Friday, January 27, 2017

WHAT I'M READING -- MAUDE by Donna Mabry


I haven't done a lot of reading in the past year.  Ever since I retired I have been watching a lot of TV and movies, doing housework, and generally living life.  The other day I was looking at 99 cent books on my Kindle and came across this one.


It intrigued me because when I read the introduction it reminded me of my great-grandmother.  They lived during the same time frame.  They both went from horse-drawn carriages to jet planes.  And although Maude lived in Arkansas and Michigan and my great-grandmother lived in Pennsylvania both of them had high regard for their God and their families.

The story begins in 1906 and goes through to 1967.  Life is hard in 1906 and society was different.  It didn't matter if you had a good marriage or a bad one.  Divorce, although not unheard of, was difficult and women had few rights.  Even the children belonged to the husband along with all the woman's earthly possessions.  

This is a fictionalized version of a true story.  I think it's only called fiction because Donna Mabry had to flesh out the characters with conversations and thoughts and feelings.

I began reading this book on Monday morning and finished it this morning.  The paperback version of it has 496 pages so you can imagine how fast I went through it.  The fact that I sat in the VA Hospital for several hours two days this week helped, I'm sure.  But this book was so fascinating I couldn't put it down.  Every time Joe looked at me, I was reading -- even while cooking dinner last night.

Some of the book is gory.  A lot of it sad.  Some of it happy.  A lot of it disappointing.  In other words, it's real life.  No sugar-coating in this story.

If you like biographies, real life down and dirty stories, then you will like this book.  It's on the Wall Street Journal Best Sellers List and it's number one on Amazon's Self-Published Best Sellers list this week.

Maude by Donna Mabry: “In 1906, I was barely over fourteen years old, and it was my wedding day. My older sister, Helen, came to my room, took me by the hand, and sat me down on the bed. She opened her mouth to say something, but then her face flushed, and she turned her head to look out the window. After a second, she squeezed my hand and looked back in my eyes. She said, “You’ve always been a good girl, Maude, and done what I told you. Now, you’re going to be a married woman, and he will be the head of the house. When you go home tonight after your party, no matter what he wants to do to you, you have to let him do it. Do you understand?”

14 comments:

  1. I am going to look for that book, Kathy. It sounds like one I would love. I like real life---and documentaries, etc. Hope you and Joe have a great weekend- xo Diana

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    1. If you like real life, you would really like this book.

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  2. Kathy, I thought you would have read more since you retired...but now you see honey, how fast the times goes and , don't you wonder how you ever had time to work.:):) Just that little intro...makes me happy we women have come a long way. :) Blessings, stay warm, xoxo, Susie

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    1. I have read, but not a book I couldn't put down. This was great. But for sure, there are other things to do than read. I used to read during my lunch hour at work so I would always have an hour a day to just sit and get involved in my book.

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  3. You did such a good review and that's a great price! Thanks! Enjoy your weekend sweet lady! Hugs, Diane

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    1. Thanks, Diane! Hope you have a good weekend too.

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  4. Great review! I love 'real' books too!

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  5. Ill put Maude on my list of books to read, waiting for new glasses!
    My own blog has been on indefinite hold for a while.

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    1. I sure know about those glasses. Notice how large the print is on my blog! Hope you get them soon. I'd love to read your blog. I bet we have some of the same experiences growing up in the 50s and 60s.

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  6. Kathy- Thank you for the kind review and for sharing your thoughts about "Maude"!

    Donna Foley Mabry
    donnafoleymabry.com
    facebook.com/donnafoleymabry

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    1. Thank you, Ms. Mabry for stopping by and leaving a comment. I am honored.

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  7. I grew up in a small southern town but I'm sure we have many similar experiences.

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    1. They went from living in a small down in Arkansas to living in Detroit! Not small at all.

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