Book Review: Before Women Had Wings by Connie May Fowler

Before Women Had Wings

by 

Connie May Fowler

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Quote:

" Listen to me, Bird, dreaming is for fools, and I don't ever want to be accused of raising up a little fool."~ Mama(Glory Marie) pg. 45

Started: September 23, 2018

Finished: September 26, 2018

304 pages/paperback

From the cover:

My name is Avocet Abigail Jackson. But because Mama couldn't find anyone who thought Avocet was a fine name for a child, she called me Bird. Which is okay by me. She named both her girl children after birds, her logic being that if we were named for something with wings then maybe we'd be able to fly above the shit in our lives...

My Review:

I have to admit I was intrigued by the cover of this book. I grabbed it and couldn't wait to get reading.

It did not disappoint. It had everything I had hoped it would.

There is struggle from the beginning. Trials and errors made by many. It has innocence of  childhood, yet children seeing and living such things they never should have to.

It is written showing a clear and honest character in "Bird".

The story starts out with Bird vividly recalling the day her daddy walked into the General Store, revolver in hand and threatened to kill himself in front of her mother, sister, and herself.

She was just six-years-old.

From there, the story takes you through her days, living in an abusive home. A drunkard father, a mean tempered mama, a brother that comes and goes, and a sister that loves or hates her depending on the day.

After tragedy hits their home, Mama decides to head south. To take the girls on a journey that will change all of their lives.

While things don't get better, they definitely change.

A new place, new school, and...a new friend.

Miss Zora, befriends Bird, not knowing that Bird has been forbidden from being around her.

Their secret friendship is exactly what Bird, and her family needs.

Will these women ever get their wings?

This is a must read!

Grab your copy here:

Before Women Had Wings by Connie May Fowler

Be sure to let me know what you think of this wonderful book! Leave a comment!

Book List: Memoirs and Biographies of Child Abuse

Sometimes, reality is scarier than fiction.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone had a magical, care-free childhood?

Memories filled with loving families, summer vacations, and holiday traditions.

Unfortunately, that isn't the case for far too many.

This article here quotes: "Approximately 3 million cases of child abuse and neglect involving 5.5 million children are reported each year."

That is absolutely tragic! Can you imagine how many go unreported???

Fortunately, there are so so many survivors that have come forward. To raise awareness, to tell their stories, and to help those in situations who are too scared to speak up.

I always find these stories so heartbreaking, yet the victims courage is empowering. Even if you aren't a victim yourself. It gives us some glimpse of hope that we can do better, as a society. As humans!

I have read several books

focusing on many forms of abuse. To me the most heart wrenching are always the ones about children. They are usually born into these situations with no defenses and most times, they aren't aware that what is happening is wrong, or bad. It is the only thing they know until they are shown or learn different.

This list is only the beginning of so many books in a horrific genre of...

Memoirs and Biographies of Child Abuse

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1. Sickened- Julie Gregory (several)

2. A Child Called "IT"- Dave Pelzer (and his series) (several)

3. The Glass Castle- Jeannette Walls (several)

4. Pieces of My Mother- Melissa Cistaro (3 copies)

5. Mommy Dearest- Christina Crawford (out of stock)

6. Broken- Shy Keenan (1 copy)

7. Hope's Boy: A Memoir- Andrew Bridge (several)

8. House Rules- Rachel Santag (2 copies)

9. Running With Scissors- Augusten Burroughs (several)

10. Living With Evil- Cynthia Owen (1 copy)

11. Damaged: The Heartbreaking true story of a forgotten child-Cathy Glass (several)

12. Another Forgotten Child- Cathy Glass (several)

13. Street Kid-Judy Westwater (several)

I have listed beside each title the numbers of copies that are currently available at Thriftbooks at the time this post was published.

If you would like to follow the link below

Shop now for thousands of quality used biographies & memoirs books starting at under $4 I love this site and have used them for years.
They always have a huge variety in any genre I am looking for.
Several of my other posts show my loyalty to them...even before I became an affiliate.

I hope you enjoy this list and always check back for more lists, reviews, TBRs and much more!
Happy reading!

"Family is supposed to be our safe haven. Very often, it's the place we find the deepest heartbreak."

Iyanla Vanzant

Review: Spare Change

Spare Change

by Bette Lee Crosby

Quote:" I believe he's a man who can be trusted, but you'll have to be the one to decide whether or not you want to tell him the truth of what happened."-Olivia pg. 212

Started: Jan. 3, 2013

Finished: Jan.5, 2013

280 pages/ paperback

From the cover:

Olivia Westerly's father disowned her when she tossed her nose in the air and left home in pursuit of a job he considered scandalous. He expected that she'd marry and settle into having babies as her friends had done; but Olivia simply couldn't tolerate the thought. Why just the mere mention of children sent chills up her spine!

