Highly recommended illustrated memoir
929132
A Year Without Mom is absolute perfection.

Every word, so carefully chosen, is like having Dasha Tolstikova sit across from you, telling her story, holding your hand, cutting deep into your heart. In the best way, I mean. The text is extraordinary, crafted in a way that conveys the emotional depth of the story right to your soul. You feel everything 12-year-old Dasha feels. This is no easy feat: To be able to write such an accessible story that carries such huge big emotion.

The illustrations carry the text perfectly. Tolstikova's style captures Moscow and adolescence like no one else's ever could. Amazingly perfect.

Let's talk about pacing. You could teach a class on the pacing and page turns and white space in this book. It's part of what makes it seem like Tolstikova herself is telling the story into your ear, and is a master class in how to vary the speed of a story, and when, and why. The pacing carries you through, tells you when to speed up and when to slow down, takes your hand on this ride. Brilliant.

I will not be the first person to say this, but: the genius thing about A Year Without Mom is that the trials 12-year-old Dasha goes through are common, and ones that we all can relate to. Friendships, crushes, family, trying to find our way, and going through life from places where you feel content and places where you do not. What makes this book extraordinary, and extraordinarily interesting, is the history and the setting.

Astoundingly excellent. Highly highly HIGHLY recommended, for everyone who likes books.
2698430
A wonderfully heart lifting story, beautifully illustrated!
3038117
Richard Willett's child warrior 'arsenal' is one of humor, adventure, and detailed story-telling without an ounce of self-pity. Raised by exceptional parents as an "able-bodied" child receiving love and support from an extended family and 'village' of neighbors, this author is able to achieve much in the way of a normal and active childhood, despite being stricken with polio before the age of two. A glimpse of history into the poor and lower middle-class neighborhoods of the city in the mid-20th century, this narrative gives the reader a feeling of being in the world of Ralphie in A Christmas Story. While the author does not gloss over or trivialize his medical struggles, he captures the voice and spirit of a young child, reciting engaging, poignant and amusing tales. This memoir covers only the early childhood to pre-teen years and the author is writing further installments. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2520116
Over My Shoulder, a memoir by Ewin D. Gaby, is delightful and captivating from the beginning.  This is an account of Mr. Gaby's childhood and early teen life during the eras of the Great Depression and World War II.  What's unique is that his family was very transient and moved over 50 times in four years. He and his family are creative and resilient as they adapt to new towns and friendships between Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Louisiana.

Ewin eloquently shares about childhood wonders and pleasures of going to the movie theater, riding a ferry boat to New Orleans, finding a "gang" of cherished friends and coasting a bike down a large hill.  As he becomes an early teen, he experiences love, lessons about responsibility and loss.

Gaby's writing is engaging and richly descriptive. This reflection about his past is told in the present, taking the reader back to a time of paper routes and patriotism, sipping frosty, frothy black cows and becoming a Boy Scout.  This book is about how one American family adapted to rapidly changing times when work options were unpredictable and the War Effort became a way of life for all.
3108053
I don't read a lot of memoirs, but I loved this one. It's a story that is at turns funny, warm and nostalgic, thrilling, harrowing, and ultimately both inspirational and haunting. It tells the true tale of six boys growing up in a sprawling, often-snowbound home in Minnesota, where the boys and their longsuffering mom must contend with the volatile head of the household, one Roger Sullivan. Roger is a gifted and respected surgeon at the world-famous Mayo Clinic--at least, that's what he seems to be to the outside world. When he's home in that grand house with his wife and kids, Roger is something else entirely: A raging alcoholic, a mess of insecurities and simmering resentments, and a character who manages to be frightening, maddening, and heartbreaking, all at the same time.

Author Luke Sullivan vividly brings to life the experience of a family living with an alcoholic, but the wonder of this book is that it's far more uplifting, humorous, and hopeful than one might expect from a such a story. Much of the book is about how a family living in this type of situation manages to pull together to create their own rich and loving cocoon. It's a world full of Beatles-worship, outrageous brotherly pranks, snowball fights, hilarious homemade films, and more. The Sullivan clan clearly was and is a highly-creative bunch (Luke, in his adult life, eventually would become one of the most celebrated copywriters in the ad world), and that includes Luke's book-loving mother, whose well-written letters are used, along with diary entries from the brothers and Luke's own remembrances, to weave together a story that mostly takes place in the early 1960s. Reading it, I felt like I was transported back to that period and dropped into the midst of a large and rollicking home. I wouldn't have wanted to live there, but it was a fascinating place to visit.
2156711
I am in constant awe at the prolific output of picture books featuring biographies of individuals who have made positive contributions to society. My eight-year-old daughter loves reading these picture book biographies because the format is visually attractive, containing color illustrations that enhance the text. The narrative is usually written in a manner that is easy for a child to comprehend.

