Too Close to the Falls: A Memoir
11 journalers for this copy...
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will write more comments later.
This book looks really entertaining. I got it from my Mom. Adding it to the TBR pile.
This is a poignant story written through the eyes of a child about her unusual upbringing in Lewiston,NY. Her doctor prescribed work to keep her out of mischief because she was "hyperactive" No doubt today she would have been plugged full of Ritalin! My daughter,Sheryl, sat beside the author at an "Older Womens Legacy" conference in BC. Catherine autographed the book to me so I feel a little guilty "setting It free" but it is just TOO good to sit on my shelf. I related to her perception of the hypocrisy of adults,especially in the area of religion.I hope that this will be the first in a series written about her interesting life as it unfolds!
This book was great. It was especially good for an autobiography, since they can often get bogged down with detail that is only interesting to the author. She does a great job of recapturing the kind of logic we have as children,and the fact that adults forget that children think a bit differently, and don't have the same frame of reference as adults.
I found I could really relate to young Catherine, having been a bright but "a bit strange" child, and sometimes getting into mischief. I could especially relate to her naivete, and the fact that she's often oblivious to things that are plain to most others around her.
I found myself unsatisfied by the ending, since I had wanted it to end on a high note, and it ended on a lower one. Can't be helped, though, since it is a true story.
TheLorax is in line to read this next.
I found I could really relate to young Catherine, having been a bright but "a bit strange" child, and sometimes getting into mischief. I could especially relate to her naivete, and the fact that she's often oblivious to things that are plain to most others around her.
I found myself unsatisfied by the ending, since I had wanted it to end on a high note, and it ended on a lower one. Can't be helped, though, since it is a true story.
TheLorax is in line to read this next.
Very touching, yet also quite humourous look at a young ladies life in Lewiston, NY. Touching on all of the cornerstones of an early childhood from alienation, to the mysteries of religion and the quirks of adults. At times deeply moving, heartwrenching and sidesplittingly funny yet never cliched. All of the characters are nicely developed and enrich the tales told by the narrator. The ending is a bit of a downer but definitely points out the end of innocence that usually accompanies the change into adulthood. Passing it along to relatives next!
Promised to lend this to Penhaligon. Will be giving it to her on Saturday at the get-together with Ottawabill.
Penhaligon changed her mind about this. Her TBR pile is too imposing at the moment.
I'm organizing a bookring for this. So far the following people have signed up:
ellymae58
guinneth
booknhand
kimberlie
theresa-a
hawkette
senorag
alrescate
mysteryfan03
wandeca
I'll see if we get any more takers by Friday, then I'll organize the list geographically and send the book out.
ellymae58
guinneth
booknhand
kimberlie
theresa-a
hawkette
senorag
alrescate
mysteryfan03
wandeca
I'll see if we get any more takers by Friday, then I'll organize the list geographically and send the book out.
Here's the travelling order for this bookring:
1. Mysteryfan03, Missouri USA
2. alrescate, Missouri USA
3. senorag, Mississippi USA
4. kymberlie, Texas USA
5. booknhand, California USA
6. guinneth, New Hampshire USA
7. wandeca, Ontario Canada
8. hawkette, Melbourne Australia
19. theresa-a, UK
10. nelle, Ontario Canada
1. Mysteryfan03, Missouri USA
2. alrescate, Missouri USA
3. senorag, Mississippi USA
4. kymberlie, Texas USA
5. booknhand, California USA
6. guinneth, New Hampshire USA
7. wandeca, Ontario Canada
8. hawkette, Melbourne Australia
19. theresa-a, UK
10. nelle, Ontario Canada
Thanks Miss Efficiency!! I recieved this today in the mail. It looks interesting and I am anxious to read it. I will journal when I get to finish it!! (Have to finish Whispers inthe Sand first :-)
I finished this book last night. Up until the ending, the book was a delightful, well-told tale of an unusual and smart little girl who looks at the world through innocent eyes. I was very surprised and upset that the whole tone of the book changed at the end, almost as if the curious little girl with brains gave away her self to the sexist norms and conformity in the world. Even though it is a true story, I would have liked for it to have ended on a higher note, perhaps putting things into perspective as she is so good at doing all through the book. She is simply numb and "in her place" in the end.
This is one of those books that I will think about and probably come up with more "revelations" about later.
I will be passing this on to Alrescate in the next week or so. Thanks for the chance to read this book!!
Overall, the book was worth the read!! What wonderful stories and a great storyteller.
This is one of those books that I will think about and probably come up with more "revelations" about later.
I will be passing this on to Alrescate in the next week or so. Thanks for the chance to read this book!!
Overall, the book was worth the read!! What wonderful stories and a great storyteller.
I came home from vacation and found this book waiting for me. I will start it as soon as I finish another book for a ray.
