis invade countries in Europe, Lea manages to escape by the skin of her teeth with her three small children. Being Jewish at this time was difficult enough, but Lea continues to show courage in the face of adversity, finally managing to get her children out of Europe, back to America and safety.
I thoroughly enjoyed this memoir. Mr. Lazega had me from the beginning, as I am a huge Neil Simon fan. I was reminded of Brighton Beach Memoirs, a play I have directed, in the way he portrayed the scenes of his family life. Even more inspiring was Lea’s journey through war-torn Europe. I can only imagine the fear she must have felt, knowing at any moment they could be caught and sent to a concentration camp. I did not want the story to end, and I wanted to know what exactly happened to Eva and Lea’s first husband. Mr. Lazega has done an impeccable job weaving together the memories and experiences of his Bubbie. I loved the addition of letters and photographs to bring even more life to the colorful members of his family. Managing Bubbie by Russel Lazega is certainly a different type of Holocaust memoir, one of hope, inspiration, and humor.
Recommend this book:
Trove
A Woman's Search for Truth and Buried Treasure
Sandra A. Miller
2020 Bronze Medal
220 Pages
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Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Trudi LoPreto for Readers' Favorite
Trove: A Woman’s Search for Truth and Buried Treasure is an emotional, heartfelt, humorous, sad and honest memoir of a woman’s life. Sandra, aka Sandy to her family, spent her entire life searching for an unknown that would make her life complete but never knowing exactly where, what or how to find it because she never knew what she was looking for and hoped that she would recognize it when she did find the answers. Sandra takes the reader along on her life’s journey. The story jumps back and forth in a very logical way that connects all the dots of her search for the meaning of her existence. Sandra’s life was a mix of childhood insecurity, a young woman’s loves, travels around the world, getting married, having children, and caring for an ailing mother. Sandra is a searcher, always gathering odd treasures and storing them in her trove to be looked at later.
The intimate information that Sandy shares and the way she puts herself out there, opening her wounds, happiness, and frustrations, will last well after you put the book down. It is easy to find yourself in many of the situations and it is easy to feel her pain and want to cheer her along life’s path, as well as her happy days. Trove is a must-read, whether or not you are a fan of non-fiction/memoirs, because it is that good. While I myself do not usually read non-fiction, the description just caught my interest and I was never disappointed in my choice of book. I recommend everyone to put Trove: A Woman’s Search for Truth and Buried Treasure high on your reading list.
Trove: A Woman’s Search for Truth and Buried Treasure is an emotional, heartfelt, humorous, sad and honest memoir of a woman’s life. Sandra, aka Sandy to her family, spent her entire life searching for an unknown that would make her life complete but never knowing exactly where, what or how to find it because she never knew what she was looking for and hoped that she would recognize it when she did find the answers. Sandra takes the reader along on her life’s journey. The story jumps back and forth in a very logical way that connects all the dots of her search for the meaning of her existence. Sandra’s life was a mix of childhood insecurity, a young woman’s loves, travels around the world, getting married, having children, and caring for an ailing mother. Sandra is a searcher, always gathering odd treasures and storing them in her trove to be looked at later.
The intimate information that Sandy shares and the way she puts herself out there, opening her wounds, happiness, and frustrations, will last well after you put the book down. It is easy to find yourself in many of the situations and it is easy to feel her pain and want to cheer her along life’s path, as well as her happy days. Trove is a must-read, whether or not you are a fan of non-fiction/memoirs, because it is that good. While I myself do not usually read non-fiction, the description just caught my interest and I was never disappointed in my choice of book. I recommend everyone to put Trove: A Woman’s Search for Truth and Buried Treasure high on your reading list.
Recommend this book:
Gene, Everywhere
A Life-Changing Visit from My Father-In-Law
Talya Tate Boerner
2020 Bronze Medal
Kindle Edition
Check current price
Non-Fiction - Memoir
Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Gene, Everywhere: A Life-Changing Visit from my Father-in-Law by Talya Tate Boerner is a non-fiction memoir that chronicles a time in Boerner's life when caring for an aging relative became the household's responsibility. After his wife Pauline is admitted for care in a local Arkansas hospital, ninety-year-old Gene goes to live with his son John in Dallas, Texas. Talya is really the one who becomes his primary carer, helped (in thought even if not in actuality) by the family dog, Lucy. Gene is slow-moving and slow to remember, which makes Talya's job a little more involved. This is compounded by Gene's tendency to micro-manage and his reluctance to accept even small changes despite them being in his best interest. He's rough around the edges and has the abrupt, straightforward tone that men of his generation often do, but there's also an intense sensitivity that emerges in tears when he is watching the news or recalling an old memory. As the visit lengthens, Tayla balances her banking work with Gene's failing memory, post-traumatic stress, medication and meal schedule, and the labyrinth of medicare. When Talya and John hire Gene a carer so Talya can return to work, she begins to understand the positive impact of Gene's presence and the things that truly are most important.
Gene, Everywhere is an entertaining and emotional look into the life of a father and the relationship between the author Talya Tate Boerner, who had never spent as long as even ten days with her in-laws beforehand, and the man who raised her husband. It's written with great insight and wit, allowing Boerner's old dream of writing a book about sex and sarcasm to come to fruition (minus the sex). I loved Gene from the moment he watched Talya like a hawk as she divvied up his pills. I also loved that the same man whose presence feels like such a burden is also the same man who will sit in his room for hours, patiently waiting to be guided down sixteen steps. His war stories unfold in layers, as does Talya's life, and it's beautiful to watch the pair lean on each other in equal measure. Highly recommended.
Gene, Everywhere: A Life-Changing Visit from my Father-in-Law by Talya Tate Boerner is a non-fiction memoir that chronicles a time in Boerner's life when caring for an aging relative became the household's responsibility. After his wife Pauline is admitted for care in a local Arkansas hospital, ninety-year-old Gene goes to live with his son John in Dallas, Texas. Talya is really the one who becomes his primary carer, helped (in thought even if not in actuality) by the family dog, Lucy. Gene is slow-moving and slow to remember, which makes Talya's job a little more involved. This is compounded by Gene's tendency to micro-manage and his reluctance to accept even small changes despite them being in his best interest. He's rough around the edges and has the abrupt, straightforward tone that men of his generation often do, but there's also an intense sensitivity that emerges in tears when he is watching the news or recalling an old memory. As the visit lengthens, Tayla balances her banking work with Gene's failing memory, post-traumatic stress, medication and meal schedule, and the labyrinth of medicare. When Talya and John hire Gene a carer so Talya can return to work, she begins to understand the positive impact of Gene's presence and the things that truly are most important.
Gene, Everywhere is an entertaining and emotional look into the life of a father and the relationship between the author Talya Tate Boerner, who had never spent as long as even ten days with her in-laws beforehand, and the man who raised her husband. It's written with great insight and wit, allowing Boerner's old dream of writing a book about sex and sarcasm to come to fruition (minus the sex). I loved Gene from the moment he watched Talya like a hawk as she divvied up his pills. I also loved that the same man whose presence feels like such a burden is also the same man who will sit in his room for hours, patiently waiting to be guided down sixteen steps. His war stories unfold in layers, as does Talya's life, and it's beautiful to watch the pair lean on each other in equal measure. Highly recommended.
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