 Believing that children weigh a woman down like a pocket full of stones, Olivia avoids such entanglements for almost forty years... but then she meets Charlie Doyle and everything changes. Even though Charlie has a son, and a grandson he's supposedly never seen, Olivia is blinded by love and happily says " I do,"

 That happiness is cut short when Charlie dies on their honeymoon and Olivia returns home to find eleven year old Ethan Allen Doyle sitting on her doorstep. The boy's parents are dead and only two people know the truth of what happened- Ethan Allen isn't talking and the murderer wants to make certain he never does. Olivia is the only one who can stop it from happening.

My Review:

I am so excited to finally get to this review! This is my first review on a book that was sent to me personally from the author! Signed and everything!!! Woo hoo! I am more than delighted to do this review for what I am discovering is a wonderful author, Mrs. Bette Lee Crosby.

Be sure and visit her website or you can even be her fan/friend on Goodreads by clicking here.

Don't forget to add her books to your reading list!

Spare Change was such a sweet, heartwarming and sometimes sassy book. While some reviewers have claimed this book to have a slow start, I rather enjoyed the character building aspect of the first few chapters. I really enjoyed the well way it was written in short chapters by individual characters views.

The character's personalities immediately show through and draw you into the story.

Olivia is a woman who has always known what she wanted and what she didn't want in life.

Charlie is the all American man of her dreams, Olivia has been waiting for.

Susanna is a feisty, dreamer that struggles with what she can do and what she wants to do

Benjamin is the hard-working, never has it good enough, rough-necked drunkard

Ethan Allen(my favorite) is the neglected, spunky little guy with too much life experience for his age

Scooter Cobb is the slimey, over sized, above the law wannabe!

Detective Jack Mahoney, good-guy, christian cop who wants to save the day and right all wrongs

There are several other, smaller characters, but all have very distinguished personalities.

This book showed me how you never know how or when you will find faith, trust and hope. The Lord does indeed work in mysterious ways. Crosby shows that no matter what we think we want in life, He always has something better for us. at least in Olivia's case.

I don't want to include any spoilers which makes this part of the review so difficult. I really enjoyed this story and hope that there will be a sequel. I will say I wish Crosby had written more about why Charlie hadn't spoken to his son and where did Susanna really come from. I think those were the only two things that never really got answered for me.

I have already recommended this book to several friends and have 3 people in line to borrow my copy!

Definitely 5 stars*****

Review: The Glass Castle

The Glass Castle

by Jeannette Walls

Quote: "It's good we raised you young' uns to be tough, Because this is not a house for the faint of heart."~ Dad(Rex Walls) pg. 150

Started: Sept. 5, 2012

Finished: Sept. 11, 2012

288 pages/paperback

From the cover:

The Glass Castle is a remarkable memoir of resilience and redemption, and a revelatory look into a family at once deeply dysfunctional and uniquely vibrant. When sober, Jeannette's brilliant and charismatic father captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and how to embrace life fearlessly. But when he drank, he was dishonest and destructive. Her mother was a free spirit who abhorred the idea of domesticity and didn't want the responsibility of raising a family.

 The Walls children learned to take care of themselves. They fed, clothed, and protected one another, and eventually found their way to New York. Their parents followed them, choosing to be homeless even as their children prospered.

 The Glass Castle is truly astonishing-a memoir permeated by the intense love of a peculiar but loyal family.

My Review:

Wow! This is definitely one of those OMG books! This is going to be hard to review. There is so much to this book, and more because it is a memoir, non-fiction, no faking, the real deal! Wow!

I have always been intrigued to learn real stories about real people. I am fascinated with learning about other people, places, times. Also, being a parent myself I love reading about people's childhoods. What they perceive their parents done right or wrong. As a parent what did they feel was the right choice at the time and so forth. 

This book would be the "What NOT to do" as a parent handbook!

Seriously, some of the things these children went through(hunger, poor living conditions, criminal activity, injuries untreated, sexual abuse...) that were ALL well known by BOTH parents! These things were brushed off or even laughed at as "learning experiences" that would "toughen them up" while running out of money for booze, cigarettes or art supplies were major issues. To me it was a classic case of book smart, intelligent people who have absolutely NO common sense or the mental ability to deal with any "real life" situations.

I have heard so many people's reviews about how RoseMary(Mom) was raised by a distant, rough around the edges, fearless mother who seems to have taught her daughter(however unintentional) to be a free-spirited, make your own rules up as you go kind of parent. Well, I think that is pure BS! I did read Half Broke Horses and I never got any clue as to that type of parenting. RoseMary(and Rex) were two of the most selfish people I have ever heard of. They had SO many chances, opportunities, ways of making a much better, easier life for themselves and their children who had no choice in the matter. Yet, they CHOSE to live in poverty, involve themselves and their children in criminal activity and let them be exposed to so many things no human, let alone a child should ever have to face. For what? All because they wanted to be greedy, make their own rules, and defy laws and society and how they felt society viewed and judged them. To prove a point to who? America, civilized people, their parents....

I will call this book sad, tragic even, but I have absolutely NO pity for RoseMary or Rex Walls.

