Dragonholder: The Life and Dreams (So Far) of Anne McCaffrey by Todd McCaffrey

Release Date: December 23, 2014
Publisher: Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Author Website: http://pernhome.com/tjm/

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Anne McCaffrey thrilled thousands with her tales of adventure and dragons through her many stories and novels. Many of them award-winning, they were her world away from the trappings of normal life - although many times her life wasn't the type of normal everyone expected. From her precocious childhood to the first book sold, the book followed her rise to fame and the thought process behind bringing her dragons to life.

Included in the book were introductions from both Anne and Todd, the most recent written in 2014. Along with highlights from the many stories and books written by Anne, her son related special moments that helped to shape the worlds and characters in her writing. 

Review:
Having grown up reading many of Anne McCaffrey's works, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read this novel when offered at NetGalley. Nowadays there are a lot of books which delve into the world of dragons and magic, but back when Anne first began to create the world of Pern and its many inhabitants, there weren't many. Very few Science Fiction writers who created such worlds were women, putting Anne ahead of the game in many respects. This book chronicled much of Anne's life from her parents' beginnings to her childhood to nearly the end of her many mortal years.

While a great deal of the novel's focus was on Anne and her written works, there were moments when her family, friends and even pets shared the spotlight with her. It was easy to forget how small the Science Fiction community was when it first began to gain traction. Many of the big names such as Isaac Asimov, Robert Silverberg, David Gerrold, and others became a family of sorts as they met at various conventions over the years. This second family helped sustain Anne during some of the rough years when the words refused to be put on the pages. Anne's marriage and children were ever present in the book, shaping and molding many of the characters or storylines within her books.

From the first paragraph of the introduction, it was made clear that this book was more of a scrapbook of Anne's life than a cut-and-dry type of biography or memoir. There wasn't a lot of pages in the book, but each page was filled with intimate insights into her life. Pictures helped to put faces to names that were mentioned throughout the entire book. I didn't find a rise or fall to the pacing of the book because it was clear that this was one to have a steady pace from the very beginning of the book. In fact the anecdotes and revealing looks into her home life helped to keep the story moving, whether they were about Anne, her children or a number of different pets they had throughout their lives.

Throughout the entire book, it was plain to see that much of Anne's life could have mirrored that of many struggling writers in the beginning of their careers. To see her go through much of the same ups and downs made her easier to relate to in my eyes. It was also very interesting to see how the Science Fiction community grew on both sides of the pond, especially once Anne moved to Ireland. I liked the little inside jokes and special memories that were also shared in this book. No matter how much or little you know about her written books, this memoir helped to explain the origins and the journey to complete the world of Pern as it's known today. If you're a fan of Anne McCaffrey or a curious fan of Science Fiction writers, this is a delightful memoir that should be on your reading list.

Dragonholder: The Life and Dreams (So Far) of Anne McCaffrey by Todd McCaffrey is currently available at many online retailers and local bookstores. It can be purchased in hardcover, paperwork and Kindle editions. The following link is for the book's page at Amazon.
Dragonholder: The Life and Dreams (So Far) of Anne McCaffrey by Todd McCaffrey

The Undertaker's Daughter by Kate Mayfield

Release Date: January 13, 2015
Publisher: Gallery Books
Author Website: http://www.katemayfield.com/default.html

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Kate Mayfield's childhood was magical but different than most children who grew up in the 1960s-70s. She lived with her parents and siblings in a small town where everyone knew everyone and what they did (or didn't) do. Her father's occupation set her apart from the usual routine of Southern life. He was one of the town's undertakers.

Chronicling her life from childhood unto adulthood, Kate revealed the history behind her father's choice to become an undertaker and the rituals her family observed whenever they "had a body." Living upstairs while a funeral was in process taught her how to be quiet and still, the odd mix of life and death apparent to her at an early age. As she came to terms with the process of running a funeral home through the lessons of her family, she discovered there was much more to learn about her father than simply being an undertaker.

Review:
Every once in a while, I like to step out of my horror or mystery genres to read Nonfiction. As of late, it's been memoirs or biographies that have caught my attention. This particular memoir intrigued me the moment I read the description at NetGalley. Despite the somber book cover, the author portrayed her childhood and the unusual atmosphere of her home with both childlike wonder and adult remembrance. At times the novel was light-hearted, filled with comical depictions of the sleepy town of Jubilee and its residents. There were also many instances were the darker side of life made its presence known, casting a sinister light on an otherwise happy-go-lucky family.