Well. I'm not sure what to say about this book. I was enjoying it quite a bit until the last chapter. The majority of this book is very similar to "A Girl Named Zippy: Growing up small in Mooreland Indiana" in that it covers the life of an unusual girl in a small town. I have to say that while the episode with Father Rodwick had to be included I wish the author hadn't stopped there. I followed the childhood of this intelligent young girl to the brink of her most important transition and felt I was suddenly cast off. I needed to know what happened next, what Cathy did to overcome this shock, how did she deal with it? I'm sure that will be in the author's next memoir but I wish we had more closure of the event in this book. (I don't need a happy ending...life rarely has those; I just want more resolution or at least something further.)
I finally made it to the post office so this is on the way to the next person in the ray.
received this today along with a bookbox and another ray i dont remember joining...lol. I best get reading.
Released on Saturday, October 04, 2003 at to fellow bookcrosser in postal release, postal release USA.
Going to kymberlie, in houston, tx. next in line of the ray. hhmmmmm, my husband could have hand delivered this, he was just in houston for 11 days...lol
Going to kymberlie, in houston, tx. next in line of the ray. hhmmmmm, my husband could have hand delivered this, he was just in houston for 11 days...lol
Received today. I'm going to work through the rest of my rings/rays and get to this as soon as possible. Thanks for the opportunity to read this book!
I absolutely loved this book! Her style was so interesting that I really couldn't put it down.
Sorry for having this so long! I'm going to mail it off as soon as I get an address.
Sorry for having this so long! I'm going to mail it off as soon as I get an address.
Received this bookring in the mail today. Am in the middle of two other books right now, both hopefully finished by the end of next week. Should be able to start this one around May 8th or so. Will read it as quickly as possible to keep it moving.
Thanks for sharing!!!!
I have tried to get into this book, but I find it very slow reading and when it comes to picking up a book, this book is not one I reach for. Since I see myself struggling to finish it and I have 2 other bookrings/rays in my possession, I am going to pass this one on to the next person.
I have requested an address and will put it in the mail as soon as I get the address.
Thanks again for sharing, even if this book wasn't right for me.
Thanks for sharing!!!!
I have tried to get into this book, but I find it very slow reading and when it comes to picking up a book, this book is not one I reach for. Since I see myself struggling to finish it and I have 2 other bookrings/rays in my possession, I am going to pass this one on to the next person.
I have requested an address and will put it in the mail as soon as I get the address.
Thanks again for sharing, even if this book wasn't right for me.
Journal Entry 20 by booknhand at US Mail - Bookring/Ray in -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, trades, California USA on Saturday, June 12, 2004
Released on Saturday, June 12, 2004 at US Mail - Book Ring/Ray in San Jose, California USA.
Off to Guinneth as next participant in the bookray.
Enjoy :)
Off to Guinneth as next participant in the bookray.
Enjoy :)
Got it! Will start in as soon as I finish one other book. Thanks!
I enjoyed this book, but like many of the readers before me I was kind of disconcerted by the ending. I do think the author did a terrific job of capturing the voice of childhood.
Sending on to Wandeca!
Sending on to Wandeca!
It's arrived safe and sound in Canada. I'll be reading it soon.
Journal Entry 24 by Hawkette from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Has arrived with me in Australia. Thanks! Will get to it as soon as I can.
Upon picking up this book ready to read, and even during the first couple of pages, I was thinking - geez, anyone thinks they can write and publish their memoirs!
I quite liked revisiting Niagara, which I have visited myself a few years ago, and the vision I had in my head was reignited.
But then I got into it. And it's funny! This little girl, raised in an unusual parenting style, with odd prescriptions from various people, had such a funny outlook on the things that happen around her!
Many laugh out loud moments, and I was mesmorised by her story. I thought she sounded very Aspergers at times, but then her home environment really did foster some unusual antics and thought patterns.
Thanks for sharing this one. I will be sending it on this week.
I quite liked revisiting Niagara, which I have visited myself a few years ago, and the vision I had in my head was reignited.
But then I got into it. And it's funny! This little girl, raised in an unusual parenting style, with odd prescriptions from various people, had such a funny outlook on the things that happen around her!
Many laugh out loud moments, and I was mesmorised by her story. I thought she sounded very Aspergers at times, but then her home environment really did foster some unusual antics and thought patterns.
Thanks for sharing this one. I will be sending it on this week.
I got this when it should have gone to theresa-a..lol. I will send it on again as soon as I get the mailing info.
*smacks forehead* Sorry!! Looked at the wrong list. Thanks heaps senorag for sending it on for me.
Released 18 yrs ago (5/12/2005 UTC) at
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES: Going to Nelle in Canada. No response from member before her so passing it along to get it moving.
Thanks everyone for taking good care of my special book and returning it safely home. I was hoping that each of you would have included a postcard from your area but I forgot to request it when I started the ring. I hope you all enjoyed the book. I understand that Catherine Gildiner has written another book but I don't know the name of it. I'm hoping it's a sequel!
