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momwise
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I love to read family memoirs during the summer. Not the dark, abusive kind; just interesting family stories. A few years ago I read Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio: How My Mother Raised 10 Children on 25 Words or Less. This remains one of my all-time favorites! It's about the Catholic wife of an alcoholic and mother of 10 children who kept the family afloat and used her creativity to win writing contests. She wrote at her ironing board. No matter what was needed, it came in the form of a check or prize in the nick of time (need I say she prayed to St. Jude quite often?).
Last summer I read Jew Store. Here's the library blurb:
"The Jew Store is an intimate family story that sheds new light on a piece of American history. Here is One Man's Family with a twist: a Jew, born into poverty in pre-revolutionary Russia, finds his way to America, finds a trade, finds a wife, and sets out to find his fortune in a place where Jews are unwelcome."--BOOK JACKET. "In 1920s small town America, the ubiquitous dry goods store - selling work clothes and school clothes, sheets and towels, yard goods and notions - was usually owned by Jews and often referred to as "the Jew store," which is how Bronson's Low-Priced Store, Stella Suberman's father's retail establishment in Concordia, Tennessee, was known."--BOOK JACKET.
So far this summer I haven't found much. I just started Stuffed: The Adventures of a Restaurant Family. I'd sure like to find something Catholic though...hint, hint.
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God bless!
Gwen in Denver
Married 25 years, 5ds (23,19,13,9,5)....2dd (15, 9mos)
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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Kelly
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Gwen,
I'm SURE you've read it already, but if not, I highly recommend "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers". Everyone I know who has read this book has enjoyed it. I gave a copy of it to my Protestant brother and his family and they ended up reading it out loud to each other driving all the way from Florida to Texas!
Kelly in FL
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momwise
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No, I haven't read it yet. Good suggestion!
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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Kelly
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Hey Gwen,
Another book I thought of that you might enjoy is by Taylor Caldwell (I think), entitled, "Grandmother and the Priests". It isn't a memoir, but a series of stories about the author's (real or imagined, and it might be real) Catholic Grandmother and stories that were told by her priest friends. I haven't read it for years, but I thoroughly enjoyed it when I did, and a couple of those stories have stuck with me for years. So, like I say, not a memoir per se, but...
Kelly in FL
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momwise
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Kelly,
I have read Grandmother and the Priests. It's on my bookshelf and probably enough time has gone by for me to read it again. That is a wonderful book isn't it.
Taylor Caldwell was Catholic wasn't she? My book club reads Catholic women authors so that would be a good suggestion for us.
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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JennGM
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Kelly wrote:
| I'm SURE you've read it already, but if not, I highly recommend "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers". |
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Such a great one! My sisters, mother and I quote from this book frequently, especially when one of us is pregnant and getting a little chesty. "I'm wearing Number 2 now." That section cracked us up!!! 
After you read that, follow up with her next book Family on Wheels.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Elizabeth
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How about Ten Circles Upon The Pond? Not a very orthodox Catholic mother of ten, but a very good read. Several of us read it a couple of years ago...
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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anncap
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Oh! I have the perfect book for you!! Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson. This book was so funny and comforting to me a few years ago. I think it was written back in the 50's or so and I enjoyed reading about what it was like to raise a family back then. Amazon has it; I've been wanting to read it again. Ann in Tucson
I am so excited to recommend this book that this is my very first post on the forum! I think it might be exactly what you're looking for. :)
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Ann in Tucson
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JennGM
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What constitutes a memoir? I have one book I highly recommend which is a series of autobiographical essays about being a wife/mother/writer in the suburbs. It's out of print, but readily available for cheap. Sixpence in Her Shoe (1964) by Phyllis McGinley. Very humorous. I got all my sisters and my mother hooked on it. 
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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momwise
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Elizabeth, Ann and Jenn.....thank you!