Kate Mayfield and her family relocated to Jubilee as her father brought his undertaking services to the town. First set within the 1960's, the town was divided along racial lines and mandated a strict code of conduct. Reputations were something to be protected at all costs while appearances were meant to be kept at a respectable level. That's a tall order for anyone, but was especially difficult for a child whose father was a friend to death. Throughout the pages of the book, the author gave insight into why her father chose to become an undertaker as well as the rituals surrounding the funerals that he orchestrated. I was given a front row seat to the show that was the Mayfield family, complete with its secrets, joys and moments of sadness. While names were changed to maintain the individual's privacy, I couldn't help but imagine the people with the way they were written in the novel. Little details down to the way the person wore their hair or how they ate their food helped to create each of the individuals vividly in my mind as I read along.

For me this book was a fairly quick read, but it had a sense of slowness about it that matched being set in the South. Much of the South had the same quality in nearly everything about it. From the way the people drew out their words to the lackadaisical way they enjoyed their days, it was all reflected within the pacing of the novel. That's not to say it remained that all the way through the book. During the moments when Kate slipped out of her room at night to see her friends or have a romantic moment with a boy, the excitement and fear of being caught became apparent in the author's choice of words. The mixture of Southern charm and growing up during a turbulent time made Kate's memoir more interesting as the reader could see the progression of change. Though the city was small in terms of population, the changes that swept the nation in the 1970's and later also visited Jubilee. These changes also drove the story forward, making me want to know how people reacted and what Kate's thoughts were on the matter.

All in all, this memoir was as entertaining as it was poignant. Many times I felt the author's words evoke emotions befitting the chapters I read. It became clear early in the book that author sought to understand her father by examining her childhood. She found much of the information she desired, but at a cost. One thing that stuck with me after finishing the book was the notion that no one knows another person completely. We all see a fragment of the person. Sometimes gathering other pieces shocks us because it's not what we expected to find - much like this memoir. If you're looking for an interesting coming-of-age story or a glimpse into the rarely-seen life of an undertaker's family, then this book should be on your TBR list!

The Undertaker's Daughter by Kate Mayfield is currently available at several online retailers and local bookstores. It can be purchased in several formats, including hardcover, paperback and Kindle (digital). The link below will bring up the book's page at Amazon.
The Undertaker's Daughter by Kate Mayfield
   

The Phantom of Fifth Avenue: The Mysterious Life and Scandalous Death of Heiress Huguette Clark by Meryl Gordon

Release Date: May 27, 2014
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Being the youngest child of a copper magnate and living to be over 100 years-old,
Huguette Clark grew up in a world surrounded by glitz, glamor, and everything else high society that the 20th century had to offer. Once century drew to a close, the once vivacious socialite had withdrawn from society and enshrined herself in memories with only the most trusted people surrounding her. Life continued this way until the other descendents called her life into question.

Following a reunion of William Andrews Clark's many descendents, relatives began to worry about Huguette and the way she was living. As they started looking into her world, secrets and scandals found their way from the depths they were buried. But what was the reason a promising, young artist full of life would turn away from the world and keep to herself?

Review:
I stumbled across this biography while looking through NetGalley's book listings. Curious about the lifestyles of the wealthy as the next person, I was pleasantly surprised to see that this book wasn't the usual privilege-filled story about Huguette Clark's life.The author used mountains of documents, personal interviews and Huguette's own words to form the biography. As I read through the pages, it was akin to getting to know a new friend rather than read a starched-stiff novel about someone who lived long ago. Seeing how debilitating immense wealth can become made me feel sad for Huguette.

Because she outlived a majority of her family, it was easy to forget that the names reflected people who actually lived and loved Huguette. They weren't complex characters in a story, moving at the whim of the author's pen. Each had a real life filled with all the difficulties and experiences that you or I might have to endure. That's not to say everyone was your everyday sort with a routine of work, family, home. There were lots of interesting, eccentric people in her family. Living through an entire century also ensured that Huguette had a front row seat to the vast changes that spanned the country and the globe. The living descendents of William Andrews Clark were, and are, as varied as their ancestors and continue to keep his legacy of art, culture and wealth alive.

