When Barbara Bracht's mother disappears, no one tells the young girl that her mother has died. She is left a confused child whose father is intent upon erasing any memory of his dead wife. Forced to keep the truth of her mother s existence from her younger brother, Barbara struggles to keep from being crushed under the weight of family secrets as she comes of age and strives to educate herself despite her father's stance against women s education.
Veronica s Grave tells of the psychological cost of families who keep secrets and the importance of pursuing one's dreams and passions. Told in the young girl's voice, the memoir asks the reader to consider what parents owe their children, and how far a child need go to make things right for her family.
Ultimately, it's a tale of loss and resilience, showing the power of literature-- from Orphan Annie and Prince Valiant to the incomparable Nancy Drew -- to offer hope where there is little.
Born in the South Bronx, two words long synonymous with urban decay, Barbara Donsky, the author of Veronica's Grave, went on to discover a passion for all things French. Go figure!
A Phi Beta Kappa magna cum laude graduate of Hunter College, she earned an MS from C. W. Post, Long Island University and an EdD from Hofstra University.
Publications include a doctoral dissertation Trends in Written Composition in Elementary Schools in the United States, 1890 -1960. Articles in educational journals including "Writing as Praxis" and "Trends in Elementary Writing Instruction". And a short story--"The Trouble with Harry"--published in the Naples Review in Florida.
A former reading specialist with a private practice in Oyster Bay, New York, she taught as an adjunct professor at C W Post College, Long Island University and served for many years in various positions as a trustee, president and capital campaign coordinator of the Boys and Girls Club of Oyster Bay-East Norwich.
For work done on behalf of the Club, she was honored as 'Woman of the Year' and by the Town of Oyster Bay for her 'public-spirited contributions advancing the general welfare of the community.'
She currently lives with her husband in Manhattan where she blogs weekly at
http://www.Desperatelyseekingparis.com
https://www.facebook.com/barbaradonskyauthor
My Thoughts
This is a very interesting memoir as it tells the story of a little girl, losing her mother at a young age and confused as to why and where she went.
Told in an almost fiction way, with great dialogue. Some memoirs are very dry and boring, not so this one. I found myself remembering some of her references, especially the Nancy Drew ones. I myself loved Nancy Drew stories but in a different way as reading was an escape for me from an abused childhood.
I enjoyed reading this coming of age story, from the reminences of early childhood to the author's young adulthood and her love of French things, becoming a stewardess, dating and coming to terms with the death of her mother. You have to wonder why a father would keep the death of his wife from his daughter as if he was ashamed of his wife. But as I grew up in an era where children are seen and not heard, I guess he must have figured his daughter didn't need to know the details. Kind of sad really.
This book is worth a read! I enjoyed it immensely!
I received a copy of the book for review purposes.
No comments:
Post a Comment