These all sound perfect and they were all at the library.  I have been reading a collection of essays by Phyllis McGinley and have enjoyed them. I've got my book list for the rest of the summer!
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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Kelly
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Gwen,
Another book you might enjoy is called, interestingly, "Will Mrs. Major Go To Hell" by Aloise Bucklely Heath. She was the older sister of William F. Buckley (who was in line in front of me at the airport the other day...I asked the customs agent if that was who I thought it was, and he said "who is Wm. F. Buckley?". But I digress...) Anyway, it's a pretty good read, at times poignant, at times funny, and an insight into a large, sprawly (tho not overly orthodox) Catholic family. The first part of brother William's book, "Nearer, My God", which describes their upbringing, is very interesting, too.
Kelly in FL
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momwise
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I'll be picking up my library holds tomorrow. In the meantime I'm starting My Russian Yesterdays by Catherine Doherty for book club on the 19th. So far *so good*. I'll post an update when I finish.
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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Marybeth
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I just read The Prize Winner from Defiance Ohio. It will be on my list of book recommendations. 
Great read! I have The Jew Store on hold at the library. Thanks for helping me select all my summer reads!
Marybeth 
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Erica Sanchez
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Marybeth wrote:
| I just read The Prize Winner from Defiance Ohio. It will be on my list of book recommendations. |
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Me too!! I loved it! Aside from a few magazines, it is the first book I've read for pleasure in a long, long time. Sad, but true.
Thanks to all you ladies for these great recommendations! I'm starting Sixpence in Her Shoe now. I truly would be 'lost' when it comes to books (children or adult) without this board (and Cay's House of Literature as well!) Thank you!!
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Have a beautiful and fun day!
Erica in San Diego
(dh)Cash, Emily, Grace, Nicholas, Isabella, Annie, Luke, Max, Peter, 2 little souls ++, and sweet Rose who is legally ours!
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jdostalik
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Oh, I LOVED My Russian Yesterdays. Catherine Doherty was a marvel. I read Not Without Parables, too, and that was even better. I just finished reading her autobiography and it was very moving. I'm trying to decide what book of hers to read next...Can you tell I'm loving her books? Her spirituality is very beautiful (Eastern Rite Catholic/Byzantine) and this happens to be a new interest of mine. Her cause has been opened. I have been asking for her intercession for a reunification between the Orthodox Church and our Holy Catholic Church...
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Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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momwise
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jdostalik wrote:
| Oh, I LOVED My Russian Yesterdays. Catherine Doherty was a marvel. |
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It is fascinating to read about the small village/agrarian Orthodox way of life before the Communist takeover. Her homesickness is heartbreaking isn't it?
Here are some more must reads for your summer memoir list:
My Heart Lies South: The Story of My Mexican Marriage by Elizabeth Trevino
Voyage by Bus by Leonard Wibberley
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Gwen...wife for 30 years, mom of 7, grandma of 3.....
"If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life." JPII
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Marybeth
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I began Jew Store this morning. I was 10 minutes late for babysitting my sister's kids. She was very  at me!!
Yikes!!
I was in big trouble. I can't help it...this always happens when I read. 
Marybeth
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Kelly
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"My Heart Lies South" is a wonderful read. I gave a copy of it to my old middle school and highschool Spanish teacher who is from Monterrey, Mexico (where the book took place) and SHE loved it, too.
Kelly in FL
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jdostalik
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Are there two versions of "My Heart Lies South"? I seem to remember a different version at my Catholic bookstore that was adult reading and all I can find on the web is a young people's edition...
Any help would be appreciated...I've wanted to read this for a while...
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God Bless,
Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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Kelly
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Jennifer,
For some reason there do seem to be two different versions available of "My Heart Lies South". However, the copy I have and have lent out to people, the so-called "Young People's Edition", is wonderful. If that's what's available, I'd nail it. You won't be disappointed.
Kelly in FL
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4Real Forums : Book Club
Topic: Memoirs