The book started a little slow for me because it centered around the Clarks living today and the reasons how and why they became concerned about their Tante Huguette. However, the pace picked up rather quickly as revelations about the family and those who worked for them came to light. Once I reached the point where the history of the Clarks was explored, I was intrigued by the man who made something of himself and interested in what happened to those who came after him. With each turn of the page, I felt myself drawn more and more into Huguette's world, wondering just how many people cared for her rather than the bank she became in their eyes. It made me sad to see someone with a very generous heart who simply wanted to create while being loved be taken advantage of as Huguette was in the last decades of her life.

I would have to say that this biography was eye-opening for me in several ways. Often times inherited wealth is seen as something everyone dreams of and others feel entitled to have. Unfortunately, the traps of such wealth bring many dangerous, problems and perils with it. While there are always more than one side to a story, I thought this biography did a good job of laying out the history of the family while trying to explore the reasons behind Huguette's behavior in her later years. It's much more than simply the life and times of a wealthy, eccentric elderly woman. If you love reading about lives from long ago or curious about the unusually private life of one of the wealthiest women in the US, I would pick up a copy of this book!

The Phantom of Fifth Avenue: The Mysterious Life and Scandalous Death of Heiress Huguette Clark by Meryl Gordon is currently available for purchase at several online retailers in hardcover, Kindle and audio-book forms. The link below will bring up the book's Amazon page.
The Phantom of Fifth Avenue: The Mysterious Life and Scandalous Death of Heiress Huguette Clark by Meryl Gordon

Bonyo Bonyo: The True Story of a Brave Boy from Kenya by Vanita Oelschlager

Release Date: April 1, 2010
Publisher: Vanita Books
Illustrators: Kristin Blackwood, Mike Blanc

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Bonyo Bonyo was born into a small village in the land of Kenya. As poor as his family was, Bonyo still had a happy childhood with the other children in the village. When tragedy strikes his family, Bonyo was determined to go to school in order to become a doctor. He wanted to help others.

He began on the road toward his goal only to discover that his parents weren't able to pay for his education. With the kindness of strangers and a courage from deep within, Bonyo makes the dangerous trek miles away to attend school in a neighboring village. But is it enough to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor? Will he be able to help those in his village and beyond?

Review:
Because I'm a sucker for true stories, I requested this book from NetGalley. I was able to read through it very quickly as it's a fairly short book. The book was geared toward children, specifically those eight years-old and younger. That didn't stop me from enjoying the inspirational message of the Bonyo's story. I would encourage sharing the message of hard work and determination with everyone and especially children.

Since the book presented the life of Bonyo to the reader, it was told from his point of view. His childhood and family life were spoken of as well the catalyst for his desire to become a doctor. I felt sad that Bonyo had to go through so much in order to go to school. The truth of how little they had hit me and I realized just how lucky many children in thriving First World countries were. As the story progressed, the underlying messages of perseverance and determination shown through the passages.

The story was told in such a way that children would be able to understand and yet kept true to the essence of the overall story. Both good and bad days were shown as well how Bonyo decided to handle the situations. I thought the illustrations were beautifully drawn and on point with the story. Each turn of the page revealed another fantastic illustration to emphasize the point the author was trying to convey. So many colors, bright and dark, could easily capture the child's attention and allow the words to sink into their minds.

Overall, the story's message is one of hope, determination and the courage to chase after one's dreams. I think everyone needs a reminder of that now and again - especially adults. Though book is geared toward children, I honestly enjoyed its simplicity and the message that hard work pays off in the end. If you're looking for a wonderful teaching tool that is a fabulous story as well, I would recommend you add this book to your child's collection or even to your own collection. 

Bonyo Bonyo: The True Story of a Brave Boy from Kenya by Vanita Oelschlager is available at many retaliers including Amazon. You can purchase a copy in hardcover, paperback or Kindle forms. Clicking the link below will take you to the book's Amazon page.
Bonyo Bonyo: The True Story of a Brave Boy from Kenya by Vanita Oelschlager

Writers Between the Covers: The Scandalous Romantic Lives of Legendary Literary Casanovas, Coquettes, and Cads by Joni Rendon, Shannon McKenna Schmidt

Release Date: October 29, 2013
Publisher: Plume

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Before reality television and social media created a demand for gossip and paparazzi, the lives of many beloved and famous writers were made into legend through speculation and rumor. Violent fights, suicide attempts, drunken brawls and tempestuous lovers both fueled some the greatest written works and tormented those who created them.

Within the covers of this book, the lives of literary greats are examined. Included within are F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Lord Byron, Virginia Woolf, Norman Mailer and many, many more. Sometimes what happens off the page is much more scandalous and bizarre than anything that was written.

