The narrator finally became engaged enough in the story to travel to meet with JB McLamore in the backwards Alabama town. I was curious with him and engaged from the outset. John gave details to substantiate his claims of the…

Maria Garcia lets us know this is her story. She uses the border as a symbol of the separations of herself as well as the countries. As with Jesus on a Tortilla we hear about hardship and prejudice Mexican immigrants…

Preface Draft – It still feels a bit like rambling, but this is what I have. “You should write a book!” “I will.” I answer politely, always, thinking, “I am”. Much of my life is scrolled in journals beginning in…

The Ethics of MemoirThere is no disagreement with Eakins 1st rule. It may not be as clear in application, however. Gornick says the reader must believe that the narrator is telling the truth. I’m guessing this means that total accuracy…

As the author conveys a biography of her mother, herself and family, she walks us through the history of Playing the Numbers, and the importance of the industry in Black communities. While the business was illegal, the author provides historical…

Footnote for my memoir. A visit from my mother’s friends: The friends were like my mother. They put words together, “d’-ya’-know-what-I-mean-like”,  “I-donno”, “bloody-‘ell”, They called the broom a brush, dustpan a shovel, television the “telly”. They were loud, boisterous, familiar.  They…

While Eve sees some people, especially men, men as adventures territory to conquer, her early experiences lead her to keep some restraint, getting as close as possible but not enough to experience the often life and death negative consequences. The…