"Miss Moore Thought Otherwise" is one such example of a quality picture book biography. My daughter saw this at our public library and was eager to read it since she and I are both great fans of our public libraries. The book tells the story of Anne Carroll Moore from her early days as the youngest daughter in a large family in Limerick, Maine to her adulthood where Ms. Moore trained to be a librarian at a time when female librarians were not common. Ms. Moore was aware that libraries at the time were not child-friendly - in many instances, libraries forbade children from entering the premises.

The author goes on to describe Ms. Moore's efforts - from her early days at the Pratt Free Library where Ms. Moore set up special rooms for children to her position as head children's librarian for the 36 branches of the New York Public Library and her pioneering efforts to make libraries places where children could come to read, engage in literacy-themed activities, and many more.

Both my daughter and I were impressed and inspired by this amazing lady who dedicated her life to making libraries havens of reading for children. The end of the book provides further biographical information on Anne Carroll Moore with archival photographs of Ms. Moore as a child and a young woman. There are also interesting bits of information such as a listing of other pioneer female librarians who set up children's rooms in libraries. There's also a listing of sources which might interest those who wish to read more on the subject. This is a wonderful picture book biography of a remarkable children's advocate and it is thanks to her and others' pioneering efforts that our public libraries today are such wonderful repositories of knowledge and wonder for children.
600753
I have just finished reading "Rudolph, Frosty, and Captain Kangaroo", Judy Krasnow's loving memoir of her father, Hecky Krasnow.  His career in the children's music recording industry of the 1940s and 50s as a writer, producer, and all-around cheer-leader is described in such colorful and interesting detail, that I came away from the book wishing that I could have been Judy's best friend, or even better, a brother or cousin, growing up with her and sharing all of the wonderful adventures that she had being involved with her Dad as a pre-teen in the recording sessions, parties, etc.  This book brought to life the very large collection of vintage kiddie records which I own, including just about all of the records produced by Hecky.  Prior to reading this superb book, the records on my shelves had an inanimate quality to them.  That reality has been radically altered as a result of Judy's sharing of her personal account of the stories behind the records that Hecky produced for Columbia records.  But the book goes way beyond just the discussions of the records themselves.  It is a great look into an era of "innocence" in our nation's history as seen through the eyes of a kid growing up after World War II in the New York City area.  It has been my distinct pleasure to know you, Judy.  Thanks!
792415
Once in a while a book comes along that is a bittersweet miracle. Margo Bowblis debut memoire is a treasure, an opportunity to share her wisdom and experience gained through the unforgettable journey and inspiring story of the life and death of Zeak, a very special dog. The book is beautiful, adorned with astonishing illustrations by the author and remarkable photographs that will be appreciated by not just dog lovers but everyone.

Doreen Corsetto, retired Library Media Specialist & District Supervisor, currently adjunct professor at
William Paterson University
165828
A wonderful, touching memoir from one of America's greatest talents and humanitarians.
2480827
Great memoir from artist, Shawn Phillips manager. Excellent writing and impressive recollection of detail, delivered with wisdom and humor. Even Arlos experiences of tragedy are recalled with insight, acceptance and an appreciation for how lifes difficult choices teach us. Arlo managed singer/songwriter, Shawn Phillips. I was very interested to read about some of the hidden details behind the life of this amazingly versatile and eclectic artist (Phillips) whose songs and lyrics had such a huge influence on my understanding of the world during my coming of age in the 70s. Its a joy to share Arlos love of being alive and ride alongside him as he navigates his past through this entertaining narrative.
440397
I've been enjoying children's books recently, particularly for their illustrations. Now here's a book, illustrated, for adults, about author Virginia Woolf.