Review:
When NetGalley offered this book to review, I jumped at the chance to read it. I've always been fascinated by writing and the lives of those who felt called to do it. Let's just say that I wasn't disappointed with the book in the least bit. While I know some of the tidbits for a few of the authors, most of what was written came as a surprise to me. Therefore, I really enjoyed the book.

In a time before TMZ and gossip/reality shows, the antics that many of the authors did would have put even Miley to shame. Many believed in being as free with their love as they were with their words, leading to many affairs and secret liaisons. I do think that if the gossip columns were around during those times, they would have had a field day with the information!

Despite revealing a scandalous side of the artistic endeavors, I think the book serves as a reminder of how human the authors, both male and female, within truly were during their lifetimes. They loved, fought, felt and made bad choices - as any one of us have or might have when placed in their position. Their stories were told in a way that brought them to life in way that the reader could easily empathize with the authors.

All in all, this book was a great read. Full of information and yet not overwhelmingly so, the book wets the reader's imagination about the various lives of fellow writers. If you love nonfiction or any of the various authors listed with the book's own covers, I would suggest taking a chance with this book. You never know what you might learn.

Writers Between the Covers: The Scandalous Romantic Lives of Legendary Literary Casanovas, Coquettes and Cads by Shannon McKenna Schmidt and Joni Rendon is now available through various online retailers. The book is available in paperback, Kindle and Audiobook format at Amazon. You can purchase a copy by clicking the link below.
Writers Between the Covers: The Scandalous Romantic Lives of Legendary Literary Casanovas, Coquettes and Cads by Shannon McKenna Schmidt and Joni Rendon

Mama Rose's Turn: The True Story of America's Notorious Stage Mother by Carolyn Quinn

Release Date: November 1, 2013
Publisher: University Press of Mississippi

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Sometimes in life, truth is much stranger than fiction. After biographies from both her daughters, the life of Rose Thompson is distorted, mixed with fiction and the truth is hard to uncover from any single source. This book serves to set the record straight and provide an accurate telling of her life's story as possible through a variety of sources.

Despite having aspects of her life immortalized in film, Rose was never destined to do much upon the stage herself. Through documents saved by family members, newspaper accounts and other supporting works, the author weaves a life filled with ups and downs that is more fascinating that what Hollywood could have written.

Review:
I love reading nonfiction, especially biographies and memoirs, so I was excited to see this listed on NetGalley. This book reads like fiction but has enough supporting data to prove much of the events written within. I had seen the movie, Gypsy, as a young girl. I knew the bare bones of the story surrounding the famous women but this book was a more in-depth view, allowing for a better understanding of their actions.

Needless to say, the book starts before Rose's birth and examines the world in which she will be living. It's plain to see that Rose was never going to be a conventional lady given the things her family found agreeable. Despite breaking societal taboos, many of her family members maintained a sense of resilience that proved to be valuable time and again within Rose's own life and the lives of her daughters, June and Louise.

The reader is treated to the delights of living the vaudevillian lifestyle through the various accounts presented in the novel. Both the rise and the fall of vaudeville is featured in the story of Rose as well as the effects that it has upon her life, her daughters and many of the well-known actors of the day. There is a section of photographs within the book which allows the reader to put faces to the names within and see some of their ordinary, everyday world.

I was glad to see that the author was able to maintain a balance in putting together the pieces of Rose Thompson's life puzzle. There didn't seem to be a bias one way or the other in regards to the decisions or actions that were taken. The author was able to present plausible reasons as to why things may have turned out the way they did or what may have been going through Rose's head at the time of some rash decisions. The tone of the novel was very much sympathetic yet realistic in its approach.

The only complaint I have with the novel is the presence of unfinished sentences in some of the chapters. There are only a handful that seem to be lacking a word, but it threw me off while I was reading. It left me wondering what was trying to be said at that moment. Other than that, I think the novel is a solid piece of work.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this glimpse into the lives of Rose, June, Gypsy and their extended family members. It was an informative work and read like a letter between friends at times. Fascinating to see the down-to-earth, human side of those we deem as celebrities. If you are looking for a well-written biography or enjoy reading behind-the-scenes accounts of famous people, this is definitely one that you should put on your TBR list.

Mama Rose's Turn: The True Story of America's Notorious Stage Mother by Carolyn Quinn is currently available in either hardback or Kindle formats. It can be bought at Amazon.com by clicking the link below.
Mama Rose's Turn: The True Story of America's Notorious Stage Mother by Carolyn Quinn