*5 stars* for an amazing story written with complete honesty and heart

Review: Hidden

Hidden

by Cathy Glass

Quote: " Isn't it incredible, when you think about the amount of paperwork that follows us around here, that they've managed to live with none of it and survive for five years?" ~ Cathy pg. 92

Started: July 20, 2012

Finished: August 4, 2012

paperback/ 350 pages

From the cover:

As soon as Tayo was brought to Cathy's home for placement, she was puzzled. The social worker had no records for Tayo: no school files, family history or medical records. It was as if Tayo didn't exist.

Tayo maintained strict silence when Cathy asked about his past. Only when she glimpsed a scar on his arm did Tayo's story gradually begin to unfold. Cathy learned of his abduction by his drink- and drug-dependent mother, and the sinister van with blackened windows that picked him up every morning at daybreak and ferried him across London.

In her twenty-three years as a foster carer, Cathy had never seen a case as horrific as Tayo's nor had she met a boy with such loyalty, inner resolve and strength.

My Review: 

Another great book from Cathy Glass. I really admire what she has done and continues to do. I am so glad she decided to write and share all the stories/cases with readers. she truly has seen some amazing children. It only validates the evil vs. good in this world. She gives us hope through her works that for some children there really is a light at the end of a dark tunnel. It Hidden she shows us how a child's mind works. how whether positive or negative the action is, children will follow by example. While luckily for Tayo, he did have a good start and held on to most of the basics, he was still influenced by his mother and his reactions showed this. Children are such wonderful creatures. It still is beyond me how anyone could choose to put their own child in danger for such selfish reasons. Addictions have such an effect on so many, rarely ever just the one abusing the substance. Sadly, something bad usually  has to happen before the abuse is addressed.

This is one more case of how many situations go unnoticed and unresolved for way too long. How many children suffer abuse and neglect before something triggers an alarm? Before the right person, situation or mistake make people aware! Hooray! for Cathy Glass and making us more aware!

* 5 stars*

Review: Damaged

Damaged

by Cathy Glass

Quote:  " If I'm going to be able to meet this child's needs, I replied, ' it's important that I'm given all the relevant information. Could you check and get back to me, please?" pg. 63

started: Feb. 23, 2012

finished: Feb. 25, 2012

From the cover:

A deeply moving story of how one foster carer's profound patience and love unlocked a little girl's darkest, most painful secrets

 Cathy Glass had fostered fifty children over twenty years but none of them had been as disturbed as Jodie, a troubled eight-year-old whose violence and aggression had seen off five foster carers in just four months. When Jodie arrived, Cathy had no idea what lay beneath Jodie's shocking behavior, which included smearing feces all over the house, erupting into violent rages and even cutting herself. Little by little, as Jodie's rage was met with patience and understanding, she began to trust Cathy, and to confide the dreadful background which had led to her present torment.

My Review:

Wow! This book was one of the best and worst books I think I have ever read!

It is such an amazing story. I will say first off that it holds nothing back as far as details in what this precious child encountered. As hard as it was to read and get through this book, thinking of how much worse it must have been to actually live through it all. I can only pray that more people continue to do the work of Cathy Glass and more people become aware of the very real life horrors and evil that are around each of us. I will definitely be reading some of the other books written by Cathy Glass 

She continues to be a foster carer in the UK and also has many books written on different children/cases she has lived with over the years. as well as many books devoted to helping others and also family living books.

I give Damaged 5 stars!

Review: Sickened

Sickened

A Memoir of a Munchausen by Proxy MBP childhood

By Julie Gregory

Quote: " Look, there has got to be something wrong with this kid, she can't even do one simple test. This has never happened before; she must have something seriously going on here. Can the doctor just please look at her?" ~ Mom  pg. 62

started: Jan. 25

finished: Jan 27, 2012

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From the cover: 

A young girl is perched on the cold chrome of yet another doctor's examining table. Just twelve she is tall, skinny and weak. It's 4 o'clock and she hasn't been allowed to eat anything all day. Her mother on the other hand, seems curiously excited. She is about to suggest open- heart surgery on her child to " get to the bottom of this". She checks her teeth for lipstick and, as the doctor enters, shoots the girl a warning glance. The child will not ruin her plans.

My Review:

This book was a hard one to get through. Any dealing with child abuse, neglect or pain should be, in my opinion.  Julie Gregory makes you feel like you are there. The scenery and scenarios come to life. While most of the book Julie is the naive, immature, believing victim, she shows that with God's faith and love she had strength. A strength that she had all along but never knew. Through the blood, sweat, fear, broken bones,chaos, and confusion she survived. I really liked that it does have a "happy" ending, yet the scars will remain. 

A few things I didn't like were that she was so separated from her brother and other than a few trips back and forth(which were obviously hard) the book never really gives much of his feelings or opinions. Also, that her father was so cowardly toward the mother's behavior and also gullible.

My rating: 3 1/2 stars

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