Zena Alkayat acknowledges Hermione Lee's Virginia Woolf, for information and inspiration to help celebrate Woolf's life and work in this small, beautifully illustrated volume. Quotations throughout are from Woolf's diaries, essays, letters and a few of her novels. The quote that begins the book seems like an apt one to describe Woolf's writing life: "She sliced like a knife through everything; at the same time was outside, looking on." (Mrs. Dalloway published in 1925)

There were many deaths in Woolf's family and many moves. At one time, she and her brother Adrian shared a house with two other men including Woolf's future husband Leonard Woolf. Leonard called Virginia "Mandrill" and she called him "Mongoose." Along with the progress of Virginia Woolf's publishing history, it's details like that which make the book so delightful. Woolf's book, Mrs. Dalloway, paid for a new bathroom at Monk's House where the Woolfs lived and Orlando paid for Virginia's new bedroom. While readers may have read the work of Woolf along with her diaries and essays, it's specifics like that we may have forgotten.

Nina Cosford's illustrations enhance the work and add further information to the biography. She has drawn the Stephen Family Tree, for instance, illustrating Virginia's parents and their children, including those from previous marriages.

A two-page spread shows Virginia and her sister Vanessa outside writing and painting at easels.

The Bloomsbury Group of which Virginia, Leonard and Vanessa were members, retreated to Charleston where Vanessa lived with her children and Duncan Grant and his lover, David "Bunny" Garnett. (She was separated from her husband Clive Bell.) There's a charming drawing of Charleston, the house in Sussex, referred to as a cottage even though it had a walled garden, studios and spare rooms for the Bloomsbury guests.

The garden is illustrated and one of the rooms decorated with murals and painted furniture "and a chaos of color" as the author says. Small drawings show what was on Virginia's desk such as a photo of her mother Julia, a pen pot, hairgrips, a diary, pen and ink.

It was such a treat to read about Virginia Woolf, her family, and her writing life. Now I'm wanting to go back to Virginia Woolf's novels and read them again. In the meantime, flipping through the colorful illustrations of the book is like a walk through the English countryside.

by Mary Ann Moore
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
2844378
Zippy and the Stripes of Courage by Candida Sullivan is an inspirational and uplifting children's picture book.  Children and adults alike can learn from the wisdom in the story. I was blessed to be in Candida's writing critique group. I truly saw God working through her story, as Zippy came to life and the storyline became real. Writing from the heart is courageous. Not only is this story truly inspirational, but the story behind the author's creation of the story is inspiring. I am so thrilled to see Candida's story published with beautiful illustrations by Jack Foster. Thank you, Candida, for sharing your story, even though it's creation was physically painful. You are an inspiration to us all, truly showing us how to use the wisdom of our scars to bring encouragement and peace to the world.
3418603
Very Highly Recommended

Lynn Darling explains in the introduction the genesis of why she wrote  Out of the Woods: A Memoir of Wayfinding:
"I was forty-four when my husband died and fifty-six when my daughter entered college. I was getting old, and I didn't know how to do that. So many people seemed to do it badly, and yet every once in a while, I would see something in the eyes of an old woman that intrigued mea kind of triumph, a knowingness. I wanted to know where that look came from. I wanted to gather the tools that would enable me to grow old with grace. (Location 96)

She creates for herself a metaphysical list of tasks she needs to accomplish for this next portion of her life: get sense of direction; find authentic way to live; figure out how to be old; deal with sex; learn Latin. This is a wonderful way to introduce her memoir of a certain time in her life while she overcame certain hurdles and challenges. Not only does her daughter, Zoe, leave for college, but Lynn moves out of New York City to an eclectic, ramshackle house in Woodstock, Vermont.

Lynn shares her struggles with her solar power system, getting a puppy, making friends with her new neighbors, walking in the woods, fighting cancer, gaining her sense of direction, and making peace with her choices. This is her honest reflections of where she feels her life is going and how this journey of self-discovery veered off in a different direction once she was diagnosed with cancer and underwent treatment.

Since I can identify with Lynn in several ways (although by all outward appearances not in similar ways at all) I appreciated the struggle she found herself in and the steps she took to deal with her new situation. It is hard to see your children move on and no longer need you. It is also hard to deal with changes in your life as you age.  I think Lynn  is right when she contemplates charting this new course and decides "Perhaps in the end that is what wayfinding amounts to: learning how to allow for accident, and make way for blessing." (Location 119) Almost all of us can find ourselves wounded in some way and seeking the blessings that are also there, amidst the pain and accidents.

Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of HarperCollins for review purposes.
755064
Dr. Sherby's book is a beautifully written memoir that focuses on her experience losing her husband, George and how it played out in her psychoanalytic practice.  In this very courageous book, Dr Sherby's unusually honest description of her sessions and of her history provides a rare window into the actual, rather than theoretical, impact of self-disclosure on patients. Therapy sessions, and parallel narratives of her life, marriage to George, his illness, passing, and her subsequent bereavement are well written and easy to follow, yet rich in detail. You get the sense of what it feels like in the room for Linda and her patients.  Agree or disagree with the therapeutic efficacy of Dr. Sherby's openness about her life, both in sessions, and indirectly by publishing a memoir while actively practicing, there is much to enjoy and learn in this book - for professionals and nonprofessionals alike.
901966
Gloria Oren's memoir, Bonded at Birth: An Adoptee's Search for her Roots is quick and engaging. I am also an adoptee and writer, so I value what my adoptee colleagues have to say. Her story focuses a lot on her life growing up as an adoptee and what her adventures and challenges were as a young Jewish only child female from Brooklyn, New York.

While some readers / reviewers might criticize Ms. Oren for focusing so much on her childhood, coming of age and young adult life pre-search and reunion, I totally understand this. She wrote the book the way she did to show her appreciation of her adoptive family and how they shaped her life. (Let's face it, adoptees are products of both nurture and nature, and one is not more important than the other.) How she was raised would have influenced how she searched for and initially connected with her biological family members.

The search and reunion part of an adoptee's life is just a part. The fact that we LIVE with the adoption branding while we work, play, socialize, marry, divorce, parent or raise a puppy is a bigger thing.

In the book, the author discusses her concern and curiosity regarding accurate health history, which was denied by the state of NY for this writer / adoptee. This is an absolute basic necessity, which all adopted people should be allowed to have, but many state laws still sadly subscribe to the outmoded notion of privacy and secrecy when it comes to providing adopted citizens their original information. Her story does not address many specifics of health concerns she learned about after finding her bio-relatives, and this is one area where the author could have elaborated on the outcomes.

While reading this book the reader feels as though they may be sitting at the kitchen table chatting and sharing coffee with Ms. Oren. Her style is descriptive yet direct. The book is also flavored with family photographs which help the reader feel connected to the writer.

If you enjoy concisely-written memoir, appreciate Jewish culture, are influenced by adoption or generally like stories about family dynamics, this is an excellent choice.
278684
Lovingly written and beautifully illustrated, this book is a valuable resource for families experiencing life in the NICU. Parents and children learn about the NICU through the eyes of young Adam, whose sister was born premature. The book explores the many emotions that family members go through when a baby is born too soon. The illustrations provide detailed, accurate scenes that will help parents explain the NICU to their older children. The book also includes information about the author's personal experiences in the NICU, tips for parents, and further discussion questions for parents and caregivers. A detailed, thorough resource for families and educators.
4832770
I really enjoyed Rob White's 'And Then I Met Margaret' on so many levels. Being a native New Englander, I connected immediately with his regional reminiscing but the truth is, Mr. White has written a deeply moving and enlightening memoir.
  The book details his life as a youth from a small mill town to becoming a successful real estate mogul-turned-restauranteur. He begins each chapter with a statement about one of his core beliefs, which in reality turn out to be myths, i.e.: "Those who get the most toys and attention experience life at its richest". The chapters all deal with life -changing life lessons he has experienced thanks to unlikely everyday 'gurus'. Each chapter ends with a repeat of the myth, followed by 'The reality I discovered;' which in the example above turned out to be : "Those who feel grateful, and are eternally generous, experience life at its richest."
  Throughout the book, we are introduced to a delightful cast of mentors from the weirdest places and Mr. White's re-telling of his experiences and lessons learned are heartwarming, real and insightful while remaining humorous and never preachy.
This is an excellent book and will give the reader much to think about...and MUCH to be grateful for. Beautifully written, a few minor typos, mostly in the punctuation department, which surprised me, as it is a top-notch professional job otherwise.
Great for all readers, even sophisticated younger readers will learn something here. Also a wonderful idea for gender-neutral gift-giving. Highly recommend.