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Summary: Change me into Zeus's Daughter, by Barbara Robinette Moss
Review: I loved this book, it is the heart-wrenching, hard-to-put down type. I like the way Moss writes, very good. I read this book in one week, tops. Just one mystery remains: whatever happened to Mary Louise? It never mentioned her again towards the end. I really wanted to know whatever happened to her and if she found her.
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Summary: True story of a family that will touch your heart
Review: I loved this book. I felt as if I were a fly on the wall watching this family go through numerous ordeals that any one of us would find unbearable. Such as, the police evicting a mother and her children, on a rainy night, by throwing all of the family's belongings into the front yard, piece by piece. That's inhumane! I had to keep reminding myself that this was a true story...and one that happened not so long ago! I'm so glad that the author turned out happy and healthy, because sometimes, reading the book, you start to wonder how that is possible.If you like true stories about real life families, this is a great book to read. It's sad at times, but funny and happy at other times. It's amazing what children will do to have fun and survive among less than pleasant situations.
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Summary: Adult Children Can Relate
Review: I read this book when it first published. I was really captivated by the author's writing style and ability to tell such a horrific tale with courage and lack of self-pity. Anyone, who grew up in an Alcoholic or otherwise seriously dysfunctional home will not only relate but will be freed in knowing they are not unique or alone. Not only does the family experience devastating poverty but the animosity, judgmentalism and humilation of asking charities to provide them with the most basic necessities. This book illuminates the darkest side of childhood poverty and neglect. The author shares how upon facing imminent starvation, the family ate seeds that had pesticides sprayed on them. This terrific book won Winner of the Faulkner Creative Writing Award. I think it has the best elements of "A Child Called It", "Running with Scissors", "All Over But the Shouting" and "Angela's Ashes". I look forward to reading anything this author writes and will probably reread this one. Definitely recommended addition to your library!
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Summary: A Great Memoir of a Complex Family Life (see more about me)
Review: I think in years to come,this will stand out as an
American classic.Americans on the whole were living better
than ever in the years after World War II. Too bad her
Dad didn't take advantage of the G.I. Bill, that elevated
the lower and middle classes.
I thought I would hate it with the first chapter, where
all the chidren were starving in front of their Mother.
But I continued to read and I thought of Francie, in " A Tree Grows In Brooklyn",
and I realized I was reading a great
book and could not put it down until I finished every page.
Barbara, you are a beautiful women with a good sense of self.
I don't want to give the story away,but I would ask the
author to continue this story of her Family or treat us
with another.It shows you don't have to be great or famous
to inspire people.
...
Rating:
Summary: A Book of Hope
Review: In writing this memoir, Ms. Moss wanted to reclaim her family. In doing so, we are allowed to claim and embrace them also. Her experiences are unique, revealing deprivation and horror as well as joy and love. Even so, there is a piece of "every woman" in her life and in her. As she grows and struggles and learns and develops and is ultimately victorious, she shows us the way to our own healing. Such honesty and courage. Wonderful book!
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Summary: One of my favorites!
Review: It took me only a couple days to read this book, and I normally am not a reader. I liked the fact that the author was writing about her own life, which made it more interesting to me. This is in my top ten books.
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Summary: My story is a universal survival story.
Review: Many people have asked me if my story is a Southern story - and it is - but more than that, it is a universal survival story. This book is not just about my strength - it is about the strength of family and extended family. The strength that each of us carries in our souls. And also, the love we store away in our hearts - for each other, and for the ground (in my case, red clay) we walk around on every day
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Summary: This Book is the Perfect Mothers' Day Gift!
Review: My mother is "trapped" in her home, caring for my alzheimer sticken father-in-law. So for Mothers' Day I thought a mesmerizing book would be the perfect gift. Well, I've been searching literally (is that a pun?) for weeks. It's been especially difficult because she only reads nonfiction and I just wasn't finding anything I thought she'd enjoy. Eureka! I wasn't three pages into this book when I knew I'd found not only the perfect book for her, but an absolute jewel. My gosh, this is one fantastic story to get lost in. And, of course, mother is right: the fact that it's true makes it ten times better!
Rating: 
Summary: Another View
Review: Our deep sympathies to Barbara for the agony of her past. A couple observations: 1. Acolholism is not a disease; it's a choice. 2. Here is a classic situation of one of the results of the welfare system which we have allowed to evolve around us. Her father was not held responsible for his behavior and is EXCUSED because of the ILLNESS which he is responsible for contracting because of his CHOICE. The spouce can get welfare help and the abusive one is gone somewhere and not held to the guilt of it. It would take a long time to get out of situations like this even if we started now.
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Summary: The Southern Gothic at Its Best (and Worst)
Review: Rather than compare this memoir to Angela's Ashes, I think that I would draw a comparison to Mary Karr's The Liar's Club. The books are quite similar: young girl in the south growing up in poverty with an abusive/drunk father and an oddly artistic/educated mother who doesn't quite fit the picture. Unlike Karr's poetic lyricism, though, Moss sticks to the facts. She describes her childhood growing up dirt poor in rural Alabama with her 7 brothers and sisters in excritiating detail, recollecting the days when her alcoholic father drank away all the money and there was nothing to eat in the house. Nothing. The book has a very odd chronological sequence -- Moss jumps to and fro from childhood to adulthood to somewhere in between from page to page. Her hatred and wild love for her parents is fasinating and infuriating both -- one simply cannot believe that people live in such a way and survive. Perhaps not as beautifully told as others, and leaving many gaps, but a riveting tale nonetheless.
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