Post by arlenadean on Feb 2, 2012 0:30:13 GMT -5
Moonlight on Linoleum: A Daughter's Memoir
Author: Terry Helwig
Published by: Howard Books
Age Recommend: 16+
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 5
Blog Review For: GMTA
Review:
Review: "Moonlight on Linoleum: A Daughter's Memoir by Terry Helwig was a indeed an interesting read. Terry really did a wonderful job in telling her story... not only of the bad times, but also the good ones too.
The story is of Terry who was the the oldest and
responsible and her relationship with her... sisters(5), cousin(1) whose mother was terminally ill from cirrhosis of the liver, her mom Carole Jean, dad (Daddy Davy... stepfather) his parents, .... her biological father from Iowa.... his mom, dad ...his wife Cathy and son Lanny, and his sister (Aunt Betty).
Carola Jean had been a teen bride and the most important thing was that Carole Jean was concerned only for how she was living and not caring enough to take care of her children. Carole Jean left this mainly to her daughter, Terry! Carole Jean made the list and it was Terry's job to see that it was done.. This was indeed a dysfunctional family. Terry was the one that kept things going as they should, cooking and cleaning... ironing and watching over the girls to keep them safe. Terry was definitely the mother figure.
When Terry would ask about her natural father from Iowa her mom told her that she could look him up when she was 18. The reason behind this was that Carole Jean thought since he
sent no support he should not have any dealings with his daughters (Terry and Vickie). however, they would have some dealing with the Aunt Betty as long as her brother was not
involved. Later Terry found out that her baby bother Lanny at 11 had cancer.
I can say at this point I believe Carole Jean suffered from bipolar and that a lot of the time she was simply out of control.
This family was noted from moving from place to place due to the fact that Terry's stepfather, Davy who worked from a oil rigging job that kept him on the move and he wanted to keep the family together. Davy was indeed a good person for he loved and showed it to this family. Terry accepted the love of her stepfather. Terry loved school even though she was from
everywhere and nowhere.... Terry attended twelve schools in eleven years and she did graduate. All of this while Terry still managed to take care of herself, her sisters and even her mom. Terry was able to triumph over all of the pain and through all of this she not only loved her sisters but also her mom.
Still trying to help her mom while Carole Jean is in the hospital supposing getting help from her suicide attempt... Carole Jean quietly leaves the Colorado State Hospital and doesn't come for the girls until Terry insist she comes and gets Joni and Brenda. Carole Jean married twice more and had another child, a son named Jodie.
Definitely Carole Jean had problems that in the end through prescription abuse and the death of her son Jodie(2), her toddler overdosed on her sleeping pills and later died of pneumonia that lead to her suicide attempts and her death in 1974 from accidental drug overdose.
Now.... The Sisters: Nancy, Vicki, Patricia, Brenda, Joni and Terry all live in four different states are still very close. They have a reunion every year with their children.
In the end Terry goes to her Mom's grave to ask for her blessing on the book "Moonlight on Linoleum." Letting her know things like Terry going to Africa. There was a lots of "Remember When" with the sisters ... and we learn that later Terry and Vickie's father took his life. Terry had written this book for her shelf and her mom. I enjoyed the"Moonlight on Linoleum: a Daughter's Memoir" and I would definitely say this was an amazing story and recommend it as a excellent read.
Author: Terry Helwig
Published by: Howard Books
Age Recommend: 16+
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 5
Blog Review For: GMTA
Review:
Review: "Moonlight on Linoleum: A Daughter's Memoir by Terry Helwig was a indeed an interesting read. Terry really did a wonderful job in telling her story... not only of the bad times, but also the good ones too.
The story is of Terry who was the the oldest and
responsible and her relationship with her... sisters(5), cousin(1) whose mother was terminally ill from cirrhosis of the liver, her mom Carole Jean, dad (Daddy Davy... stepfather) his parents, .... her biological father from Iowa.... his mom, dad ...his wife Cathy and son Lanny, and his sister (Aunt Betty).
Carola Jean had been a teen bride and the most important thing was that Carole Jean was concerned only for how she was living and not caring enough to take care of her children. Carole Jean left this mainly to her daughter, Terry! Carole Jean made the list and it was Terry's job to see that it was done.. This was indeed a dysfunctional family. Terry was the one that kept things going as they should, cooking and cleaning... ironing and watching over the girls to keep them safe. Terry was definitely the mother figure.
When Terry would ask about her natural father from Iowa her mom told her that she could look him up when she was 18. The reason behind this was that Carole Jean thought since he
sent no support he should not have any dealings with his daughters (Terry and Vickie). however, they would have some dealing with the Aunt Betty as long as her brother was not
involved. Later Terry found out that her baby bother Lanny at 11 had cancer.
I can say at this point I believe Carole Jean suffered from bipolar and that a lot of the time she was simply out of control.
This family was noted from moving from place to place due to the fact that Terry's stepfather, Davy who worked from a oil rigging job that kept him on the move and he wanted to keep the family together. Davy was indeed a good person for he loved and showed it to this family. Terry accepted the love of her stepfather. Terry loved school even though she was from
everywhere and nowhere.... Terry attended twelve schools in eleven years and she did graduate. All of this while Terry still managed to take care of herself, her sisters and even her mom. Terry was able to triumph over all of the pain and through all of this she not only loved her sisters but also her mom.
Still trying to help her mom while Carole Jean is in the hospital supposing getting help from her suicide attempt... Carole Jean quietly leaves the Colorado State Hospital and doesn't come for the girls until Terry insist she comes and gets Joni and Brenda. Carole Jean married twice more and had another child, a son named Jodie.
Definitely Carole Jean had problems that in the end through prescription abuse and the death of her son Jodie(2), her toddler overdosed on her sleeping pills and later died of pneumonia that lead to her suicide attempts and her death in 1974 from accidental drug overdose.
Now.... The Sisters: Nancy, Vicki, Patricia, Brenda, Joni and Terry all live in four different states are still very close. They have a reunion every year with their children.
In the end Terry goes to her Mom's grave to ask for her blessing on the book "Moonlight on Linoleum." Letting her know things like Terry going to Africa. There was a lots of "Remember When" with the sisters ... and we learn that later Terry and Vickie's father took his life. Terry had written this book for her shelf and her mom. I enjoyed the"Moonlight on Linoleum: a Daughter's Memoir" and I would definitely say this was an amazing story and recommend it as a excellent read.